New disaster project directors trained, Florida project to begin.

Eleven new disaster project directors in the General Board's Emergency Response program completed training at a seminar in New Windsor, Md., in early November. The program has also announced the beginning of a clean-up and roofing project in January in the Orlando and Kissimmee areas, following the series of hurricanes that hit Florida this year.

New disaster project directors are Kevin Dibert, a Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS) worker currently serving in Hallam, Neb.; Willard and Pauline Dulabaum, of Elgin, Ill.; Hal Heisey, of Indianola, Iowa; Larry and Sandee Kitzel, BVS workers currently serving at Poquoson, Va.; George Snavely, of Elizabethtown, Pa.; Phil and Joan Taylor, BVS workers who will begin work in the spring; and Wayne and Kay Vardaman, of Decatur, Ind.

The news media have reported that as many as 100 people per day become homeless in Florida as a result of the four major hurricanes that struck in August and September, the Emergency Response office reported. "Most are being driven from their damaged homes due to the growth of black mold, a common problem following water damage which can cause severe medical problems," the update said. "Black mold must be eradicated before repairs can be done. It will take at least several months for all of the infected homes to be cleaned up."

Phase one of the Florida project will be to repair metal roofing at Camp Ithiel, a Church of the Brethren camp in Gotha. In return for free housing for Disaster Child Care and disaster response volunteers, Emergency Response has offered to repair roofs damaged by the storms. Phase two of the project will be mold eradication, which will entail tearing out damaged material, scrubbing down moldy areas, and then sanitizing, repeating the process as necessary. "In addition to the mold, many storm survivors, particularly the elderly, still need help with debris cleanup and tree removal," the update said.

A disaster rebuilding project in Hallam, Neb., following a tornado, has been temporarily closed for the winter "except for groups who request to schedule a work date after the New Year," Emergency Response reported. The project will open again Feb. 27. Another rebuilding project in Poquoson, Va., continues. Since February, about 600 Brethren disaster response volunteers have completed repairs to 29 homes, with six homes in process and eight waiting to be started.

The office also announced a 2005 Disaster Project Directors Conference at Camp Blue Diamond in Petersburg, Pa., May 21-26.

Source: 12/17/2004 Newsline
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