Disaster staff monitor needs in Florida following Hurricane Wilma.

The General Board's disaster response staff are monitoring needs in Florida following Hurricane Wilma, and have put some Disaster Child Care (DCC) teams on alert in case they are needed.

Emergency Response director Roy Winter made contact with Church of the Brethren communities in affected areas and reported that none have major damage. Some trees were down at Cape Coral Church of the Brethren and pastor John Mueller's home. Atlantic Southeast District executive minister Martha Beach told Winter that she has not received reports of any damage from district members, but is still to hear from Eglise des Freres Haitiens in Miami.

DCC services have been offered to the American Red Cross (ARC) and FEMA in response to Hurricane Wilma, but no requests for services have been received yet.

In an update on DCC's ongoing response to Hurricane Katrina, all but one child care team have completed work. The team previously serving at the Cajun Dome in Lafayette, La., has moved to the Gonzales Shelter located between Baton Rouge and New Orleans, where the volunteers will complete their two week term of service, reported coordinator Helen Stonesifer. ARC will then re-evaluate whether an additional team will be needed as replacements.

In the meantime, a Brethren Disaster Response project rebuilding homes damaged in the four hurricanes that hit Florida last year continues in the area of Pensacola. To volunteer for that project or any of the other three current clean up and/or rebuilding projects in Alabama following Hurricane Katrina, in Louisiana following Hurricane Rita, or in Belmont County, Ohio, following flooding earlier this year, call your district disaster coordinator or 800-451-4407.

Source: 10/26/2005 Newsline
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