UNITED STATES

DISASTER RESPONSE

GIVE TO UNITED STATES DISASTER RESPONSE

When disasters happen, it is local churches that provide the first response to their communities. This basic understanding – that disaster response is local – forms the foundation for UMCOR’s U.S. disaster training and response efforts.

When responding to a disaster in the United States, UMCOR works with the conference disaster response ministries to provide the following:

Financial assistance – emergency grants may be sent when a bishop of the affected conference contacts UMCOR;

Expertise – UMCOR’s disaster-response experience and knowledge are made available to those in need;

Networking – connections with volunteers, experts, local government, and other organizations can help communities recover from disaster.

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2022 DISASTER RESPONSE

UMCOR and its partners are responding to disasters in the United States every day. Please join us in prayer for the affected areas and consider giving to UMCOR U.S. Disaster Response to support these efforts.

Tornadoes in Florida

On January 16, several rotations touched down and caused significant damage to residential and commercial properties, displacing roughly 300 people. UMCOR awarded an initial solidarity grant and is financially supporting the Florida Conference in a 2 year recovery project that will focus on home repair and case management. 

2021 Response

On December 30, 2021, a fire rapidly spread through Boulder County, Colorado, that consumed over 6,00 acres and close to 1,000 homes. UMCOR awarded an emergency grant to the Mountain Sky Conference to assist with immediate needs of evacuees and other survivors of the Marshall Fire.
Following a deadly string of December storms and tornadoes, UMCOR supported conference disaster response coordinators in damage assessment and immediate relief efforts. Initial emergency grants were awarded in Kentucky, Arkansas and Western Tennessee to support local response efforts and UMCOR is working with impacted areas on long-term recovery plans.

In October, multiple tornados and high winds hit the already ravaged areas of Lake Charles and southern Louisiana. UMCOR awarded a solidarity grant to the Louisiana Conference to support their meeting of urgent needs such as food and shelter and to support volunteer efforts, initial case work and other relief activities.

A group of 11 tornadoes moved across Alabama in March, causing death and destruction in four counties. An UMCOR recovery grant is providing case management and construction services in the Alabama West Florida Conference.

Category 4 Hurricane Ida made landfall in Louisiana on August 29, the 16th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, and continued to bring destruction along the east coast. UMCOR awarded initial solidarity grants to the Louisiana, Mississippi, Greater New Jersey, Eastern Pennsylvania, New York and Susquehanna conferences. It awarded a recovery grant to the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference for case management and construction management.
UMCOR awarded a grant to the Tennessee Conference in support of immediate relief efforts following torrential rain and flooding in August. The region of middle Tennessee continues to recover from major flooding in March, for which UMCOR also awarded a grant.
UMCOR awarded a grant to the New England Conference to support relief efforts following the heavy rain and flooding produced by the August storm.
UMCOR awarded a grant to the Western North Carolina Conference to support initial relief efforts for flooding caused by the August storm and awarded a recovery grant to assist households in recovery from the heavy rain, river surges and floods.
The California-Nevada and Oregon-Idaho Conferences received grants to aid in the response to the 2021 Dixie and Bootleg Fires. Technical assistance and training was provided to the conferences. UMCOR continues to provide assistance for recovery from previous wildfires. The Pacific-Northwest Conference was awarded a recovery grant for rapidly spreading wildfire in Washington State in summer of 2020.
On June 25 – 26, widespread rain fell in Metro Detroit. Some areas experienced 6-8 inches of rain resulting in major flooding. UMCOR awarded a grant to support disaster case managers in their work of help meet unmet needs of survivors.
UMCOR awarded a grant to bolster the conference’s disaster relief efforts in support of survivors and families of the tragic building collapse on June 24.
In late April, a hail and wind storm brought widespread damage to the small unincorporated town of D’Hanis. UMCOR awarded a grant to support the Rio Texas Conference in long term recovery, with funds used to purchase material and, where necessary, contract labor, to make repairs to damaged homes.

UMCOR will provide further updates as they become available.

For the most up to date information,

follow the UMCOR Facebook page.

2020 Response

In February 2020, the Umatilla River in Northeast Oregon rose and flooded many communities along its banks. UMCOR awarded a recovery grant to the Oregon-Idaho Conference to aid survivors in the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation and in Umatilla County. The funds will help begin the rebuilding process and provide salary support for Disaster Case Managers.

Emergency funding supported relief efforts in the Texas, Central Texas and North Texas Conferences. Cleaning kits were delivered to communities where burst pipes caused damage to homes, buildings and churches. UMCOR-trained local early response teams deployed. A recovery grant was awarded to the Texas Conference to support the repair of homes.
In response to the storms that hit the U.S. Gulf Coast in September, UMCOR awarded a grant to the Alabama-West Florida Conference to provide emergency needs in evacuee support, relief supplies and materials distribution. To support long-term recovery, UMCOR awarded two substantial grants to help fund repair and reconstruction of damaged households as well as case management. The Mississippi Conference received a recovery grant for assistance in getting homes dry to eliminate extended damage.
UMCOR awarded grants to the Louisiana, Texas and Mississippi conferences to meet immediate needs for the devastation brought on by the August 27 Category 4 storm. The strongest to ever hit the Louisiana coast, UMCOR-trained early response teams deployed in the affected areas and cleaning kits, supplies and PPE for volunteers were distributed.UMCOR is funding and supporting case management for long-term recovery.
UMCOR awarded grants to the Pacific-Northwest, California-Nevada and Oregon-Idaho Conferences to support local response efforts to massive and prolonged wildfire spread in the summer and fall of 2020. UMCOR hygiene, cleaning and school kits were distributed to affected communities and a long-term recovery grant was awarded to the Pacific-Northwest Conference that includes case management training.
UMCOR awarded a grant to the Iowa Conference to support relief efforts for the widespread damage caused by the August 10-11 mighty high-wind storm or “derecho.” Early response teams deployed to hard-hit areas.
Through the Caribbean and all along the eastern coast of the United States, heavy wind, rain, flooding and tornadoes brought damage in late July-early August. Puerto Rico was hit hard while still engaged in recovery from Hurricanes Irma and Maria as well as the December 2019/January 2020 hurricane swarm. UMCOR awarded a grant to support the response efforts of the Methodist Church of Puerto Rico (MCPR). Early response teams were deployed in many states and UMCOR awarded a grant to the North Carolina Conference to support their response to coastal damage and tornado recovery.
Hitting the Texas coast on July 25, Hanna was the first storm of the 2020 hurricane season. UMCOR awarded a grant to undergird the relief efforts of the Rio Texas Conference. The conference deployed early response teams and received cleaning kits. An additional grant was awarded for assisting the recovery of flood-affected households.

Past Response

Hurricane Dorian (2019)
Solidarity grants were awarded to the Florida and North Carolina Conferences to assist with initial response efforts.
Wildfires in California (2017-18)
UMCOR supported the California-Pacific and California-Nevada Conferences as they responded to the needs of those affected by the devastating wildfires of 2017 and 2018. Grants were awarded totaling over $1.5 million for response and recovery ministries.
Hurricane Michael (2018)
UMCOR solidarity grants were awarded to support initial response efforts in the Alabama-West Florida and Florida Conferences. Additionally, recovery grants were approved in the amounts of $118,271 for the Florida Conference and $617,368 for the Alabama-West Florida Conference to support vital survivor services, including disaster case management, reconstruction and volunteer coordination.
Hurricane Florence (2018)
UMCOR awarded grants to the North Carolina and South Carolina Conferences to support response efforts. Recovery grants were approved in the amounts of $825,050 for South Carolina and $1,428,000 for North Carolina to support vital survivor services, including disaster case management, reconstruction and volunteer coordination. In both conferences, recovery programs were launched in January 2019. UMCOR supported with training and consultation.
Hurricane Maria (2017)
UMCOR worked closely with the Methodist Church of Puerto Rico to develop of a comprehensive plan for recovery. This included support for disaster case management, direct assistance, volunteer coordination, materials and supplies, and contracted construction services in 25 municipalities throughout the island. UMCOR awarded grants and relief supplies totaling over $20 million.
Hurricane Harvey (2017)
UMCOR awarded partners in Texas and Louisiana grants totaling over $13.8 million to aid in the recovery of more than 12,000 survivors.
Hurricane Irma (2017)
UMCOR awarded $9.1 million to the Florida Conference to support its comprehensive recovery program, aiding the recovery of more than 10,000 survivors.