wfn.org | Churches respond to disaster caused by Kansas floods

[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.UMC.ORG>]

Nov. 17, 1998        Contact: Linda Bloom*(212)870-3803*New York
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By George Piper*

STRONG CITY, Kan. (UMNS) -- Folks in Chase County knew they had a
disaster on their hands well before the federal government made the
official declaration in November. 

The small rural county of slightly more than 3,000 residents had 165
homes damaged by the overflowing Cottonwood River, including 34 of 35
homes in the tiny community of Elmdale. Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA) field workers are gathering information from flood
survivors there as the recovery process begins. 

"A lot of (residents) are waiting to hear what FEMA says before they
decide to rebuild," said Ellie Foster, a minister for United Methodist
congregations in Cottonwood Falls and Bazaar. "Some of them have already
said, 'We're out of here.'" 

Federal officials have expanded the original disaster declaration in
Kansas to include Chase, Coffey, Franklin, Harvey, Lyon, Neosho, Sumner
and Wilson counties. The initial order on Nov. 5 named three counties:
Butler, Cowley and Sedgwick. Elmdale and Strong City bore much of the
brunt in last month's flooding in Chase County. 

The Halloween night floods kept disaster response groups busy for days
and promises to occupy their time in the coming months. 

Some 200 people per day ate in church kitchens across the county as
flood survivors waited to return home or looked for new residences. The
mass servings have ended, but the Salvation Army, which provided food
for churches to cook and serve, will operate a canteen for a few more
weeks.
 
The Chase County Ministerial Alliance expects to play a major role in
the recovery as it prepares for post-disaster challenges of handling
unmet needs and attracting volunteers for rebuilding projects, said
Foster, who has taken on most of the administrative chores for the
alliance. 

In the short term, the organization plans to include dinner with its
community-wide Thanksgiving service. And as the holidays approach, the
alliance wants to expand its "adopt-a-child" gift program to entire
families. 
            
"There's a lot of families that don't have children that are going to
need a little TLC at Christmas," Foster explained. 

The alliance also established a telephone line to handle calls from
residents and potential volunteers. 
            
The volunteers who spent time tearing out Sheetrock and cleaning mud
from soaked homes impressed Foster. Their efforts also had an impact on
the flood survivors. 

"Folks are feeling kind of overwhelmed by the volunteers that have
come," the minister said. 

Caught between providing relief work and beginning the long recovery
process, the area's biggest need now is patience, said Foster, noting
that many people are angry and frustrated. The alliance arranged for a
mental health center in nearby Emporia to provide free counseling to
survivors. 
             
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*This story was provided by Disaster News Network, which can be visited
online at http://www.disasternews.net .

United Methodist News Service
(615)742-5470
Releases and photos also available at
http://www.umc.org/umns/