Spelunking for Jesus

At various times Saturday and Tuesday, members of Pomona UMC, Monterey First Baptist, and I were "spelunking for Jesus."  Of course, we were under flooded homes, rather than flooding caverns.  Homes that have been flooded often need wet floor insulation and ductwork/ductwork insulation removed.  Afterword, spraying to kill/prevent mold must be done. Space is often cramped, even low enough you can't even get on your hands and knees.  Tough, but rewarding work as we Serve Christ and Neighbor.

TN Tech Wesley Foundation Volunteers

Thanks to the TN Tech Wesley Foundation Volunteers who helped out this past week with tearing out flood ruined walls, flooring, and cabinets this past week.  Below is the Saturday crew, one other helped on Friday.

Cleanup in Cookeville

Following August flooding, Friendship UMC, Cookeville FUMC, Oak Hill UMC, and others have responded to the needs of hundreds of persons in Putnam, Overton, and Jackson Co. that had some flooding.  Russ Cain is taking a major role in working with EMA offices to do call backs to affected persons asking if they need assistance.  Conference Disaster Relief Coordinator, Jason Brock, is working to coordinate outside teams and local volunteers doing cleanup.  Below are pictures from cleanup on a home in Cookeville, the first of 11 we've assessed and are seeking workers to help. Nita Heilman is pictured, from St. Bethlehem UMC in the Clarksville District.

North Alabama Serves Wayne Co.

A work team and chuckwagon team from the North Alabama Conference came to serve the people of Houston and Flat Gap Creek in Wayne Co. after August flooding.  Pictured below is the chuckwagon who feed residents and volunteers over several days.

Trinity UMC Chuckwagon

A ministry born of the 2009 tornado in Murfreesboro, the Trinity UMC Chuckwagon (Murfreesboro) has been hard at work this year.  They deployed several times after the May 2010 flood, including Bordeaux and Perry Co.  Last weekend they served 75 survivors and volunteers at each meal after flooding in Houston and Flat Creek in Wayne Co.  The photo below is from their service to Christ and neighbor in Bordeaux as they were serving Early Response Team members from St. Mark's UMC (Murfreesboro) and other volunteers.

7th UMCOR Case Management Training

7 in 2 months, 150 trained for the 17+ long term recovery groups we
are working with currently across 6 districts. The most recent one was held at Hillcrest UMC
in Nashville.
--
Sent from my mobile device

More Flooding

We are following up on flooding from recent rains in Sumner, Macon, Wilson, Putnam, and Wayne Co. In Putnam, Friendship UMC has made the flood buckets we have stored there available and Cookeville 1^st was activated by the Red Cross for any potential sheltering needs. Marvin Champion has been in touch with the Wayne Co. EMA and at least 8 homes have been flooded in Houston, one completely washed away. Power and water are reported to be out. Brandon Hulette is mobilizing some additional resources to help. St. Mark’s UMC is there to help with debris removal. More as it comes.

No Overnight Recovery

You DON'T recover from this overnight. More than 43 bridges were destroyed in the May 2010 flood in Hickman Co. The wind and water of this disaster affected more than 46 counties in TN, 29 in the Tennessee Conference UMC (middle TN). We estimate 3,000 families will need long term help to recover. We've already scheduled or fielded 100 volunteer teams, local and national, from May through next summer. We anticipate needed at least $1 million for our share of the recovery over the next 2 years, largely praying for TN Conference donations and UMCOR Grants to help survivors in this long, difficult journey. CLICK to download flyer.

Thanks to Great Staff!

I want to thank all of the TN Conference Staff who stopped EVERYTHING, including annual conference preparation, to pitch in that first couple of weeks after the disaster. Without their help and encouragement, I would not have survived. Bettye, Vicki, Mary T., Trish, Patty, Joaquin, Brad, Tom, and Bill (along with Jonathan) . . . THANKS!

In addition I want to thank Tobie Halliburton and Brandon Hulette who have been working tirelessly the last 2 months. They have done an incredible job of fielding thousands of calls and emails as we've been working to schedule, house, and deploy teams, as well as, tons of other work. Tobie is now a full time assistant who will work with the flood recovery . . . and as time is available other support other office needs.

Through an UMCOR grant, Brandon will be working with me part time as the Flood Recovery Coordinator. We are splitting the many, many meetings, and needs at this point between us. As district, local church and community organizations get rolling full steam, he'll take over most of the day to day work, as I begin to respond to the increased desire of churches to schedule one of the following disaster trainings: Early Response Team, Connecting Neighbors (local church preparedness), and Spiritual/Emotional Care.

If you have not heard, I have been reappointed for another year as the Dir. of Mercy, Mission, and Justice, so I'll also be reconnecting with some of the committees and ministries I stepped away from this past spring in preparation for returning to the local church.

Fourth UMCOR Case Manangement Class

So far we've training more than potential case managers from Methodist Churches, other denominations, and some agencies. We keep moving it around as different communities, especially community-based Long Term Recovery Committees, are ready to use them. Below is the link for the next training, July 19-20 at Bon Aqua UMC.

http://www.tnumc.org/DISASTER_RESPONSE_AND_RECOVERY/Case_Management_Training--July_19-20/

UMVIM/UMCOR Team Thank You!

In addition to the dozen's of TN Conference Churches/Teams who have and are fielding volunteers in 29 or more counties affected by the May storms, we've had many our office has scheduled from across the country. Below is a quick list of teams from May through July. Not listed are the dozens more scheduled so far through March of next year. Sorry, I know we are probably missing some teams, but I'm in a hurry to get this out. THANK YOU for serving Christ and Neighbor!

SEVERAL Holston Conference Teams, Loretto UMC (TN), Dripping Springs (TX), Blacksburg UMC (Virginia Conference), Liberty UMC (Missiouri), Adams UMC (TN), Church of the Resurrection (Kansas East Conf), Pittman Park United Methodist (GA), SW District, Arkansas, Spiritual Emotional Care Team (NC Conference), Rock Creek UMC (NC), Greenville UMC (KY), Grace Avenue UMC (TX), St.Luke UMC (TN), UMC of the Palm Beaches, Oak Harbor First UMC (WA), Bethlehem UMC (VA),First UMC of Lawrenceville (GA), Wesleyan Heights UMC, (KY), First UMC - Dyersburg (Memphis Conf), Epworth UMC - SWAT Student Min (OH), Whittemore Hill UMC, (NY), Williamsons Chapel/Davidson UMC, (NC), Grace UMC (VA), Troy UMC (IL), Old North UMC (IN), Newtown UMC (PA), Mountain View UMC (SC), Bearden UMC (Holston Conference),UMC - Wentzville (MO), Tullahoma FUMC (TN), Madison Street UMC (TN), Stonebridge UMC (TX), Haymount UMC (NC), Mt. Carmel Evangelical UMC (IL), Living Word UMC (MO), New Middletown UMC (IN).

June 28 Update

Since my last update, Brandon and I have been crisscrossing the Conference coordinating teams and attending meetings of the community-based Long Term Recovery Committees that are in some stage of organizing or operating. Here is the list so far, Humphreys Co. LTRC, Perry Co. LTRC, Maury Co. LTRC (1st meeting this week), Hickman Co. LTRC, Houston/Stewert/Mongomery LTRC (may become separate), Cheatham Co. LTRC, Davidson LTRC, Williamson LTRC, Sumner LTRC, Rutherford/Cannon LTRC, and Upper Cumberland LTRC (Smith/DeKalb/Jackson/Wilson/Clay/Macon/Trousdale).

The groups represent local leadership taking ownership of the disaster recovery in their communities. They will be our link to the needs and provide us the ability to fairly and effectively provide money, materials, and volunteers to help survivors in their recovery. We have dozens of churches that are providing direct leadership in these groups and dozens more who are and will be able to provide housing, food, and volunteers of their own for recovery work.

We are following up on the outstanding cleanup and misc. small jobs as these committee get ready to help us get full swing into rebuilding work. Currently, we have more than 20 teams scheduled for the month of July, some from here in the TN Conference, but most coming from outside to come and give us a boost. THANK YOU!

We've held our 3rd UMCOR Case Management training this week, with 38 attendees from a variety of long term recovery groups in Cheatham, Davidson, Williamson, Sumner, and Upper Cumberland. While some of the case managers are directly connected to United Methodist work, we are providing this excellent training to other organizations with which we are partners. The next one will be July 19-20 to resource Hickman, Perry, Humphreys Counties and others on the "Westside."

June 17 Update (reposted)

We apologize that the slide presentation at Annual Conference included photos from so few communities that suffered flooding or tornadoes. Several weeks ago, we had a short window to get a joint TN/Memphis Conference presentation together and mostly only had photos on hand from one day we had a photographer visit Bellevue, West Nashville, and Carthage where we knew we had teams working. Before we publish for download, we'll be redoing the presentation to reflect that communities large and small that suffered in 28 counties, across all 7 districts. We were pleased to have UMCOR's Domestic Response head, Tom Hazelwood and UMCOR Consultant, Christy Smith to join us at Annual Conference this week.

Annual Conference absorbed a LOT of everyone's time this week, but we did still manage to coordinate a few teams and attend several Long Term Recovery meetings. A new entry to our team list is a Spiritual/Emotional Care team from N.C. The 2 person team will be with us a few weeks, visiting pastors and communities that have experienced trauma from the disaster or as a volunteer/professional serving survivors.

We still have cleanup/mold spraying in Antioch, North Nashville, and Cheatham Co., though they and many other communities are beginning to focus on getting long term recovery groups together to help facilitate rebuilding as it ramps up as we get farther into the summer. We don't have as many teams the next couple of weeks, so we're going to take this time to revise our registration process and establish some policies related to youth on teams, team size, etc. We'll also be putting together a registration packet with all of the many forms UMVIM rebuild teams should be accustomed to filling out.

UMCOR Case Management Training

We're holding our 3rd UMCOR Case Management Training on June 28 -29 at Hendersonville UMC. We are looking for organized, compassionate persons who live in affected communities who will be able to commit significant time over the next 1 - 2 years to work with survivors. For more information go to the registration page.

http://www.tnumc.org/DISASTER_RESPONSE_AND_RECOVERY/Case_Management_Training--June_28-29/

Flood Briefing Flyer

Download this flyer that gives a briefing on the scope of the disaster, some of the relief work details, and information on the recovery.

Download Flyer

June 13 Update

There still remains some cleanup and spraying for mold that we hope will be finished up mostly within the next couple of weeks, mostly in Antioch, North Nashville, and Cheatham Co. We are beginning the transition to rebuilding, which includes for me dozens of meetings across the conference helping communities set up Long Term Recovery Committees. For communities, some are beginning to connect volunteers with rebuilding opportunities where homeowners have materials, but maybe not money for labor. As we get later into the summer, more projects will begin to match donated materials and labor as well.

Our best estimate at this time would say our communities will have 2,400 families that will not recovery without significant spiritual/emotional support, financial support, donated materials, and volunteer labor. However, nearly 40,000 families have been affected in one way or another from the flooding, wind, and tornadoes of April 30-May5 across more than 28 counties in our conference. Given what we as a Conference and UMCOR have provided in the past, this need would easily mean we would be looking at needing more than a million dollars in donations and grants over 2 years. We'll have clearer picture of that as we move forward.

We have already scheduled 30+ teams from outside our conference who have already come or are on the calendar through the Spring of 2011. Some teams have already come more than once, or made plans to send rebuild teams down the road. If I get a quiet moment at Annual Conference the next couple of days, I'll try to estimate the number of volunteer hours, homes that have been assisted, etc. However, I can give you one example. Over 5 weeks time, a Holston Conference team of around 8 persons at any given time, logged nearly 1,200 hours working on dozens of homes in Smith, DeKalb, Jackson, and Clay Counties.

I'll also be trying to capture some of the reports from churches across the conference that have gone out in Christ's name to serve their neighbors. I would suspect if we can recreate it we'll see we touched lives of many thousands of families and see 10's of thousands of hours given in the effort.

We are currently scheduling local conference teams to help meet some of the remaining cleanup needs, as well as, assigning teams already "on the board" to help with those. If your church has a team that can spray for mold, do tear out, etc., for a day, week, or weekend, please contact us and we'll get you connected. For any teams within the conference or outside, we are also working to schedule rebuilding teams over the next 18 months to 2 years. Please contact us at DisasterResponse@tnumc.com to start the process.

Current and Future Needs

We've been blessed with lots of volunteers, cleaning supplies, food, hygiene, items and cash in meeting some of the immediate relief and cleanup needs. As we begin to transition to long term rebuilding and unmet needs, we'll be asking for new ways you can serve Christ and Neighbor.

Volunteers inside and from outside communities to do rebuilding, offer free counseling services, serve on local community long term recovery committees, serving at donation/distribution centers, and more are always key to the recovery process. Cash is always great as it enables us and local communities to address directly and timely unmet needs, whether it is building materials, counseling, medical care, or other urgent needs. When we get farther into the process of connecting resources and volunteers to rebuilding projects, we may have some ways persons or organizations will be able to donate building materials or household good for when people move back into their homes. Until we have a place to send them and a definitive list of what we would like to get, we ask you wait until you hear from us those needs.

If your church is looking for a weekend or week long project later in the summer, fall, spring, summer, fall . . . contact us at DisasterResponse@tnumc.com and we'll start the process of connecting dates, work projects, housing, etc. Financial donations can be sent to the Conference Treasurer to the TN Conference Disaster Fund.

May 29 Update

I'm running out of gas, so this week's update will be short. Cleanup is slowing down in a number of areas, though there will be work in some areas for a few more weeks. North Nashville, Cheatham Co. and Carthage area (Smith and neighboring counties) are some of the larger pockets. We have a dozen teams from inside or outside the conference scheduled over the next 6 weeks and are begining to get fall reservations.

June will be a transitional month as cleanup finishes and rebuilding begins. Many of the traditional rebuilds we've helped with, like the Gulf Coast, won't be starting in earnest until July and August. While there may be opportunities to match volunteers with persons who can afford the materials, many of the projects that will require donated materials and volunteers will take longer to be available. Those projects must work in coordination with local communities coming together to develop the process for case management, volunteer management, project management, fund-raising, etc. before we can start sending large numbers of teams. We wish it didn't take so long, but this is the only way forward to best allocate very limited funding and volunteers to achieve the greatest level of recovery. This situation makes it difficult to schedule teams and make specific promises about work and location during this period. I promise we're doing the best we can!

We now have a good registration process for registering teams from inside the conference or outside the conference. We ask that if you want to help, please contact us before contacting a local church. Often they become overwhelmed by calls and may not be ready to coordinate groups or work. We can get teams on the calendar for a certain date and then as we move closer to that date connect teams with churches that are available to host and communities that have case, volunteer, and project management in place and a project suited to your team. Please send an initial inquiry about scheduling a team to DisasterResponse@tnumc.com.

For 4 or 5 communities that have already got their long term recovery process well on the way, we are providing our first UMCOR Case Management class this coming Thursday and Friday. We'll be planning at least one more this month and several more over the summer as more and more Long Term Recovery Organizations are ready. If you live in or near an affected area and might be interested in Case Management, check out the the information at our website http://www.tnumc.org/DISASTER_RESPONSE_AND_RECOVERY/Case_Management_Training--June_3-4/. We'll try to get more advance notice of future trainings.

A number of clergy, lay persons, and conference disaster reps have been working to move the Long Term Recovery process along in nearly a dozen geographic areas (including the counties of Perry, Humphreys, Hickman, Williamson, various parts of Davidson, Sumner, Smith, Cannon, Cheatham, Montgomery, and more). For areas that may not develop a formal Long Term Recovery Organization, we will be working with each affected district on how the Conference and District can work with other partners to address needs.

Ok, so it wasn't short, but there is so much to say!

FEMA and SBA Info

I know I either posted or sent an email on this, but please encourage survivors to REGISTER and FILL OUT the SBA APPLICATION! While benefits range from nothing, to $29,900, to low interest loans, to income tax relief, you have to register to find out. The absolute deadline to get in the system will be July 6th. After that there are very, very, very few exceptions, bordering on NO exceptions.

If you receive an SBA Loan application, FILL IT OUT. If you did not receive any benefits or less than $29,900, this application is required for them to consider you for further grants. If you are accepted for a loan, it is less than 3%. If denied, you then are considered for additional grants up to a total of $29,900 depending on your loss and particular situation. If you have already been approved for $29,900 in grants, you still need to apply as you might also be eligible for a SBA loan.

If your community wants to help advocate and educate, FEMA will do a 1 1/2 training class on FEMA applications and SBA applications so you can help others through the process. Let me know and I'll help set it up. It is one of my top suggestions for first projects for Long Term Recovery Committees.

High Water in Centerville

Red Cross volunteer from Bon Aqua UMC stands below a sign on Hwy. 100 to the east of downtown Centerville that shows the high water mark from the flood early this month.

May 22 Update

Sorry for being so long reporting back, it's been a busy week . . . and month. I finally reached my breaking point yesterday and have to take some time off this weekend . . . does this blog count as work???

While I can't list all of the relief activities out there, here are some of the TN Conference churches and "UMC Neighbors" Early Response Teams that have been at work since last weekend: Vance Tague (Columbia District) working with Columbia 1st, Dickson 1st, Trinity (Murfreesboro) and his churches in Linden (Humphrey's Co.?); VA Conference ERT (Hickman and Humphreys Co.); St. Marks (Murf.), Loretto, KY ERT (Bordeaux in Nashville); SW Arkansas (Donelson in Nashville); Mansfield, IL ERT, Dallas, GA ERT (Cheatham Co.); Baltimore/Washington Conf. ERT (Dodson's Chapel, other assignments from Cumberland District); Pleasant View (in Cheatham Co. helping coordinate local volunteers and teams possibly from Brentwood, Lutheran Disaster Response from Spring Hill and others); Holston Conf. ERT (Smith and Jackson Co.); 2nd Columbia District food/supply drive for Hickman Co.

On the volunteer housing front, a few developments. Antioch (Nashville) and a church in the Cumberland District are hosting Americorps teams who have expressed great gratitude for our partnership with them. The General Board of Discipleship has made an empty home/office available for us to host volunteers (up to about 18). Currently, we have a small group from NECHAMA (Jewish Relief) staying there who have their own volunteers and also help coordinate Americorps teams working in Davidson and Cheatham Co. We will be looking to construct bunk beds and provide some hospitality support as we move to rebuilding later this summer. Hermitage and McKendree Village have made arrangements for an unused wing at McKendree to be available to host up to 24 volunteers. Cedar Crest Camp has made lodging available at half price for cleanup teams working the next couple of weeks before summer camping starts.

Patty Smith is working on a weekend Christian experience for children aimed at helping children in areas affected by floods. We'll be looking to offer/replicate this experience in all interested churches. I'll let her tell everyone more about that as it comes together.

We are getting around to many churches and community meetings to help connect resources with ongoing needs, but beginning to focus on how we can help communities oraganize and collaborate for the Long Term Recovery. As definitive LTR groups develop, UMCOR will be partnering to provide Case Management training, Spiritual/Emotional Care training, and grant funding.

FEMA Info and New Article

Check out Tom Nankervis' postings on his blog about FEMA registration info and an article/photos from some time he spent in several communities.

http://theresponder.blogspot.com/

ERT Serves Ashland City

6 members of Mansfield UMC of the Illinois Great Rivers Conference help remove flooded personal items and ruined building materials after the home had more than 7 feet of water in it last week.

Forgotten . . .

Abbeville, Lake Arthur, Cameron, Welsh, Lake Charles . . . forgotten disasters in Louisiana within a forgotten disaster, Hurricane Rita, Katrina's violent sister. Forgotten or never known . . . except to Methodists, Lutherans, Presbyterians, Baptists, Mennonites, Roman Catholics, many other people of faith, and people who have loved and served in Louisiana these 5 long years since Katrina, Rita, and Wilma.

LA Conference Recovery Director, Daryl Tate, called last week offering encouragement from Bishop Hutchinson and from the Conference that our disaster, and the many communties that never made the news . . . will NOT be forgotten. As we have long traveled south to help them and others on the Gulf rebuild, they pledge that when we rebuild their 500 churches will come to serve their brothers and sisters who have lost so much.

Ashland City, Chapmansboro, Pegram, Kingston Springs, Statesville, Carthage, Centerville, Bon Aqua, Bellevue, Franklin, Lobelville, Linden, Waverly, Clarksville, Bordeaux, Antioch, Nashville and dozens of our communities travel a road of which many will never have even heard . . . but we will NOT forget and neither will many who will travel that hard road with us. Above all, God has not and will not forget, and will be there with us as we seek to mend hearts, lives, homes, and communities.

Care in Pumping Flooded Spaces

Please be careful in pumping out flooded basements as I’ve been told doing so too quickly can damage your foundation and possibly lead to a collapse. Contact us at DisasterResponse@tnumc.com for a suggested pumping time chart.

ERT Teams

We've have already been working with or are soon arriving, 8 Early Response Teams from our Conference and others. While much cleanup remains, it will be hard at any given time to know where, when, or how much as we have communities affected over several hundred miles. We don't have a lot of persons experienced at seeking out the homes that have been missed, so teams have to help communities in that process. Some areas will be easy to connect with work, but as we move forward there will be more detective work involved. If you have a precise estimate of when you could arrive, please register Online

Cleaning Bucket Requests

We've distributed 2,800 buckets so far and have now replenished our supply with at least 1,500 on hand here at the office and in Murfreesboro. Please call if you need to pick some up. If you need a large number delivered to your church, please email us by the end of Thursday if possible, so we can work out delivery schedule for Friday and Saturday. DisasterResponse@tnumc.com or 615-695-2765

Long Term Recovery

Even as many communities that flooded later are still in relief work, trying to stabilize coverage of basic needs, some are beginning to look at the long term recovery, which will likely be as long as 2 years in some areas.

For those churches and communities an important first task will be to gather local leaders from faith communities, civic organizations, and public officials to commit to working together for the long haul. Given notice, FEMA will provide someone to be there also. Same for me, as well as, before or after such a meeting. With that commitment, first tasks

1. Make every effort to have everyone register with FEMA and Red Cross.
   
2. Once FEMA registered, education on need to fill out SBA Loan application that is received in mail (additional grants or loans from FEMA only available after this form has been filled out
   
3. Initial assessment of needs and followup on those needs (cleanup, temp housing, etc.)
4. Rapid pulling together of key community partners and getting the LTR Committee/Organization in place

I'll be traveling around as best I can to share more information on this with you all, but please contact me if you have questions. Early next week we'll have down-loadable LTR manual and sample. Jason Brock, DisasterReponse@tnumc.com, 615-695-2765.

May 10 Update

Lot's going on, hard to find time to share. One thing, to date 2,400 plus Cleaning Bucket Kits distributed and 2,000+ Health Kits. Some churches have delivered directly to fill our many, many requests. We have several orders pending delivery of another 1,872 buckets from UMCOR (the second shipment).

Holston Conference ERT continues to work in Carthage through 5/18. Salem UMC ERT (Indiana) is working off of Charlotte Ave. in Nashville. Liberty UMC ERT (Missouri) arrives tonight to work in Waverly. 4 other ERT's are confirmed to arrive from 5/14-5/17.

UMCOR ERT Teams Lining Up

We have confirmed dates for more than a dozen UMVIM/UMCOR Early Response Teams from the West, Midwest, and Eastern U.S. Many will begin arriving Monday and the days following. As the districts help guide me, we'll try to locate them across the need, focusing on areas where other teams and volunteers are scarce. Basically, they'll need a space to sleep (or park campers/tents, access to showers if possible, and someone from the church or local community who can help get them connected with ministry.

NO PROMISES!!!!!!!!

Please do not make any promises to survivors unless you are able to provide what is requested/needed immediately (you have it with you or ability to do the work needed).

UMC Chuckwagon Feeds in Centerville

Trinty UMC and Blackman UMC from Murfreesboro worked together after the 2009 tornado there to feed survivors, volunteers, and public officials during the relief work. Now they are spending the weekend serving hundreds of meals in Centerville after having finished UMCOR/UMVIM ERT training 1 week ago yesterday. A Cookeville District team from Pomona UMC attended the same training and at last contact were planning to work in Nashville this weekend.

More Teams Arriving

We are beginning to pick up steam with offers of UMCOR/UMVIM Early Response Teams into the middle of next and the following week. As soon as Districts/local churches have a sense of housing and can connect them to work, I will assign them. These teams are trained to need minimal support from the church other than a floor to sleep on (or place to park camper), a shower if they can, and pointing them in the right direction for work.

Today's Rundown

Bishop Wills, Tom Halliburton, Christy Smith (UMCOR) and I visited Bellevue, Centerville, and Waverly today to offer encouragement and our commitment that EVERY affected individual and community is important to God and to us. We face an enormous task, but we have an enormous God, and generous love that is seen as communities, churches of all creeds, people of all colors and races pull together to respond to the pain of God's children. Continue to pray for, and serve how you can, those thousands of survivors, their families, and all those out there giving aid.

As of Saturday morning we will have delivered or had picked up over 1,500 Flood Buckets and 1,500+ Health Kits (I thought more, but they are harder to track than buckets!) We have 500 buckets on hand and 1,800 to be delivered either Saturday or Monday.

Districts and churches continue to organize and serve!

Bishop Expresses Concern and Makes Visits

Bishop Wills has expressed his deep concern for the deep pain so many of our churches and communities have and are experiencing. He has already cleared an initial grant of $10,000 from UMCOR with a commitment for more as we move forward. Tonight he'll be visiting with the Cumberland District and tomorrow he'll join me and Christy Smith (UMCOR Consultant who lives in Memphis Conference) in visiting, roads allowing, a few affected churches and communities in the Nashville, Columbia, and Clarksville District.

UMCOR Buckets Due Friday

The long awaited truck is due to land at a local shipping company Friday that is going to help us get it unloaded. Youth and adult volunteers will meet to help unload/load the 1,800 Flood Buckets to get them ready for pickup and delivery. James Marks from the Columbia District has been volunteering at the Conference all week in aiding with the distribution of the 600 buckets, 3,000 Health Kits and more. He is coordinating the process on Friday, along with support staff from the office. Another truck was due to be picked up from UMCOR Sager Brown today and will be delivered to Feed America First.

Churches anywhere in the Conference that would like buckets for their communities, please contact the Hotline at 615-695-2765 or disasterresponse@tnumc.com to arrange for pickup or delivery. When a multi-agency warehouse opens for all of our state to use, we will have access to a variety of donated supplies and the ability to donate requested items there.

May 6 Update

Waverly reports 500 homes flooded, but basic needs are being met. Centerville still in very tough place. TN Conference delivering $1,500 worth of food tonight and other items Hap Hewgley requested. Clarksville District leaders have met and moving forward with a relief plan.

Columbia District organizing further support and Flood Buckets are due to be delivered to tomorrow. A meeting is being scheduled to do further coordinate and lead district efforts. Earl Davis is on loan from Pulaski to share his experience.

Nashville District Churches are responding in place and resourcing one another, much as is happening in the Franklin area. David Lay is coordinating some UMCOR trained volunteers in West Nashville. West Nashville UMC is coordinating with it's community association in providing for community needs. Antioch UMC and Southeast Nashville community groups have divided the labor, with Antioch UMC serving as a volunteer center and the Antioch Church of Christ serving as the donation/distribution site.

Cumberland District is meeting tonight with Paul Gardner leading the church. An UMCOR consultant who arrived at our invitation will be there as support, along with Bishop Wills.

Russ Cain is aiding relief in Carthage, with our first guest UMCOR Early Response Team from Holston. More trained teams are expressing interest in serving wherever we need the over the next several weeks. As more communities are able to stabilize and be able to provide host locations, we will connect teams as they are available.

Logging Volunteer Efforts

Please try to generate or keep basic record of volunteers' names, dates, and hours worked, especially in counties with damage. The Conference can help forward those to the appropriate channels which is especially important in counties FEMA may provide funding to government relief costs. Volunteer hours are counted against matching funds local governments have to meet when getting FEMA grants for their work.

Flood Safety

Working in flooded areas exposes persons to many risks of injury, disease, and death. Long pants, thick/waterproof boots, thick chemical resistant gloves, eye protection, etc. Even with precautions, very bad things can happen. One of our late clergy who was coordinating flood work in TN contracting a virus that created serious heart problems that affected him the rest of his life. Our desire to help should not override the need to do what is smart.

Flood waters and the porous personal items and construction materials they touch become contaminated with chemicals, sewage, mold, and viruses. UMCOR's recommendation is that Children, Youth, and persons with various health problems should have as little contact with flooded homes as possible, especially as time goes by and the risk of mold and disease increase. If there are ways to include persons who shouldn't be there in fund raising, collecting items that have been requested, and getting them ready to help with rebuilding months down the road, that is the best, safest option.

UMCOR ERT's Line Up

As we have need, housing, and someone to coordinate in local communities, we are partnering the aid of a few trained TN UMCOR Early Response Teams and some who we've connected to through United Methodist Volunteers in Mission, SEJ. Holston Conference team will arrive in Carthage on Thursday, and a West Ohio team in Nashville on Friday. We have 4 or 5 other teams looking at possible trips next week. WONDERFUL to have such good neighbors.

Church Updates

While most communities at least have most utility, road, and basic services restored. Hickman Co., in particular the Centerville community and areas nearby are still isolated and except for having bottled water are in a very tough situation with very few ways to or from. We are following up to see what other efforts may soon alleviate the need and considering what ways we might help.

Waverly's community was hit hard and early, and was also cut off because of flooding and road damage. We've not had a report today.

Ashland City, Donelson, Bellevue, and numerous other communities flooded by the Cumberland or Harpeth still have many areas that are still flooded.

Buckets and Kits

Thanks to N. GA for their shipment of 350 Cleaning Buckets/other cleaning and health supplies and the N. AL Conference for 1500+ Health Kits, toilet paper, etc. UMCOR has 2 shipments of buckets coming, so we should be covered with those by the weekend. Thank you to Feed America First and Midwest Transportation for providing dock service and warehousing for buckets!

Transportation Needs Urgent

15' foot box Truck not running, stranded at Bellevue. Any mechanics give a hand? Likely fuel pump failure or contaminated fuel. Several attempts to rent box truck's locally failed.

When we receive the buckets from Sager Brown, it would help if we had trucks with big trailers, horse trailer, flat, enclosed, whatever. 615-695-2765

Red Cross Shelter Numbers

Currently 500 people across the whole state are staying in shelters. Number going down.

FEMA Declarations Begin

While more counties will likely be declared, these have been declared by FEMA: Cheatham, Davidson, Hickman, and Williamson Counties. Soon FEMA will open information centers for registration and explanation. Persons will also be able to register by phone or online. http://www.disasterassistance.gov/daip_en.portal

Apply by Phone:
1 (800) 621-FEMA (3362)

1 (800) 462-7585 (TTY)
for people with speech or hearing disabilities

Light Our Way

Follow this link to download a helpful booklet, Light Our Way: A Guide for Spiritual Care in Times of Disaster. It give some basic disaster education, and then focuses on some very helpful information in working with survivors and servants to the survivors. I've been distributing a few of the copies I have where possible and have ordered more, but you can download it also.

http://www.nvoad.org/Portals/0/Light_Our_Way_LINKS.pdf

May 4

Including Monday, today, and to be done Wednesday, we will have delivered or had picked up 600+ Cleaning buckets and 3,000 Health Kits to local churches to distribute in Christ's name . . . Antioch, Hillcrest, Bellevue, Bon Aqua, Joelton, New Bethel, Clarksville District, Palmyra, Dickson (to be shared with Waverly, Kingston Springs, Cumberland District), 61 st Ave., and Bethlehem (Franklin). We hope to have more from UMCOR and N.C. tomorrow or Thursday.

Many churches and communities have been able to charge full into serving their affected parishes. Others may need more support from the District and Conference. Please be patient as we try to spread the few with disaster leadership experience around.

A general rule of thumb, the length the emergency phase lasts, about 4 days in our case, the relief phase (stabilizing community and restoring basic services, food, shelter, medical care) will last 10 times that (40 days). The Recovery is 10 times that (400+days). We've started a long, difficult journey, but our God has walked with his people along many such journeys and does still today.

Church Damage Updates

While several churches across several districts reported flooding in basement areas or parts of their buildings, 2 churches have reported heavier flooding, Cedar Valley (Columbia District) and Statesville (Cookeville District).

Debris Sorting

See our cleanup guide below, but each community may have different requirements for flood debris. This example is from Davidson Co. of how to sort items at the roadside. If not sorted some material may not be picked up.

1. White goods and metals (appliances, etc.)
2. Construction and demolition debris (lumber, windows, etc.)
3. Vegetation (brush, limbs and all other yard waste)
4. Household trash and garbage (including carpet)

NO CLOTHING

In general, collection or donation of used clothing is discouraged because of the enormous amounts, varied quality/sizes, and inability to store and distribute. If you have received any collections, find local clothing ministries to donate them to.

Once displaced persons are in a longer term housing situation, then clothing because a larger concern. One must have a home and a closet before they fill them.

Water Recedes, Hard, Chaotic Work Begins

So many things I need to share and do, but for now just a request for prayer for all and patience as this difficult process moves forward.

Basically, we are still under Emergency conditions in which emergency personnel are still seeking to restore basic community safety and secure affected neighborhoods. Red Cross and several agencies are still working to cover basic shelter, food, and medical needs. Cleanup is still primarily Neighbor to Neighbor, church to direct community.

Now that rescues are ending, the search for any who perished will begin. Emergency personnel will begin securing hazards in homes and neighborhoods (electric, gas, etc.).

Please collect share the every changing information you hear from your local area with your church members and local community, flyers handed with a smile and the love of Christ is a powerful gift.

Offers of specially trained UMCOR Early Response Teams are coming in and we are making arrangements for some of them to work in more secure areas by the end of the week.

Pray, pray, pray!

Nurses for Shelters

This came from earlier today, not sure if still needed. American Red Cross requested nurses for shelter support. Contact Nancy at 615-405-2433.

May 3 Recap

Flooding continues especially along the Cumberland. Also, Ashland City earlier had an evacuation as flood gates were released upstream of them. Centerville, Erin, Nashville, and other communities have had interruption of water or water restrictions. Several churches have reported some flooding damage, though many in basement areas. Please continue to pray for those affected and the many emergency and relief personnel responding.

In some places where water and threats have receded, survivors and family/church members are beginning to do some removal. However, few groups at this time can take general volunteers for cleanup. We've requested trained teams and will seek to connect them first. As the situation stabilizes and our ability to coordinate increases we will request additional volunteers. For churches and families in affected areas, please check this general guide in helping do cleanup after a flood Cleanup Tips

A central warehouse/distribution center is in the process of being set up by TEMA and volunteer agencies. They already have commercial commitment for enormous amounts of bottled water. When they request specific donations, we will pass those along. We will gladly accept completed cleaning/flood buckets (http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umcor/getconnected/supplies/flood-bucket/ at the Conference Office.

We've distributed 200 buckets and 1,100 Health Kits to churches in Nashville, Bellevue, and soon in Centerville (via Bon Aqua UMC) per their requests. We will attempt deliveries to the Clarksville District tomorrow. N. Georgia Conference will deliver 350 tomorrow and we are arranging, but have no arrival info for, 1,800 from UMCOR.

We are continuing to assess the situation, organize leaders, and prepare the way for more and more opportunities for people to respond. Please be patient and pray, even as further damage continues.

If your church has suffered significant damage or flooding, please make sure the pastor contacts their District Supt. If you know of areas of significant flooding of many homes, please email me at disasterresponse@tnumc.com.

Transportation Needs

We have a 15' box truck to use locally (though it needs quick oil change and tune up) and a Truck/16' trailer. However, it would help to have some other options. If you have a connection with a loaner or reasonable rental of a 15-24' foot box truck and/or folks with truck/trailer who could help make deliveries, please let me know. JBrock@tnumc.com

Survivors Consider Registering with Red Cross

Even persons who do not stay in shelters, should consider registering with the Red Cross. This helps in the overall assessment of needs, as they share overall data with TEMA, FEMA, and other organizations. Even if not in a shelter, survivors may be able to receive certain short term benefits. Please contact you local chapter or shelter for information.

Cleaning Up After a Flood

For clean up tips after the flood, please go to: http://www.tnumc.org/DISASTER_RESPONSE_AND_RECOVERY/Cleanup_Tips/

UMCOR Buckets

Arranging Shipment of 1,800 Buckets from UMCOR. Feed America First in Murfreesboro kindly provided place for us to unload them as they have warehouse and loading dock.

Buckets

North Georgia is sending 350 Buckets, and UMCOR ready to send more as needed.

May 3 10 AM

We are continuing to gather information, making connections, and set up our ability to connect volunteers as the weeks go on. Currently, the first groups we will be using, except for churches in impacted areas, will be trained UMCOR Early Response Teams from within the conference and neighboring conferences. In many locations, conditions are not safe for survivors or volunteers to work.

Currently, NO in-kind donations are being requested. When we hear of the request and the ability of someone to receive them in various parts of the conference, we will let you know. Flood/Cleaning Buckets would be great, as they are easy to store and ship. We are already trying to connect the 250 we have with Centerville, Antioch, and others as connections and need are made.

For those helping their neighbors clean up from floods, we will soon have a 6 page guide to help you know what to keep, throw away, and how to sort. We'll post that here.

May 2, AM Update

Threat of tornadoes and more flooding continue through the day. Please stay off the roads as much as possible, take appropriate precautions, and keep tuned to weather alerts. Please keep those who've suffered loss of life and/or property and emergency personnel in your prayers today.

On the ground assessment will likely begin tomorrow morning, though I am already receiving some preliminary reports from local churches. Once public safety has been restored and assessment begun, we will work with with local churches on cleanup and if needed access trained UMCOR Early Response Teams in the conference and neighboring conferences.

We have approximately 250 Flood/Cleanup buckets on hand and can request additional ones from North Alabama and/or UMCOR if needed. We have several thousand Health/Hygiene Kits available as well. If you would like to have a stock of either for local response, please send me an email. UMCOR stands ready to aid us, as always, with an emergency grant and technical support.

If your church has suffered significant damage or flooding, please make sure the pastor contacts their District Supt. If you know of areas of significant flooding of many homes, please email me at JBrock@tnumc.com. If you have an urgent need to reach me, please call the Disaster Hotline, 615-695-2765.

May 1 Update

Much of the TN Conference has experienced heavy rain and some wind damage . More severe storms and heavy rain are called for through Sunday afternoon. Please take appropriate precautions and stay tuned to weather alerts.

When the threat of additional flooding and wind damage has passed, assessment by public officials and volunteer agencies will give us a picture of how our many communities have been affected and help us begin to organize our response.

If your church has suffered significant damage or flooding, please make sure the pastor contacts their District Supt. If you know of areas of significant flooding of many homes, please email me at JBrock@tnumc.com