Get ready to join a team from Michigan that will aid the North Georgia Conference in its long-term recovery following the devastation of Hurricane Helene.
JAMES DEATON
Content Editor
In late September 2024, Hurricane Helene devastated large sections of the southeastern United States with catastrophic wind, rain, and flooding. In response, the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) is helping to coordinate long-term disaster recovery efforts as communities in the impacted areas begin to rebuild.
UMCOR has already awarded solidarity grants to the North Georgia, South Georgia, Western North Carolina, and Holston annual conferences. They are also providing logistical support to Conference Disaster Response Coordinators (CDRCs), who manage the recovery in these areas.
UCMOR has partnered the Michigan Conference with the North Georgia Conference to assist in long-term recovery. The Michigan Conference is preparing to send trained teams in March 2025. You can join one of these teams by participating in one of two upcoming training events if you have not been through an UMCOR training before: January 4, 2025, at Chelsea: First UMC or January 25, 2025, at White Lake UMC in Montague. The deadline for the January 4 training is December 31, and for the January 25 training, it is January 20.
Rev. Bob Miller and Rev. Kayla Roosa, our Conference Disaster Response Coordinators, received an invitation through UMCOR from the North Georgia Conference requesting that teams be sent early next year to help with rebuilding efforts. Rev. Bob Freysinger and Jody Pratt, two veteran UMCOR trainers here in the Michigan Conference, will be preparing the teams for deployment to Georgia.
Have you already gone through an UMCOR training and want to reserve your spot on a Michigan team heading to Georgia, or do you still need to go through the training? Below are details for both January events. Choose the one that works best for you. In either case, if you want to join a disaster recovery team, contact Jody Pratt at [email protected] or 616-292-4908. She is also available to answer any questions you or your church may have.
Saturday, January 4, 2025
Early Response Team (ERT) Certification Training
This training is for those who wish to be certified through UMCOR for early response deployment. When called upon, these teams usually work three days to supply survivors with food, water, and shelter and help with mucking out and cleaning up (learn more about ERTs). ERTs may not be needed in Georgia, for specific work details have yet to be confirmed, but those with an ERT certification can join a long-term or Volunteers in Mission team if requested.
9 am to 5 pm Eastern, includes lunch and breaks, participant manual, and a T-shirt
Registration begins at 8:30 am
Chelsea: First UMC, 128 Park St., Chelsea, MI 48118
Cost: $35. Payment is due at the door. (Make checks payable to “Michigan Conference Disaster Response.”)
To register, contact Jody Pratt at [email protected] or 616-292-4908.
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: December 31, 2024
*Snow date: January 18, 2025
Saturday, January 25, 2025
Long-Term Disaster Recovery and Volunteers in Mission (VIM) Training
This training is for those who want to work long-term on disaster recovery teams, usually 1-2 weeks, domestic or international mission journeys, or partner with a certified Early Response Team (learn more about VIM teams). Trainers Bob Freysinger and Jody Pratt are incorporating the two training sessions for those who do not wish to be ERT certified but still wish to serve under the UMCOR umbrella.
9 am to 4 pm Eastern, includes lunch and breaks, participant manual, and a T-shirt
Registration begins at 8:30 am
White Lake UMC, 8555 Cook St., Montague, MI 49437
Cost: $30. Payment is due at the door. (Make checks payable to “Michigan Conference Disaster Response.”)
To register, contact Jody Pratt at [email protected] or 616-292-4908.
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: January 20, 2025
*Snow date: February 11, 2025
Last Updated on December 11, 2024