UMCOR/Kansas West Conference of the United Methodist Church - Greensburg, KS Volunteer Opportunities

UMCOR Helps Kansans Rise from Statewide Damage

NEW YORK, May 10, 2007—Storm damage in Kansas is widespread
from a violent weather system that blew through the Midwest
May 4 -5. “An entire community was destroyed in Greensburg
but nearly the entire state is suffering insult from the
powerful phenomena of nature,” report Shirley and Joe Edgerton
in a statewide assessment. They are UMCOR-trained disaster
response volunteers for the Kansas East Annual Conference.

Wind and rain caused severe damage in the state prompting 25
counties to declare local disaster emergencies from flooding
alone. Steve Burnett, another UMCOR-trained disaster responder,
is working to set up a disaster response office and is locating
housing for the many volunteers who will be needed not only to
rebuild Greensburg, which lost 600 homes in a tornado on May 4,
but also for other areas affected by the severe weather. “Not
only do we need teams preparing to rebuild a town, but somehow
we can’t lose all those folks living on the country roads hidden
by broken trees, or the ones in their basements tearing up
carpets,” comment the Edgertons.

Throughout this process UMCOR disaster consultant Bob Baer has
been providing support to the conference disaster coordinators.

UMCOR will continue to provide financial and personnel support
to the areas affected by these severe storms for as long as it
is needed.

HOW YOU CAN HELP:

Cash gifts will help provide for recovery. Checks can be mailed
to UMCOR PO Box 9068, New York, NY 10087. Write “UMCOR Advance
#901680, Midwest Tornado Response,” on the memo line of your check.
One hundred percent of every donation to any appeal, including
appeals for Kansas recovery, goes to support the designated
program.

VOLUNTEERS:

If you are interested in volunteering to help in the storm
recovery effort, please call the VOLUNTEER HOTLINE at:

1-800-918-3100

----------------------------------------------------

Volunteer In Mission teams will also be needed. A temporary
volunteer coordination office has been set up in Wichita.

Contact:

Bev Weber at 800-745-2350 or bweber@kswestumc.org

A volunteer coordination office closer to Greensburg will be
set up as soon as possible.