DISASTER RESPONSE UPDATE
Brethren Disaster Response has been operating 4 Katrina recovery projects simultaneously since mid-February. The Brethren have taken the call for increased numbers of volunteers seriously, and we have had full work crews almost every week since the beginning of the year.
Brethren Disaster Response is making a difference! Here is what one survivor from Slidell, La., Adam A., says about the difference we have made in his life, “We were severely impacted by Katrina and are receiving amazing help from a group of Brethren... I am touched by their service, concern and compassion… The brethren that I have met truly are amazing representatives of Christ and stand as the salt of the earth. This has answered years of daily prayers and lifted a terrible burden from my shoulders.”
VOLUNTEERS SOUGHT FOR SPRING AND SUMMER TIME SLOTS
Just as the needs of Katrina survivors continue year round, so does the need for volunteers continue. Tens of thousands of families are still living in FEMA trailers. In most storm-impacted communities, only a fraction of the work to be done has been completed. There are a number of spring and summer time slots that are still open and urgently in need of volunteers, including:
CHALMETTE, LA (ST. BERNARD PARISH): The weeks beginning May 20, May 27, June 3, July 8, July 15, August 19 PEARL RIVER, LA: The weeks of May 27 and August 12 LUCEDALE, MS: The week of May 27 MCCOMB, MS: The week of May 27
Please share this call for volunteers as widely as possible.
HURRICANE KATRINA – Background Information: Although Hurricane Katrina made landfall in southeastern Louisiana, heavy damage can be found within a 100-mile radius of the storm’s center in Mississippi and Alabama as well as Louisiana. The official death toll attributed to Katrina has climbed to 1,836, making Katrina the deadliest hurricane since 1928. Katrina is also by far the costliest hurricane in U.S. history, with $75 billion in damages. An estimated 350,000 homes were destroyed and many thousands more damaged.
What to Bring – All Projects: All volunteers need to bring their own towels, pillows, and bedding. Volunteers doing roof work should have good traction shoes that would grip well on the roof. Volunteers who are skilled in a trade may bring some of their own specialty tools if they wish, but be sure to mark them with ID. Remember to bring money to cover travel and any meals taken as you travel, including Sunday dinner.
March 22, 2007, Page 2
CHALMETTE (ST. BERNARD PARISH), LA RECOVERY PROJECT
Chalmette is in St. Bernard Parish, where Katrina caused the levee failures that inundated homes throughout the parish with 6-20 feet of water for over 2 weeks. Over 200 parish residents lost their lives, and 100% percent of the homes were officially declared "uninhabitable." Nearly 50% of the residents were senior citizens.
Work to Be Done: Brethren Disaster Response is coordinating efforts with the St. Bernard Project, a local all-volunteer organization. The city has taken care of demolishing houses and clearing debris. Volunteers are doing major repair work including insulation, drywall, laminate flooring, plumbing, electric, roofing, etc. - just the basics to allow people to get back into their homes.
Volunteer Housing: Six trailers are on loan from FEMA for the Brethren volunteers’ use. Four trailers are for the work crews and two are for the project directors. The trailers are located in a trailer community of Katrina survivors. These trailers sleep 3 persons each, for a maximum of 12. But do the math - if you have both men and women, in order to accommodate 12, each gender needs to be in multiples of 3! If not in multiples of 3, this will reduce your group size to 10 or 11, which is okay. The trailers are air-conditioned and equipped with a double bed, a single bunk, a sofa, a bathroom and a kitchenette. Volunteers will be asked to help keep their own trailers tidy on a daily basis. Note: The State Park has RV sites 10 miles away, rate $8 per night, full hookups, 15 night maximum stay. Reservations can be made through project office. There will be no RV sites at volunteer location.
Volunteer Meals: Volunteers will prepare and eat their breakfast and pack their lunch in their own trailer. Suppers are provided for volunteers free of charge at Camp Hope, about 4 miles away. COOKS ARE NOT NEEDED. Camp Hope also has a coin-operated laundry.
McCOMB, MISSISSIPPI: HURRICANE KATRINA
McComb is in southwestern Mississippi, just north of the Louisiana border. The local recovery organization we are working with is Southwest Mississippi Recovery Network (SWMRN). Judy Powell Sibley, Director/Chair, remarked, "...We are thrilled at the prospect of having your folks with us and will do everything to help them be comfortable and productive... With your coming, I feel a huge burden lifted to help secure the storm affected families in our area."
Work to be Done: Roof damage has resulted in water-damaged interiors requiring removal and replacement of walls, ceilings, floors, etc. Black mold is a problem in many homes and requires cleanup. We will possibly construct new homes as well. A Disaster Response pickup truck, a van, and a tool trailer are on site.
Volunteer Housing and Meals: Accommodations are in the Ferguson House, which has 3 bedrooms equipped with bunks, 4½ baths, 4 showers, and a washer and dryer. Please hold group size to 15 max. Note: Please include an assistant cook with your group.
PEARL RIVER (ST. TAMMANY PARISH,) LOUISIANA: HURRICANE KATRINA
Hurricane Katrina’s 12-16 foot storm surge, 10-inch rainfall, and sustained winds over 110 mph, together with the flooding of Lake Pontchartrain, spelled inescapable devastation for St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, which is situated on the lake’s northern shore. Significant flooding and wind damage affected the town of Slidell and surrounding communities. This project opened on October 15 and is based in Pearl River, a small town outside of Slidell. The local long-term recovery committee, Northshore Recovery, Inc., is encouraged by our assistance. Coordinator Dale Kimball reports, “We have more than enough work to support volunteer efforts for the next 3-5 years.”
Work to Be Done: Much of the work entails all types of major repairs to flood-damaged and wind-damaged homes. There is also some debris clean-up and demolition work to be done. A Disaster Response pickup truck, a van, and a tool trailer are on site.
Volunteer Housing and Meals: Volunteers are being housed in the Agape Building of the Pearl River United Methodist Church. The facility is equipped with cots with foam mattresses. As with all disaster response projects, housing and meals are provided free of charge to the volunteers. Please hold group size to 15 max. Note: Please include an assistant cook with your group. Important: We need to vacate the building on Saturday nights. Groups staying over Saturday night will need to find alternate housing, such as a local hotel. Note: Volunteers who think they might have difficulty sleeping on a cot are encouraged to bring their own air mattress.
LUCEDALE, MISSISSIPPI: HURRICANE KATRINA
The Lucedale project was opened in January 2006, and there is still a lot of work to be done. Lucedale is in George County, on the far eastern side of the state, and suffered damage mainly from wind, water damage due to rain, and fallen trees.
Work to Be Done: We are working on roofing jobs, major remodeling and other types of repairs, and an occasional complete rebuild. Building codes in Miss. do allow out-of-state electricians and plumbers to work, so that’s a plus for us to be able to use volunteers with those skills. A Disaster Response pickup truck, a minivan, and tool trailer are on site.
Volunteer Housing and Meals: Volunteer housing is in a recreation building owned by the Pleasant Hill United Methodist Church. This facility is like a gymnasium with a lounge, kitchen, men's and women's bathrooms, and 4 showers. The gym is partitioned for men's and women's sleeping areas and furnished with single beds. Please hold group size to 16 max. Note: Please include an assistant cook with your group.
DISASTER RESPONSE LEADERSHIP SEMINAR
Mark your calendars now! All Disaster Project Directors AND District Disaster Coordinators are invited to New Windsor for the Disaster Response Leadership Seminar. DDC’s will meet November 12-14, 2007, and DPD’s will meet November 13-15. Many of you have requested a joint meeting between the two groups, and this will take place the morning of November 14. A letter with details and registration form will be coming soon.
NEW NAMES FOR EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROGRAMS
For some time now, the Emergency Response staff has been discussing changing the names of the Emergency Response programs, since “Emergency Response/Service Ministries” does not identify us as a Brethren organization, nor does it accurately identify what we do. Also, Service Ministries (material resources) is actually a separate program. The new name that has been decided upon and approved is “Brethren Disaster Ministries,” which we feel more adequately reflects who we are and what our mission is.
Also undergoing a name change is Disaster Child Care, which seems to carry the connotation of a babysitting service rather than helping children cope following disasters. The new name will be “Children’s Disaster Services,” which encompasses the expanding services we provide now and hope to include in the future.
Slight modifications are being made to the logos of both programs. The new names and logos will become effective in the coming months.
“Whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant … just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve.” Matthew 20: 26b, 28a
CHALMETTE, LA (St. Bernard Parish) – HURRICANE KATRINA March 22, 2007
Volunteer Housing: FEMA Trailer Lot next to St. Bernard Project office
CoB Project Telephone: 504-715-9594, 504-452-5879 Project cell phones
Mailing Address: c/o St. Bernard Project
8324 Parc Place
Chalmette, LA 70043
Long Term Recovery Organization: St. Bernard Project, telephone, 504-277-6831
Directions to St. Bernard Project: From the intersections of I-59, I-12, and I-10 just east of Slidell, LA:
Proceed on I-10 West toward New Orleans
Exit off I-10 onto I-510 toward Chalmette Follow I-510 to the end. It becomes Rt. 47 Continue on Rt. 47 into Chalmette Turn right onto W. Judge Perez Drive, and proceed until you see Home Depot on right.
Turn right at the second traffic light after Home Depot (Jean LaFitte Parkway is the first light and has a street sign). The second light is Dr. Meraux Blvd. There is no street sign, but the name may help with using Map Quest. There is a Capital One bank on the corner.
We are on the right side in Trailers DM12 and DM18. The tool trailer is parked next to DM18.
Disaster Project Directors:
March – December: John and Mary Mueller
March – August: Trevor Myers, BVS’er
Volunteer Work Assignments:
March 25-31: Western Plains
April 1-14: Closed for Easter
April 15-21: Shenandoah
April 22-28: Mid-Atlantic
April 29 – May 5: Western Pennsylvania
May 6-12: Shenandoah
May 13-19: Southern Pennsylvania
May 20-26: OPEN
May 27 – June 2: OPEN
June 3-9: OPEN
June 10-16: Southern Ohio
June 17-23: Southern Ohio
June 24-30: Virlina
July 1-7: Have room for 10 more
John & Bonnie Glick
July 8-14: OPEN
July 15-21: OPEN
July 22-28: West Green Tree CoB (Atlantic Northeast)
July 29 – Aug. 4: South/Central Indiana
August 5-11: Atlantic Northeast
August 12-18: Illinois & Wisconsin
August 19-25: OPEN
Aug. 26 – Sept. 1: Southeastern
Fall Dates Reserved:
October 14-20: Mid-Atlantic
October 28 – Nov. 3: Buffalo Valley CoB (Southern PA)
November 11-17: Beaver Creek CoB (Shenandoah )
MCCOMB, MISSISSIPPI – HURRICANE KATRINA
Volunteer Housing: Ferguson House
723 1st Street
McComb, MS 39648
Mailing Address: Church of the Brethren
P.O. Box 1129
McComb, MS 39649
Telephone: 410-596-3427, 410-596-8697 (Project cell phones)
Land line, 601-684-8866
Directions: From I-55 South, merge onto US 98 East / Presley Blvd. W. / MS 24 East via Exit 15-A toward Tylertown. Turn left onto Witterman St. Turn right onto 21st St. Turn left onto 1st St.
Disaster Project Directors:
March: Ken & LouElla Imhoff
March 3-24: Dale Roth, in training
April – May 12: Becky and Eddie Motley
May 10-31: Stan & Hazel Barkdoll; Gene Worley, cook
June: Larry and Alice Petry
June: Tom and Nancy Sheen, in training (2 weeks, end of month)
July: Bill Kaysen
September: Stan and Hazel Barkdoll
October: Eddie and Becky Motley; Tom and Nancy Sheen, assisting
Volunteer Work Assignments:
March 25-31: Pleasant Dale CoB (S/C Indiana), Youth and Adults
CP: Larry Thom, 260-223-0958
April 1-7: Glade Valley CoB (Mid-Atlantic)
April 8-14: Peak Creek CoB, Southeastern (Note: April 8 is Easter Sunday)
April 15-21: Middlebury CoB (N. Indiana), Dana Snyder, 574-825-5125
April 22-28: Mexico CoB (S/C Ind.) CP: Todd Wenger
April 29 – May 5: Southeastern
May 6-12: Michigan
May 13-19: Northern Plains
May 20-26: Illinois and Wisconsin
May 27 – June 2: OPEN
June 3-9: CoB Young Adult Ministries, CP: Steve Van Houten
June 10-16: CoB Senior High, CP: Steve Van Houten
June 17-23: CoB BRF Senior High, CP: Steve Van Houten
June 24-30: CoB Senior High, CP: Steve Van Houten
July 1-7: OPEN (Note: This is Annual Conference Week)
July 8-14: Little Swatara CoB Youth (Atlantic NE)
July 15-21: Middle Pennsylvania
July 22-28: Lake View Christian Fellowship Youth (Southern PA)
July 29 – Aug. 4: Lake View Christian Fellowship (Southern PA)
August: Closed for remainder of the month
Fall Dates Reserved:
September 9-15: Atlantic Northeast
September 23-29: Grossnickle CoB, Mid-Atlantic
Sept. 30 – Oct. 6: Pleasant Valley CoB, Shenandoah
October 14-20: Pleasant Valley CoB, Shenandoah
October 21-27: Virlina
November 11-17: Middle Pennsylvania
December 2-8: Atlantic Northeast
PEARL RIVER, LOUISIANA – HURRICANE KATRINA
Volunteer Housing: Pearl River UMC
Agape Building
65480 Hwy 41, P.O. Box 548
Pearl River, LA 70452
Telephone: 985‑863‑7965 (Land line)
410-259-9634 (Project cell phone)
Directions: From I-59, take Exit 3 onto Route 41 toward Pearl River. Go approximately 3 miles. The church is on the right, just after the Junior High School. Proceed to the Agape Building on the far left of the property.
Disaster Project Directors
March – April: Bob and Marianne Pittman (ar. 2/25)
March: Jan Thompson, assisting (ar. 2/28)
March: Diane Fox, in training
April: Kay Thomas, in training (tentative)
May – Sept.: Phil and Joan Taylor, assistants
May: Larry and Sandee Kitzel
June: Jim and Lois Kime
July: Don Atkins
August: Ken and LouElla Imhoff (tentative)
August: Ron and Sharon Reich, in training (2 weeks)
September: Elvin Wagner
Oct. – Nov.: Jim and Clareen Dunn
Volunteer Work Assignments
March 25-31: Shenandoah
April 1-7: Frederick Co. (MD) Career & Tech Center (age 16-17). Jim Dorsch, construction skills teacher and member, Frederick CoB. (Holy Week)
April 8-14: Bob Pittman’s brothers and friends – We have room for more
April 15-21: Atlantic Northeast
April 22-28: Little Swatara CoB (Atlantic NE)
April 29 – May 5: West Marva
May 6-12: South/Central Indiana
May 13-19: Northern Ohio
May 20-26: Middle Pennsylvania
May 27 – June 2: OPEN
June 3-9: Northern Indiana
June 10-16: Lima CoB Youth, Northern Ohio
June 17-23: Atlantic Northeast District Youth
June 24-30: Bush Creek CoB, Frederick CoB (Mid-Atlantic)
July 1-7: Chiques CoB (Atlantic NE)
July 8-14: Oregon & Washington
July 15-21: Yorkana CoB Youth (Southern PA)
July 22-28: Beaver Creek Youth (Mid-Atlantic)
July 29 – Aug. 4: Shenandoah
August 5-11: Western Pennsylvania
August 12-18: OPEN
August 19-25: Northern Indiana
Aug. 26 – Sept. 1: Northern Plains
Fall Dates Reserved:
September 16-22: Middle Pennsylvania
October 7-13: Atlantic Northeast
October 14-20: Southern Ohio
Oct. 28 – Nov. 3: Atlantic Northeast
November 4-10: Staunton CoB (Shenandoah), CP: Pastor Jerry Ruff
November 11-17: Atlantic Northeast
December 2-8: Mid-Atlantic
LUCEDALE, MISSISSIPPI – HURRICANE KATRINA
Volunteer Housing: Pleasant Hill UMC
Butler Building
111 Pleasant Hill Church Road
Lucedale, MS
Mailing Address: Pleasant Hill UMC
1172 River Rd.
Lucedale, MS 39452
Telephone: 601-947-1020 (Land line)
410-596-9118 (Project cell phone – area does not have strong signal)
Directions: From Hwy. 98 in George County, Miss., take Moss Point/Pascagoula exit to Hwy. 63 South. Proceed 12.8 miles to Ellis Hodges Road (you’ll see a sign for Agri Nation Equipment Sales and Service) and turn right. Proceed 3 miles to the end and turn right onto River Rd. Go about two tenths of a mile. Church is on the right at Pleasant Hill Church Rd.
Disaster Project Directors
March: Jimmy and Mary Ellen Spencer
March: Leonard and Helen Stoner, in training
April: Bud and Dee Fillmore; Don Henderson
May: Howard Garwick; Paul Becker, assistant; JoAnn Dibert, cook
June: Marv & Regina Zimmerman
Volunteer Work Assignments
March 25-31: Southern Pennsylvania
April 1-7: Southern Ohio (Holy Week)
April 8-14: OPEN (Note: April 8 is Easter Sunday)
April 15-21: Virlina
April 22-28: Missouri & Arkansas
April 29 – May 5: Atlantic Southeast
May 6-12: Virlina
May 13-26: Atlantic Northeast (Two Weeks)
May 27 – June 2: OPEN
June 3-9: Crab Run CoB (Shenandoah)
June 10-16: Marion CoB (Northern Ohio)
June 17-23: Manchester CoB (S/C Indiana), Jim Chinworth, 260-982-7523
June 24-30: Mechanic Grove CoB Youth, AND
July and August: Closed for two months.
Updated March 27, 2007
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