Disaster Response: Responding to the April 5 storms
The South Georgia Conference of The United Methodist Church is immediately responding to Tuesday's destructive storms that crossed our state. Our district disaster response coordinators are out doing assessments today. More information will be forthcoming. Rev. David Thompson, Coastal District DS, Kelly Crane, Coastal District Disaster Response Coordinator, and Rev. Shannon Baxter, Conference UMVIM Coordinator, are in conversations with area agencies and area churches about a coordinated response following the tornado that hit the Bryan County area in the Coastal District. We are thankful for the churches in the area who are already meeting needs and providing support.
Please see below a message from Luis Morales about how you can respond now - through a monetary donation or putting together an ERT team. We will also be monitoring additional storms coming through our area today.
To the South Georgia Conference,
We all have watched the devastation that Tuesday, April 5 brought to Middle and South Georgia. Our prayers go to those directly affected and the first responders. Our district disaster coordinators are working with local emergency managers and making assessments.
EARLY RESPONSE TEAMS
For those who have their Early Response Team (ERT) certification, now is the opportunity to put your training to the task. Even if you have not taken an ERT class (check for classes at https://www.sgaumc.org/erttrainings), you might be able to join a team.
I am asking ERTs to check your schedules and let your district coordinators know of your availability. As a reminder, please do not self-deploy. We will be ready to go in as soon as the local community is ready for us. The six district coordinators are listed at the bottom of this email.
MONETARY DONATIONS
Monetary donations will help with storm recovery needs in the days, weeks and months ahead. Funds for our South Georgia Conference Storm Recovery efforts can be given as follows:
- Give through your local church. Your local church will then send the money to the Administrative Services Office.
- Mail a check to the Administrative Services Office. Please use Conference Advance Special #6796 - South Georgia Storm Relief (Disaster Response). Address: PO Box 7227, Macon, GA 31209.
- Online donation: Click here to donate online to the South Georgia Conference Storm Relief effort
Thank you for giving! Financial gifts will make a significant impact on any current and future relief and long-term recovery efforts.
Luis Morales
Conference disaster response coordinator
morhilll@gmail.com
478-216-7729
DISASTER RESPONSE COORDINATORS
Kelly Crane
Coastal District Coordinator
kelcrane@gmail.com
731-499-0491
Rob Belknap
North Central District Coordinator
rwbelknap@cox.net
478-397-8712
Neal Anderson
Northeast District Coordinator
nanderson@rustypigbbq.com
912-237-2557
Glenn Martin
Northwest District Coordinator
Rick Dorer will be the contact for the Northwest District this week:
Rick dorerr@bellsouth.net | 706-662-1430
Susan Hughes
South Central District Coordinator
susanjhughes17@gmail.com
229-423-9381
Thomas Smith
Southwest District Coordinator
tldsmith@icloud.com
229-378-0323