wfn.org | East Ohio Conference responds to flooding

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

July 15, 1998        Contact: Linda Bloom*(212)870-3803*New York
{417}

NOTE:  This is a sidebar to UMNS #416.

By Kay Panovec*

At least 11 people have died and more than $130 million in damages have
resulted from June 27 storms that caused severe flooding in several
communities in southeastern Ohio.

The East Ohio United Methodist Conference Disaster Response Committee is
coordinating efforts in nine counties: Guernsey, Noble Washington,
Monroe, Belmont, Tuscarawas, Jefferson, Morgan and Coshocton.

The hardest-hit communities include Caldwell, Cambridge, Belle Valley,
Middleburg, Urichsville and Byesville. In Elba, 22 of the 26 homes were
destroyed. In addition to the hundreds of demolished homes and
businesses, at least 15 United Methodist churches and several parsonages
were affected.    

"It will take several months to recover from this type of destruction,"
said the Rev. Antonio Jones, the conference disaster response
coordinator. "There is an immediate need for literally hundreds of
volunteers to come to the disaster sites and help clean up the homes and
businesses that were destroyed," 

Those interested in volunteering should call Epworth Center in Bethesda,
Ohio, at (740) 484-4705. A conference agency, the Epworth Center is home
of the S.O.W.E.R. Work Mission Program. Volunteers should bring shovels,
work boots, work gloves, long pants, surgical masks, latex gloves.
Volunteers need a tetanus shot before going into the area.  

Many of the flood victims did not have flood insurance, and assistance
from federal and state agencies is expected to be severely limited.
People interested in making financial contributions can make checks
payable to the East Ohio Conference.  The memo section of the checks
should read "Disaster Response Advance Special Fund, Conference EOC
#9200."

# # #

*Panovec is on the communications staff of the United Methodist Church's
East Ohio Annual (regional) Conference.
 

United Methodist News Service
(615)742-5470
Releases and photos also available at
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