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Please share the following information from FEMA with homeowners and others with damage from the recent tornados.

Register for FEMA Assistance at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or online at www.fema.gov.

When registering you need:

• Phone number (incase FEMA needs to call back)
• Social Security number
• Current mailing address
• Address of damaged property
• Brief description of the damage
• Insurance information (if you have insurance)

Please note:

• You may be elligible, but you must apply.
• Federal disaster assistance covers basic needs only and will not normally compensate for entire loss.
• If you have insurance, some programs may hel ppay for basic needs not covered by your policy.
• Some disaster aid doesn't have to be repaid, while other help may be in the form of low interest loans.

By Micheal Selleck, Director of Connectional Ministries

As the needs of victims from last week’s storms begin to emerge, let me thank you all for sticking with our current disaster plan—and for your cooperation as new appropriate plans of action are developed.   As we know, disaster response needs change hour by hour—our goal is to be rigorous in our assistance, while being cognizant of other official helpers in the area. 

Here is where things stand at the moment:

Last Monday, I urged all disaster response teams to register with Mike Yoder, our conference committee disaster chairperson.  Dozens and dozens have done so.  Thank you! If you haven't registered your team to assist with any immediate needs and especially for the long term rebuilding process ahead, contact Mr. Mike Yoder at yoderjm(at)yahoo.com today.  Mr. Yoder is doing two things with the teams that have registered. 

#1) He is sending out some teams immediately to answer all requests that come in day by day.  For example, we sent two chainsaw teams to Martha Brown UMC yesterday taking care of fallen trees as well as assessing minor damage to their building.  We've even sent some disaster teams to other Methodist conferences this week. 

#2) Mr. Yoder is currently assessing response team skills, training, and availability.  This vital information will allow him to dispatch the best-equipped and best-skilled teams to the places of specific need as home rebuilding begins in the near future. 

Please note: official city, county, and state agencies that are organizing relief efforts are well aware of the North Georgia United Methodist Disaster teams.  They know that our teams are very proficient in specific construction skills such as roofing and dry walling.  They have said very clearly they do not want our high-skill teams to come in before they are ready for us! When the plans are set, and the processes for recovery have begun, our teams will be some of the first teams in--and most likely be the last teams out.  

Please be assured your North Georgia United Methodist disaster teams are responding to each and every request that is being asked of us.  We are mustering our vast resources and Christian witness for the big disaster response push that is still a few days ahead of us.

As you ponder all things this Holy Week, keep in mind that for many, the destruction of their homes and property will always be remembered as a dark day.  Our efforts, gifts, hands, and witness may be the Easter symbol that gives people them hope for a new life and a new beginning.

By Micheal Selleck, Director of Connectional Ministries

This morning we are getting a better look at the full scope of damages from the tornados and storms this weekend.

Damages are reported in 22 counties of North Georgia.  There have also been three deaths reported.  One of the deceased was a member at Second Avenue UMC of the Rome Carrollton District.  As of this writing, there have been no United Methodist church buildings or properties that sustained any catastrophic damages. 

Downtown Atlanta is an economic hub for the region—lost revenues will climb into the millions of dollars before things are “back to normal.”  It is logical to assume that most of the governmental relief crews and agencies will focus in the downtown area until stability is regained.   

What possibly may be put on the back burner are the homes and neighborhoods that suffered just as much devastation, but aren’t on the economic scale of downtown Atlanta.  These are the areas that United Methodist volunteers, and other organizations of similar stripe, are needed now and into the foreseeable future.

If you or your church disaster response team are interested in how and where to get involved, please check with your pastor who can direct you in the proper channels.

Thank you for your prayers, interests, and willingness to serve in this time of trial for so many folks in Georgia.

By Micheal Selleck, Director of Connectional Ministries

I’m writing to give readers a quick update of where things stand with the storms yesterday and today.  Please note: This data is time sensitive and reflects what has been passed to us at this point.

Friday Night Damage--UPDATE
From the daylight photos on the news, we can see there is going to be a good amount of cleanup in the downtown area of Atlanta.  Prior to checkpoints being set up, Associate Connectional Ministries Director, Rev. Shari Rates was inside the storm corridor early this morning taking photos and assessing the damage.  she will be providing us with personal accounts of what will be needed in the days and weeks ahead.  Rev. Byron Thomas of Central UMC reports that, despite the fact they are very close to the Georgia Dome, they only received power outages and no wind damage.  

Saturday Damage UPDATE--Saturday 5:15pm
Violent storms continue even at the time of this web post.  The folks at Aragon UMC were caught in the midst of their Easter egg hunt, but took refuge inside the building--all are fine.  There is reportedly a heavy amount of damage in Cedartown.  Due to power outtages, District Superintendent, Jacquie Rose Tucker, is still trying to learn what the status of things are in that area.  Dr. Warren Lathem, District Superintendent of the Atlanta Marietta Distinct has heard no report of damages in his area.

Accessibility UPDATE--Saturday 5:15pm
Conference Disaster Relief Committee Chairperson, Mr. Mike Yoder, is on the job.  He and a few of additional committee members are in contact with Georgia Emergency Management and FEMA and are being apprised of any changes or requests for assistance.  According to officals, “all volunteers are being asked to stand down and stay away especially in downtown Atlanta." They request as few people in the area until the storms pass and assessments can be made!  Much of the Atlanta area clean up from last night is being done by qualified and properly equipped city crews; car removal, tree cutting, power restoration, rubble pick-up, etc.

What is needed--UPDATE--Saturday 5:15pm 
At the moment we’re asking that you simply be prepared to assist when notification of assistance is issued early next week.

Trained crews of UM “early response” volunteers are at the ready if needed.  If you have not been trained in early response, please don’t make plans to just show up and see if you can help.  One of the lessons from the Katrina and Rita storms is that untrained and unequipped volunteers often become a secondary disaster in an already chaotic situation.  Significant steps have been taken to keep random groups of unqualified (untrained as first responders) teams out of a disaster any disaster area.

Remember that our strength as a denomination has always been long term recovery – helping people put their lives back together over the months ahead, long after television crews, helicopters, and photographers have moved on.  If you are not ready for “early response” work, know there will be many opportunities for all types of volunteers to assist in the recovery phases.

If you need to report damage, heed this process: 
Pastors -- call your D.S.
D.S.’s -- call Mike Selleck
Mike Selleck – call appropriate Disaster Committee folks.

 (If you’re interested in ‘early response’ or ‘recovery’ training for future disasters, log onto the Conference web site, drill down to Disaster Response, and make plans to get you and a team of folks qualified.)