North Georgia Conference 

Haiti Emergency: N GA Response

A major earthquake hit Port-au-Prince, Haiti causing widespread destruction. Millions of people are affected and thousands are feared dead. UMCOR is assessing the needs and preparing to respond. UMCOR asks for prayers for all who are affected by the disaster. Support for relief efforts can be made to Haiti Emergency.

1. Financial  UMCOR Advance # 418325 via this link or church offering plate or mailed to UMCOR, PO Box 9068, New York, NY 10087
or
North Georgia Advance # 4183, Checks can be put in the church offering plate or mail to Treasurer's Office PO Box 102417, Atlanta, GA 30368-2471

One hundred percent of gifts made to this advance will go to help the people of Haiti.

 2.  Assembling Kits   UMCOR Sager Brown has a urgent need for several types of kits to provide individuals with basic necessities. Once kits are assembled call 770-739-9537 for pickup and delivery to Austell Disaster Warehouse.

2a. Health Kit Instructions are available at this link  

2b. Birthing Kit Instructions are available at this link.

2c. Layette Kit Instructions are available at this link.

3. Volunteering for Haiti  There will be a great need for volunteers to help rebuild once the initial crisis has settled. At this time, it is not safe or possible for volunteers to go to Haiti. In order to frame a response that is consistent with the churches’ needs, people wishing to volunteer should contact the District Disaster Coordinator to determine when and how to appropriately respond.

Tennessee Flood Response

Volunteers Needed

Rev. Jason Brock, Disaster Response Coordinator for the Tennessee Conference of the United Methodist Church, reports that flooding is widespread in the Nashville area and elsewhere in that conference.  Rev. Brock is specifically requesting UMCOR -trained Early Response Teams.  UMCOR ERTs who are interested in working in Tennessee are requested to contact Rev. Brock at JBrock@tnumc.com.  Please include information about the size and ability of your team.

Cleaning (Flood) Buckets

The North Georgia Conference maintains a reserve of flood buckets for flood incidents in Georgia.  With the serious nature of the situation in the Nashville area, 400 buckets of that reserve has been sent to Tennessee and even more will be needed.   Instructions on assembling the buckets may be found with this link. 

There was flooding in Georgia as well and some homes that were flooded last September have been flooded again; so the buckets will be used here as well.  

Once the buckets are assembled call 770-739-9537 for pickup and delivery to Austell Disaster Warehouse.

Upcoming North Georgia Training

10/9  CPR (Heartsaver CPR&AED)
The Chapel, Alpharetta Methodist Church
Alpharetta, GA
Cost of the class is $45 (not including $14 for AHA workbook and CD if needed.)
For more information, contact Paulette Snoby psnoby@att.net.

10/16  Red Cross Shelter Worker
Conyers First United Methodist Church
Conyers, GA
8:30 am until 4:30 pm
Cost $5.00 for lunch
To register call Tinelle @ 770-483 6384

10/30  UMCOR Early Response
McDonough First United Methodist Church
MCDonough, GA
8:30 am until 4:30 pm
Cost is $10.00 for Background check
Snacks and lunch provided
To register email Bill Hightower at hightowe1@bellsouth.net or Heidi Griffiths at earthdesigninc@hotmail.com

10/30  Red Cross Shelter Worker
McDonough First United Methodist Church
McDonough, GA
8:30 am until 4:30 pm
Snacks and lunch provided
To register email Bill Hightower at hightowe1@bellsouth.net or Heidi Griffiths at earthdesigninc@hotmail.com

11/6 UMCOR Early Response   Norcross First United Methodist Church
8:30 am until 4:30 pm
Cost is $10.00 for Background check
To register email  Heidi Griffiths at earthdesigninc@hotmail.com

Disaster Operations Center

Georgia Floods

1. Call for Assistance for yourself and family
2. Call for individuals or N. Georgia Teams that want to volunteer.
3. Rebuild teams from outside the Conference are still needed

678-533-1443 

During the time of major response, please direct all contacts through the Disaster Operations Center. At other times, please contact the following. 

Disaster Response Leadership:

Mike Yoder, Committee Chairperson
770-483-6384
m_yoder@ngdisasterresponse.org

Georgia Flood 2009

1. Financial  N GA Advance # 390 for Disaster Flood Relief  Funds for rebuilding are limited.  More is needed badly.

2. Individuals to volunteer as Case Workers or staff the Disaster Operations Center.  Call Center at 678-533-1443.

3.  Teams to rebuild homes Call Disaster Operations Center at 678-533-1443  Case workers have just started working with homeowners and teams that have volunteered are being scheduled  

Clean-up Teams - Avoid Liability

Please ensure that you have a signed right-of-entry form from the homeowner to do clean-up and mud-out work prior to entering the property.  If such a document does not exist with your team or the coordinating agency, do not commence work.  

Sorting Piles for Damaged Homes

Home furnishing, furniture, clothing, and other personal items should be sorted as listed below.  The homeowner should be the person to do this.

1. A Keep Pile
2. A Throw away Pile
3. A Clean up Pile

Curbside Sorting for Debris

Items to be thrown away should be sorted into four piles at the curb.  FEMA declared areas required this sorting, as the contractor trucks picking up will only remove one category at a visit.  These are:

1. Appliance debris (refrigerator-do not open if without power for several days, stove, washer, dryer
2. Building Material

3. Tree products (limbs, logs, leaves)

4. Metal (roofing panels, siding)

Safety Considerations with Clean-Up

1. Stay away from downed power lines and report location to power company.  All lines should be considered live. 

2. Flood waters were contaminated with sewage and chemicals so wear gloves to handle items being moved or removed.  Use sanitizer or thoroughly (20 sec) before touching face or eating (breaks, meals)

3. When entering home watch for damaged or damaged or warped flooring.

4. Use contents of flood buckets to clean and disinfect.  Do not mix chorine bleach and ammonia, the resulting gas will permanently damage your lungs. 

5. If mold is beginning to appear or there is dust, wear a N-95, P-95, N-100 mask.  The mask will have one of the above markings on it. If there is no marking, the mask should not be used, as there are possible long range respiratory implications.

6. Throw out all food and other supplies that you suspect may have become contaminated or come in to contact with floodwater.

7. If appliances are wet, turn off the electricity at the main fuse box or circuit breaker. Then, unplug appliances and let them dry out. Have appliances checked by a professional before using them again.

8. Take frequency water breaks and eat something about 10-12-2 and 4 to maintain your energy level.  Fruit (natural sugar) or items with a low processed sugar level work best.

9. Tape off sharp edges with duct tape

10. Watch for spiders and snakes that might have been left in the home by the flood..

11. Removing water from a basement takes a number of days to prevent failing walls. Pump out to 1/4 down and repeat each day until water stays at that level, then proceed to 1/2 and repeat process. 

12. Keep nails and other sharp objects removed from roadways and driveways. Place in a bag on the metal pile.  Pick up after debris pick-ups

Insurance and Recovery

Homeowners in federally-designated flood plains are required to have flood insurance, in addition to homeowners insurance, with their mortgage.  If they do not have a mortgage or live outside the flood plain, insurance is not required.  Since the Georgia flood exceeded the flood plain boundaries, many homeowners will not have coverage for their property.  

So far, the State Farm who insures about one of every four home in central Georgia reports that they have received, so far, about 4,400 flood claims with about 10% having flood coverage.

The first order of recovery is property & casualty insurance, the second is FEMA and other federal agencies for federally-declared disaster areas through their Disaster Recovery Center, and the final resource is the local  non-profit long term recovery center which supported by local businesses and the faith-based community.