SOS! In case of emergency.
You've had a disaster. Now what? Click button at left.
Be prepared: Download, print, and store
When disaster strikes, electricity often goes away. That is why you need to download the Michigan Conference Disaster Ministry Plan, read it, share it, and prepare your local church on how to respond.
Questions?
Rev. Kayla Roosa
Disaster Response Coordinator
[email protected]
Rev. Bob Miller
Disaster Response Coordinator
[email protected]
Michigan is ready to respond
Tornadoes, floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, famine; anything that disrupts people’s lives and places life at risk, calls us to be the compassionate hands and feet of Jesus Christ. The Michigan Disaster Response Team works year round to prepare, plan and equip teams so we can respond when disaster strikes.
Learn how you can help without hurting the response process and then see updates on response projects we are involved with.
Four ways you can help with disasters.
1. Pray
We are called to pray, organize prayer groups and chains and bathe those in need in prayers of peace, God’s abundant Grace, wholeness and safety for those affected and those there to help.2. Give
While our immediate compassionate instinct is to send food, clothing and household items in times of crisis, we recognize that often causes more harm than good. In the initial crisis phase, there is no more flexible, reliable and effective response than a financial gift to either our Michigan Conference Response and Recovery or United Methodist Committee on Relief, where 100% goes directly to aid, UMCOR Sunday.
3. Donate
Preparedness. We assemble thousands of flood clean-up buckets and personal hygiene kits during the year, so when disaster strikes, we are able to load them on trucks and get them to the right place in days. Working with other annual conferences, we keep centralized response kits ready to go.
4. Volunteer
Michigan coordinates with national, state and local agencies to bring wholeness to disaster zones. Disaster zones are dangerous so our volunteers arrive only after first responders have completed their rescue missions. At the invitation of the affected community our teams move in and often for years following the crisis. To accomplish this we must be trained and prepared. Connect with Bob & Kayla, our co-Disaster Response Coordinators or push the button below to learn about responding following a disaster through Early Response Teams (ERTs) and Volunteers in Mission (VIM).
Training Events & Upcoming Opportunities
Learn about the historic 2021 Detroit flood
The 100 Year Flood documentary follows a West Ohio ERT team into Detroit to see the flood damage and its impact on aging infrastructure. A 4-session Bible study accompanies the documentary and asks, Will people change the ways they live to reduce the likelihood of events like this for their neighbors in Detroit and around the world?
Michigan Conference Early Response Team (ERT) Basic Training
What does it take to become an UMCOR-certified ERT volunteer? $35 and one day! That is all. One eight-hour training day gives you the basics for entering a disaster zone. You will receive a badge certifying you for three years of service, a T-shirt with the Michigan ERT Logo, a manual explaining what you can and can’t do, and lunch. This all comes with needed information by a certified ERT Trainer.
With a badge, T-shirt, and manual, you and a team of at least seven ERT volunteers will be ready when a request comes for assistance from the Michigan Conference Disaster Response Coordinator or one of the other annual conferences in The United Methodist Church. You will be invited in to get dirty, sweaty, and tired by mucking out basements, removing drywall, tarping roofs, and removing damaged furniture and belongings, all for the joy of serving God as the hands and feet of Christ. Click here to learn more about being on an ERT team.
Do you have questions? Contact the Michigan Conference Early Response Team Trainers, Bob Freysinger, [email protected], or Jody Pratt, [email protected]. They will gladly work with you to schedule an ERT training in your area. UMCOR requires at least 10 people, with a maximum of 20.
Early Response Team (ERT) Certification
Saturday, May 10, 2025
8:30 AM Check-in (for pre-registered participants)
9 am – 5 pm includes lunch and breaks, participant manual, and a t-shirt
Cornerstone Church, 1675 84th St. SE , Caledonia, MI 49316
Cost: $35 covers materials, lunch, shirt.
Payment due at the door. (Make checks payable to MI Conf Disaster Response
Instructor: Bob Freysinger, Senior MI ERT Trainer and Jody Pratt, VIM Coordinator
This training is for those who wish to be certified through UMCOR for the early response deployment.
Pre-registration required. Contact Jody Pratt at [email protected] or 616.292.4908 to register.
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: May 1, 2025
*Interested in hosting a training? Contact Jody Pratt at [email protected] or 616.292.4908.
Long-Term Recovery Disaster Response and Volunteer in Mission Training
Saturday, February 22, 2025
9 am – 4 pm includes lunch and breaks, participant manual, and a t-shirt
Registration begins at 8:30 AM
Central Michigan University (CMU) Wesley House, 1400 S Washington St, Mt Pleasant, MI 48858
Cost: $30 covers materials, lunch, shirt. Payment due at the door. (Make checks payable to MI Conf Disaster Response)
**Please register prior to training.
Instructor: Jody Pratt, VIM Coordinator
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. Trainer Jody Pratt is incorporating the two training sessions for those who do not want to be certified but still wish to serve under the UMCOR umbrella. We will offer the certification training in Winter/Spring 2025 as churches volunteer to host. Also open to interested Michigan Conference volunteers.
Registration and questions contact Jody Pratt at [email protected] or 616.292.4908
DEADLINE: Febuary 17, 2025
Connecting Neighbors Local Disaster Response UMCOR Training
Is your church or community looking for ways to respond to local disasters in a timely, organized, and effective way? UMCOR offers a four-hour training that does not require certification or out-of-state travel. Connecting Neighbors provides the church and community with an action plan to assess and provide emergency care within the area affected by a disaster.
Training: Four hours (Can hold one or two sessions) *Local churches or districts can request a trainer: Jody Pratt [email protected]
Cost: Materials and snacks
Trainer: Jody Pratt MI VIM/ERT, [email protected]
Please allow 6-8 weeks for registration and implementation.
When training is scheduled, please consider the option of opening registration to other individuals and groups within your district or conference.
Last Updated on March 21, 2025