What’s the most likely catalyst for people to prepare for the next big storm? Generally, it’s the last big storm they’ve experienced. UMCOR helps conference disaster response coordinators consider ways to motivate communities to prepare for disasters before they happen.
The Florida Annual Conference has seen more than its fair share of devastating disasters. Before the 2004 quartet of hurricanes – Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jean – Florida United Methodists had often partnered with the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), as they did for Hurricane Andrew in 1992. Through Tropical Storm Fay, fires and floods, and major responses to hurricanes Hermione and Matthew (2016) and Irma and Maria (2017), Florida Methodists regularly meet the challenges of disaster response and recovery. Total UMCOR relief and recovery funds granted to the Florida Conference since 2004 amount to $16.5 million, with $9 million alone for Hurricane Irma, which included a disaster case management program to partner with survivors as they navigated the challenges they faced.
But then something remarkable happened in 2019 and 2020: nothing.
The Florida Conference has enjoyed an extended period of blue skies. Though some storms rolled through, major storms missed most of the peninsula. But despite fervent prayers, crossed fingers and wood-knocking, United Methodists in Florida know the next big storm will eventually come, and they want to be ready. They don’t want to forget all they have learned about disaster response ministry over the last 18 years.
Read more at this link.
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