Updated September 10
As rescue and recovery efforts begin following Hurricane Dorian, our prayers are with all impacted by the storm and with our neighbors in the Bahamas. UMCOR (United Methodist Committee On Relief) has awarded a solidarity grant to Bahamas Methodist Habitat, the Disaster Ministry of the Bahamas Conference of the Methodist Church. Bishop Theophilus Rolle, president of the Bahamas, Turks & Caicos Islands Conference of the Methodist Church, said that the hurricane's force has resulted in "an unimaginable living nightmare" there.
Dorian's impact in North Carolina is under assessment and North Georgia Conference Early Response Teams (ERTs) are standing by to serve as needed.
As the hurricane approached the Georgia and South Carolina coast over Labor Day weekend, Trinity on the Hill UMC in Augusta was activated as a Red Cross Shelter for hurricane evacuee. The church welcomed 174 guests with a meal and a safe, comfortable place to take shelter.
Rev. Scott Parrish, our Conference Disaster Response Coordinator, is in communication with surrounding annual conferences and UMCOR.
"I have been in contact with the United Methodist conferences in Florida, South Georgia, South Carolina, & North Carolina, and have pledged our prayers as well as our assistance upon their request," said Parrish.
Be reminded that teams from North Georgia do not self deploy, but wait on an invitation to respond.
Our best response:
Our North Georgia Disaster Response webpage has key information and contacts. Be sure to check www.ngumc.org/DisasterResponseMinistry regularly for information on how we can best prepare and respond in times of disaster.