As Hurricane Dorian – which reached Category 5 status on Sunday with 180-mph-plus winds – slowly churns toward the Southeastern United States, disaster response officials with the South Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church continue to plan for the possibility of heavy rains and flooding in parts of our state.
Disaster response coordinators from across the conference remain in daily contact to work out contingency plans. The latest forecast calls for the storm to track off the South Carolina coast late Wednesday and Thursday, likely still as a powerful hurricane.
“Our goal is to be ready to respond to any level of need, and now is the time to have those conversations, not once the storm is on top of us,” said Matt Brodie, the conference disaster response coordinator. “
“This is also a good time for churches to review their disaster response plans, to make sure church property is secured and insured, and to begin checking on church members who could need assistance if utilities were to be interrupted or evacuations were to be ordered.”
Disaster preparation tips for pastors, local churches
Here are some resources to help you and your church with those preparations:
- Sample Local Church Disaster Response Plan
- Emergency Preparation checklist
- United Methodist Committee on Relief
- United Methodist Volunteers in Mission
Want to help?
- Pray: When disaster strikes, pray for the safety of the survivors, ERTs and first responders. Here’s a place to start.
- Give: Help the United Methodist Committee On Relief prepare for disaster response by donating money. Click here to make a donation today. Please do not bring unsolicited items to the conference center.
- Get trained: We always need volunteers trained to work on Early Response Teams. Click here to see ERT training opportunities, or contact Matt Brodie at mbrodie@umcsc.org or 803-786-9486, Ext. 265, for more information.
- Prepare: Assemble and donate relief supplies for UMCOR. Click here to learn how.
