Emergency Response program plans additional projects along Gulf Coast.

"Given the tremendous need resulting from this past hurricane season, one thing became clear--the greater church wants to do more," said a recent communication from the General Board's Emergency Response office. Emergency Response staff have been brainstorming, praying, dreaming, and discerning how to expand the Gulf Coast hurricane response of the Church of the Brethren.

After briefing the General Board meeting in March about prospects for new work in the Gulf Coast area, staff are moving forward with plans that include establishing additional projects along the Gulf Coast, and exploring the possibility of building modular homes for disaster survivors. "This initiative will require longterm project managers, ongoing volunteer work teams, a modular home 'factory' site, and additional vehicles and tools," the program said. Volunteer disaster project director Mike Walker has made an assessment trip in southern Mississippi to locate potential additional project sites.

Currently, Brethren Disaster Response volunteers are working at building homes, roofing, and major remodeling jobs in the area of Lucedale, Miss. Building codes in Mississippi allow out-of-state electricians and plumbers to work, so the program is able to use volunteers with those skills.

The two other ongoing Brethren Disaster Response projects continue in Pensacola, Fla., rebuilding following Hurricanes Ivan and Dennis, with volunteers doing major repair of wind- and water-damaged homes; and in Ohio, where a flood recovery project following three severe floods in the fall and winter of 2004-05 was moved in March from Belmont County to Caldwell, in Noble County. The Ohio project will close at the end of April.

In other disaster relief news, the Service Ministries program of the General Board continues to make shipments of relief supplies to the Gulf Coast. Recent shipments to the Gulf area include 17 cartons of Gift of the Heart School Kits (weight 1,190 pounds) shipped to New Orleans; and blankets, Gift of the Heart Baby Kits, School Kits, and Health Kits, emergency cleanup buckets, and antibacterial hand and face wipes (weight 2,669 pounds) to Baton Rouge.

Other recent Service Ministries shipments have gone to North Dakota for spring flood survivors (50 emergency cleanup buckets weighing 950 pounds), to Missouri following spring storms (20 cartons of blankets and 34 bales of blankets weighing 4,168 pounds), and to Zimbabwe (32 pallets of donated medical supplies weighing 19,277 pounds).

To volunteer for Brethren Disaster Response or for more information about openings for longterm disaster project directors, the new modular home project, and other volunteer opportunities related to the Gulf Coast efforts, contact the Emergency Response office at 800-451-4407 or e-mail ersm_gb@brethren.org.

Source: 4/12/2006 Newsline
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