Early response teams and disaster response coordinators are at the ready in the wake of Hurricane Florence.

UMCOR reports that that conferences are as prepared as possible to respond to the potential damage caused by Hurricane Florence. As of yet, conditions are not ready for re-entry, and it is  not seeking teams to come to the area.

Cleaning kits, tool trailers and other supplies have been strategically placed throughout the region.

Hurricane Florence made landfall on Sept. 14 over Wrightsville Beach, N.C. Some areas received as much as 34 inches of rain from Sept. 13 to Sept. 16. More than 40 people were killed in the storm, nearly 2 million people fled their homes and thousands were displaced or without power.

It can be challenging to “sit back” and watch news of the clean-up unfold on various media outlets, seeing the need of our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. We want to go, to do something.

But right now, what the areas affected by Hurricane Florence need most are:

Donations. One hundred percent of your donations to UMCOR go to disaster relief. Click here to make your donation or designate an offering during church services.

If you have questions about donating, please contact donationhelp@umcor.org. To donate by check, please make your check payable to Advance GCFA and the Advance number on the memo line (901670) and mail to: Advance GCFA, PO Box 9068 GPO, New York, NY 10087-9068. To donate by phone, please call 1-888-252-6174.

Pray. As a conference, UMCOR encourages us all to be in a spirit of prayer for all those impacted by Hurricane Florence, as well as other weather disasters around the country. As United Methodists, we are inspired to pray for those who are lost, wounded, and in need of shelter and food. We are also committed to raising up in prayer the first responders who continually put themselves in harm’s way in order to ensure the rescue and welfare of those in need.

For more information on disaster response efforts for people affected by Hurricane Florence and other impending storms around the world, please visit www.umcor.org.

As a congregation, Pastor Cheryl and the Outreach Committee will continue to assess the news from Indiana UMC and look at the ways we can best serve those affected by Hurricane Florence.