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."