wfn.org | Flood Victims Need Help

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"UNITED METHODIST DAILY NEWS" by SUSAN PEEK on Aug. 11, 1991 at 13:58 Eastern,
about FULL TEXT RELEASES FROM UNITED METHODIST NEWS SERVICE (3506 notes).

Note 3504 by UMNS on March 21, 1997 at 15:58 Eastern (2510 characters).

Produced by United Methodist News Service, official news agency of
the United Methodist Church, with offices in Nashville, Tenn., New
York, and Washington.

CONTACT:  Joretta Purdue                         150(10-71B){3504}
          Washington, D.C.  (202) 546-8722          March 21, 1997

Flood victims need helping hands
for three-year recovery period

                 by United Methodist News Service

     Disaster response officials in Kentucky have issued a call
for volunteers to assist with cleanup and recovery throughout most
of that state -- probably the state hit the hardest by the March
floods.
     The Rev. Roger Newell, a co-coordinator of disaster response
for the Kentucky Conference of the United Methodist Church, said
that 117 of the state's 120 counties were declared disaster areas,
and he expected the other three might be added too.
     On March 20, the Rev. Charles Douglas, also a disaster
response co-coordinator for the Kentucky Conference, and
representatives of the United Methodist Committee on Relief
(UMCOR) arranged for a warehouse in Frankfort for supplies.
     Three weeks after the flooding began, Newell said Kentucky is
making a three-year recovery plan. Early volunteer teams have been
deployed in the mud-out and cleanup phases and will continue to be
needed for a long time. 
     Cleanup and assessment are projected to continue at least
into April and maybe into May, Douglas said.
     The Reelfoot Rural Ministries facility is serving as
warehouse for the Memphis Conference. The conference has agreed
that United Methodist volunteers will be responsible for helping
Obion residents with their cleanup and recovery. One of the other
flooded towns along the Obion River is being cleaned up by the
Baptists, according to Cathy Farmer, editor of the conference
paper.
     Disaster response co-coordinators are asking that people not
send used clothing. In one area so much used clothing had been
brought to one church that it could not be used for services or
anything else.
     Volunteers from outside the affected conferences are urged to
call the UMCOR hot line, (800) 918-3100, to indicate their
availability.
     To arrange for shipments of supplies to the appropriate
warehouse contact the UMCOR depot at (800) 814-8765 for referrals
to the area of greatest need.
     Funds for relief and recovery efforts may be sent to UMCOR,
marked Seven State Spring Storm, No. 901680-3.
                              #  #  #

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