What Do We Do?
The mission of the United Methodist Disaster Response is to provide a caring Christian presence in the aftermath of a disaster that begins with the initial response and ends with the completion of the long term recovery.
What Kind of Disasters Does UMCburg Respond To?
The disaster response effort primarily focuses on natural disasters such as floods, fires, tornadoes and hurricanes.
How can UMCburg Respond to Disasters?
Our United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) trained early response teams (ERTs) are ready to assist a local community or district if a disaster exceeds the their recovery resources or capabilities. Teams deploy shortly after the disaster (as quickly as possible but after the area has been declared safe by state and/or local emergency official(s)).
Long term, United Methodists Volunteers in Mission (UMVIM) recovery teams help with home repairs or, in some cases, rebuilding homes that have been completely destroyed during the disaster.
Long term, United Methodists Volunteers in Mission (UMVIM) recovery teams help with home repairs or, in some cases, rebuilding homes that have been completely destroyed during the disaster.
Early Response Teams (ERT)
ERTs are not a first response group of emergency workers nor a recovery, rebuild or repair team. Key activities for ERTs are supplying survivors with food, water, shelter and help tarp roofs, muck out flooded houses, remove debris and perform chainsaw work to prevent further damage.
ERTs can do other jobs; for example, building or UMCOR kits such as clean-up buckets (supplies for cleanup of a damaged home), hygiene kits (essential emergency personal care supplies), menstrual kits or members can be recruited to work at a Multi-Agency Resource Center.
Typically, ERTs work a maximum of three days. If the team desires to stay longer after working Days 1-3, the team must take a day off from work (Day 4) and can resume work starting on Day 5 for a maximum of three days.
To travel to another district within Missouri or to a response outside of Missouri, ERTs must have an invitation and approval from the Missouri Annual Conference’s Conference Disaster Response Coordinator.
ERTs can do other jobs; for example, building or UMCOR kits such as clean-up buckets (supplies for cleanup of a damaged home), hygiene kits (essential emergency personal care supplies), menstrual kits or members can be recruited to work at a Multi-Agency Resource Center.
Typically, ERTs work a maximum of three days. If the team desires to stay longer after working Days 1-3, the team must take a day off from work (Day 4) and can resume work starting on Day 5 for a maximum of three days.
To travel to another district within Missouri or to a response outside of Missouri, ERTs must have an invitation and approval from the Missouri Annual Conference’s Conference Disaster Response Coordinator.