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Relief agency executive offers tips for disaster response

Sep. 22, 2005

NOTE: A photograph of the Rev. Tom Hazelwood, audio bites and related
coverage are available at http://umns.umc.org.

By United Methodist News Service

People of faith can respond in many ways to provide healing and support
in the face of devastating hurricanes and other disasters, according to
a United Methodist relief official.

The Rev. Tom Hazelwood, disaster response executive for the United
Methodist Committee on Relief, shared five tips for responding to such
disasters during an interview with the Rev. Larry Hollon, top executive
of United Methodist Communications.

"The most important thing people can do is support UMCOR financially,"
Hazelwood said. The relief agency provides a long-term response to needs
resulting from such disasters, and the money raised will be used by
UMCOR for years to come.

"Second of all, people can give appropriate material resources,"
Hazelwood said. In most disasters, UMCOR asks for specific items,
usually flood buckets and health kits, and the agency will make other
needs known as they arise.

Giving material support doesn't mean cleaning out your closets or garage
and sending those items, he said. "That's not appropriate giving."

Third, people can pray - pray for those affected by the storm and for
those who respond to the disaster. "That's an important resource,"
Hazelwood said.

Fourth, people can volunteer to help with the recovery. "We need more
people to contact Volunteers In Mission" through their annual conference
or other means, he said. People can create a team or join one that is
already planning to work in the disaster area.

Finally, Hazelwood encourages people to seek support for relief at their
place of work. "Encourage your business or wherever you work to support
UMCOR and the work that we do."

Hazelwood and other relief workers met with Hollon and the Rev. Randy
Day, top executive of the denomination's Board of Global Ministries, in
early September. Visiting Louisiana and Mississippi, Hollon also spoke
with the Rev. Mary Gaudreau, director of care ministries for United
Methodist Disaster Response in the Oklahoma Annual (regional)
Conference.

Gaudreau, deployed to Mississippi by UMCOR, emphasized the importance of
realizing that God is working through the community of faith.

"My experience with disaster is ... we allow God to be God, and
incredible things happen," she said. "Wondrous things happen in terms of
coincidences that aren't really coincidences. We see prayers that are
answered."

Information on supporting UMCOR through giving, assembling material
resources or volunteering is available online at
http://gbgm-umc.org/umcor/info.stm. Go to the drop-down menu at the
bottom of the page and click on your area of interest.

News media contact: Tim Tanton, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5470 or
newsdesk@umcom.org.

********************

United Methodist News Service
Photos and stories also available at:
http://umns.umc.org

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