What We Do?
When disaster strikes, United Methodists respond—with prayers, with money, with time, with labor, with love. Read the full Kansas Area Disaster Response Plan.
Early Response Teams provide immediate assistance to those affected by a disaster, especially those who are older or disabled and those who might not have their support system nearby to help them with the hard work of debris cleanup or to make temporary repairs to their homes.
In addition, early response team members provide support and a listening ear for those who have been affected by a disaster. They also observe and report the survivor's needs to the conference and the local incident coordinator.
Early response teams do not perform rebuilding or repair work that may jeopardize a victim's eligibility for financial assistance from insurance and government agencies.
Access to Property and Release of Liability Waiver
All teams that are working in disaster response with individual families needs to have a form signed by the homeowner prior to entering their property or performing any work that allows us permission to access private property and release of liability form . Please download and print the attached release form and get the homeowners to sign before performing any work. These forms should be forwarded to Julie Pohl, 702 Court, Wathena, KS 66090
UMCOR
United Methodist volunteers are on the scene with willing hands within hours through the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) and conference and local church volunteer teams. Visit the UMCOR website for information about response to national and international disasters.
Kansas Area Disaster Plan
The Kansas Area has a Disaster Response Plan. CLICK HERE to access it. If your church or community experiences a disaster, please contact your District Superintendent or the conference disaster coordinator, see contact information below, so the disaster plan can be initiated.
Conference Disaster Coordinators:
Julie Pohl, VIM/Disaster Response Coordinator
Telephone: 816-390-0324 or
785-989-3237
702 Court, KS 66090
Click to email: Julie Pohl
Steve Burnett, Assistant VIM/Disaster Response Coordinator
Telephone: 785-410-0210
PO Box 128
Madison, KS 66860-0128
Click to email: Steve Burnett
Russell Anderson
Five Rivers
Telephone: 629-625-2266
Email: Russell Anderson
Volunteer opportunities
Volunteer teams will be needed over the next several years. To volunteer, e-mail Julie Pohlor call: (785) 989-3237 or (816) 390-0324.
Relief Kits
Vital relief supplies for flood buckets, hygiene kits or school kits are needed. It is important that kits contain only the items requested and nothing more. Please do not include any personal notes, money or additional materials. These things must be removed and will impede the progress of the shipment. All items included in kits must be new. To learn what the current kit needs are, call 800-814-8765. When collecting supplies for the kits, remember you are responsible for shipping costs as well.
For information on assembling these items, see:
Information about other UMCOR relief kits can be found at http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umcor/getconnected/supplies/.
Additional Kansas East Conference Disaster Response may be found at a separate Web site.
Disaster Response Newsletter and Updates - To read the latest disaster response newsletters and updates go to the newsletter archives. Volunteer opportunities, trainings, and other important information are available from our conference Disaster Response Coordinators.
UMCOR Advance for Haiti
The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) has established a special fund for Haiti Earthquake Relief. Checks can be made payable to your local church with "UMCOR" in the memo line and placed in the church’s offering plate. The churches can then make one check payable to the Kansas East Conference with "Haiti Earthquake Relief" clearly marked in the memo line and send it to the conference office.
Online donations can be made at: http://secure.gbgm-umc.org/donations/umcor/donate.cfm?id=3018760&code=418325.
To subscribe to the UMCOR Hotline for latest disaster updates and information, click here.