Disasters like floods, hurricanes, tornadoes and fires impact an entire community causing physical, economic, and emotional damage.
United Methodists are known to arrive early after disasters and are often the last to leave. Here's a typical time line:
Emergency Responders handle the initial disaster response performing rescues and combating immediate damage.
As the emergency phase winds down, Early Response Teams (ERTs) arrive to help. A main goal is to listen to the survivors, to find out what their needs are. Further tasks might include tarping roofs to limit water damage, removing damaged household items, cleaning, removing wet sheetrock. Typically a team stays for just three days and is replaced by another team as needed.
- Teams are self sufficient and self sustaining. Our conference does maintain several tool trailers, but individual team members pay for their own personal protective gear, food and transportation.
- Many trained early responders are needed because when disasters occur, some people will not be available.
It's a great privilege to be allowed into a family's experience at the worst time of their life. To listen with love and begin the recovery process reminds everyone involved that God is right there--offering healing and hope.
No comments:
Post a Comment