Dear United Methodist friends,
Grace and peace in the strong name of Jesus Christ.
Strong winds swept into eastern North Carolina Friday evening,
impacting many of our neighbors. Scores of homes were destroyed or
damaged. A child was killed in Edenton. Many are in need of comfort,
assistance and hope today.
We are grateful to our Disaster Response leaders who are working tirelessly with volunteers to survey damage, to secure roofs, and to offer other assistance.
Please see the information below concerning our outreach efforts and how you can help.
Thank you for your partnership in Christ’s ministry in this time of challenge and opportunity.
With gratitude to God this day for each of you,
Hope Morgan Ward
Multiple tornadoes, including at least one EF3 and three EF2s, touched down in the North Carolina Conference over the weekend damaging and destroying more than 300 homes, injuring at least 16 people, and killing one infant girl killed in Edenton.
According to news reports, the tornadoes caused damage in several locations across eastern North Carolina. Communities in Beaufort County, Greene County, Wilson County, Pitt County, Halifax County, Perquimans County, Pasquotank County, Chowan County, and other locations were impacted by the destructive storms.
Conference Disaster Response personnel have been surveying damaged areas and teams from Hamstead UMC, Sneads Ferry UMC, and other congregations have responded. Disaster Recovery Team member Craig Parker was working in the Beacon District, and over the weekend Team member Tim Chase was meeting with the NC Emergency Operations Center personnel. Several other teams responded in their local areas including a team led by NC Missioner Rev. Butch Huffman. Tommy Gilbert and Cliff Harvell are working with teams in the Beaufort area. We currently have 55 persons working in disaster areas today — Monday morning. The cleanup and recovery effort will be immense and we need many more volunteers and funds for recovery/construction. In order to provide more early response we have temporarily shifted all long-term recovery efforts for Hurricane Irene recovery to tornado response and clean-up.
If you know of damage in your area that has not been reported, or needs in your area that are not being met, please contact your district Disaster Response Coordinator, or your our district superintendent, or Ann Huffman at disasterresponse@nccumc.org or call 888-440-9167 or 919-610-8018.
You can help and share the love of Christ by:
Givin
g generously to NC Storms Emergency Response – NC Advance #S-00176. 100% of every gift to this Advance will go to storm response. You can donate on-line at: NC Storms Response
You can also send funds to:
Conference Treasurer – Raleigh Area PO Box 890202 Charlotte, NC 28289-0202
Please be sure to note Advance #S-00176.
You can also place a check in your local offering plate and designate NC Storms Response.
Volunteers are greatly needed. To volunteer, please contact Ann Huffman at disasterresponse@nccumc.org or call 888-440-9167 or 919-610-8018.