After a storm, how can we help most?

After a major disaster strikes, compassionate people everywhere want to help. Think before you give or go. The UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) website offers these questions to guide responses that will be the most helpful. • Is the organization reputable? How much of your gift will go to disaster response and how much will be used for administrative costs? • If you are donating goods, has there been a direct request for the items? Sometimes it is more labor-intensive...

How can we help?

By Richard Norman, Disaster Response Coordinator       At New Light UMC in Lawton, Steven Clay of Carnegie UMC maneuvers carefully while trimming a tree damaged by the late January ice storm. ...

Disaster Response Ministry

Ron King and Richard Norman, inside trailer, direct tours of a shower trailer, on display Feb. 28 at the Lawton District Local Church Leaders Workshop, held at Centenary UMC in Lawton. Three districts—Clinton, Lawton, and Woodward—jointly maintain two disaster response trailers: a tool supply trailer and this one, which has three bathrooms. Rev. King is pastor at Carnegie and Mountain View churches. Rev. Norman is coordinator of Disaster Response with Oklahoma Volunteers In...

When the Body is broken

VIM’s Kristin Terrell-Wilkes, left, and Mary Alice Young sort health kits for Haiti. "We thank you. You have kept us in your prayers, and we are grateful. You have sent donations through the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR). You have expressed selfless interest in volunteering to come to Haiti to help ... "Teams of Volunteers In Mission (VIM) will be integral in...

Christian caring goes the distance in separate storms

On Palm Sunday in Gene Autry, worshippers bear a large cross during a walk in remembrance of Lone Grove tornado victims. At left, a church member leads a donkey along part of the route. For information about Oklahoma Conference disaster response ministry, contact Richard Norman or Lori Foster at the Volunteers In Mission Office, 800-231-4166, or...

At Lone Grove, survivors marvel at storm's force and 'army' of aid

Charlie, left, and Eric Taliaferro are grateful to the numerous volunteers who have helped them and other residents of Lone Grove after a tornado on Feb. 10. By Sheila Robinson, Special Correspondent Eric Taliaferro takes an aerial survey. "To tell you the truth, I...

Disaster Response -Support network

After Lone Grove tornado, Methodists extend comfort, clean up Photo by Eric Taliaferro A youth team, above, from Ardmore-First UMC helps retrieve treasured photos and other items from an Ardmore home damaged by Feb. 10 tornadoes in Oklahoma. From left are Michael Carpenter, Laura Carpenter, Kaylie Harkins, and Kaytie Bridgeman. Storms that day killed eight people...

Funds will assist Oklahoma tornado victims

  United Methodists are praying for and extending aid to Oklahomans in areas hit by tornadoes Feb. 10. Some residents of Lone Grove, just west of Ardmore, died in the storm. Property damage was extensive in that community and in parts of Oklahoma City. How you can help If you or your church would like to financially help the victims of the recent tornados, send donations to the...

Assessment follows hurricanes

Jefferson church goes to work after flooding Recovery work after hurricanes Ike and Gustav is being monitored for Oklahoma Conference by Richard Norman, coordinator of disaster response and domestic missions in the Volunteers In Mission Office. Damage caused by the storms extended into Oklahoma, where heavy rainfall caused flooding in the region that includes Enid District. Fairview UMC Pastor Rich Redinger reported about 100 homes damaged there, according to Rev. Norman. Worship on Sept. 14...

Creating calm after storms

Volunteers load donations to Oklahoma VIM’s annual UMCOR kit campaign. Drizzling rain didn’t deter Dick Garwood of Tulsa-New Haven and Ralph Coffman of Tulsa-Faith early on the opening morning of the 2008 Annual Conference, at Tulsa-Boston Avenue.  Photo by Holly McCray  Report confirms power of UM connection when disasters hit Each September since Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the lenses of the news media return to that year’s extensive weather tragedies—and...

Oklahoma hospitality greets evacuees

 In Oklahoma City, Richard Norman took careful notes during a conference call with state officials on Saturday, Aug. 30, as Hurricane Gustav neared the GulfCoast. The call took place about 3 p.m. By 3:30 p.m., he was dialing United Methodists, recruiting trained volunteers. Oklahoma was rolling out its plan to host storm evacuees from Louisiana. The plan drew on the united strength of multiple government, charitable, and faith entities, such as the American Red Cross, Oklahoma Emergency...

Help for victims of disasters

Requests in Oklahoma and around the globe Pleas for help both near and far away are rallying United Methodists after three recent disasters. In Picher, a tornado May 10 killed seven people and leveled much of an Oklahoma town already threatened by toxic waste. Many lives remain at risk after a murderous cyclone in Myanmar on May 3 and a major earthquake in China on May 12. The death tolls continue to rise: 78,000 in Myanmar and almost 50,000 in China, according to news reports May 19....

Volunteer helps after Picher tornado

Driving into Picher, Jim Gant saw buildings "absolutely flattened," cars piled upon each other, and debris "all over the place." The VIM volunteer joined a short-term work crew that quickly deployed to the area after a deadly tornado May 10. The team cut tarps from long strips of plastic, to help shield residents' possessions from further weather damage. "I've been to lots of tornado scenes. We can thank those spotters who were out ahead of time" for helping warn people, Gant said. Now...

New DERT teams deploy

DERT members from Ardmore District pause during a workday in McAlester. They are, from left, John Martin of Lindsay; Pam Shirk of Konawa; Pat Castellow, Jan Hayes, Mike Castellow, Tom Hayes, Darrell Cates, and DeB Edwards of Ardmore. Linda Smith of Konawa joined the crew later that day. A debris pile grows in Muskogee. By Holly McCray January’s ice storm triggered the first test of a new disaster response ministry of Oklahoma Conference. Specially trained teams of United...

Storm Troopers

A power pole is toppled by a heavy accumulation of ice at Warner . Breakfast is served, top right, by Louene Scarsdale, Earl Williams, and Rev. Connell Ghormley at Tahlequah. Right, children enjoy bunking in the Pryor fellowship hall. Muskogee-First volunteers prepare to clear damaged trees and fencing, lower photo. Churches offer help, hospitality   United Methodists warmed to ministry after a winter storm iced much of the state in mid-January. They...

Cold weather impacts urban ministry

Icy conditions forced Skyline Urban Ministry to adapt its outreach in south Oklahoma City. Skyline is a Conference agency meeting needs in the inner city. Director Dale G. Tremper provided this report: "Due to our large parking lot, our north-facing access, and the health concerns of senior citizens, Skyline’s McKee Center was shut down almost all of one week. "On Friday, Jan. 19, Assistant Director Imogene Bates—along with her husband, Bob, her daughter, Sherry, and a grandson—did come in....

Heavy lifting

United Methodist volunteers remove damaged trees after a mid-January ice storm crippled parts of Oklahoma. They are members of Disaster Early Response Teams (DERTs). The specially trained teams are a new Conference ministry through Volunteers In Mission. Shown are Ardmore District and Muskogee District DERT crews at work in Muskogee and McAlester. See related stories New DERT teams deploy Storm Troopers Cold weather impacts urban ministry  ...