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Disaster Response News (The 20 most recent)

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Christian caring goes the distance in separate storms
Written: 4/17/2009
On Palm Sunday in Gene Autry, worshippers bear a large cross during a walk in remembrance of Lone Grove tornado victims. At left, a church member leads a donkey along part of the route. ...

At Lone Grove, survivors marvel at storm's force and 'army' of aid
Written: 4/17/2009
Charlie, left, and Eric Taliaferro are grateful to the numerous volunteers who have helped them and other residents of Lone Grove after a tornado on Feb. 10. By Sheila Robinson, Special Correspondent ...

Disaster Response -Support network
Written: 3/6/2009
After Lone Grove tornado, Methodists extend comfort, clean up Photo by Eric Taliaferro A youth team, above, from Ardmore-First UMC helps retrieve treasured photos and o...

Funds will assist Oklahoma tornado victims
Written: 2/20/2009
United Methodists are praying for and extending aid to Oklahomans in areas hit by tornadoes Feb. 10. Some residents of Lone Grove, just west of Ardmore, died in the storm. Property damage was extensive in that community and in par...

Assessment follows hurricanes
Written: 10/3/2008
Jefferson church goes to work after flooding Recovery work after hurricanes Ike and Gustav is being monitored for Oklahoma Conference by Richard Norman, coordinator of disaster response and domestic missions in the Volunteers In Mission Office. Damage caused by the storms extended into Oklahoma, w...

Creating calm after storms
Written: 9/19/2008
Volunteers load donations to Oklahoma VIM’s annual UMCOR kit campaign. Drizzling rain didn’t deter Dick Garwood of Tulsa-New Haven and Ralph Coffman of Tulsa-Faith early on the opening morning of the 2008 Annual Conference, at Tulsa-Boston Avenue. Photo by Holly McCray Rep...

Oklahoma hospitality greets evacuees
Written: 9/5/2008
In Oklahoma City, Richard Norman took careful notes during a conference call with state officials on Saturday, Aug. 30, as Hurricane Gustav neared the GulfCoast. The call took place about 3 p.m. By 3:30 p.m., he was dialing United Methodists, recruiting trained volunteers. Oklahoma was rolli...

Volunteer helps after Picher tornado
Written: 5/21/2008
Driving into Picher, Jim Gant saw buildings "absolutely flattened," cars piled upon each other, and debris "all over the place." The VIM volunteer joined a short-term work crew that quickly deployed to the area after a deadly tornado May 10. The team cut tarps from long strips of plastic, to help ...

Help for victims of disasters
Written: 5/21/2008
Requests in Oklahoma and around the globe Pleas for help both near and far away are rallying United Methodists after three recent disasters. In Picher, a tornado May 10 killed seven people and leveled much of an Oklahoma town already threatened by toxic waste. Many lives remain at risk after a mur...

Heavy lifting
Written: 2/9/2007
United Methodist volunteers remove damaged trees after a mid-January ice storm crippled parts of Oklahoma. They are members of Disaster Early Response Teams (DERTs). The specially trained teams are a new Conference ministry through Volunteers In Mission. Shown are Ardmore District...

Storm Troopers
Written: 2/9/2007
A power pole is toppled by a heavy accumulation of ice at Warner . Breakfast is served, top right, by Louene Scarsdale, Earl Williams, and Rev. Connell Ghormley at Tahlequah. Right, children enjoy bunking in the Pryor fellowship hall. Muskogee-First volunteers prepare to clear damage...

New DERT teams deploy
Written: 2/9/2007
DERT members from Ardmore District pause during a workday in McAlester. They are, from left, John Martin of Lindsay; Pam Shirk of Konawa; Pat Castellow, Jan Hayes, Mike Castellow, Tom Hayes, Darrell Cates, and DeB Edwards of Ardmore. Linda Smith of Konawa joined the crew later that day. ...

Cold weather impacts urban ministry
Written: 2/9/2007
Icy conditions forced Skyline Urban Ministry to adapt its outreach in south Oklahoma City. Skyline is a Conference agency meeting needs in the inner city. Director Dale G. Tremper provided this report: "Due to our large parking lot, our north-facing access, and the health concerns of senior citize...

UMCOR makes resources available
Written: 10/20/2006
When a violent human act rocked an Amish community, a call went out to UMCOR, the United Methodist Committee on Relief. The agency has earned national accolades for aid efforts following natural disasters—recent crises have been hurricanes Katrina and Rita. UMCOR also offers spiritual and emotional...

Care Team training set May 6
Written: 4/7/2006
On May 6, "Care Team Training" will be held in Oklahoma City, sponsored by the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) and Oklahoma United Methodist Disaster Response Committee. This training is designed for people who work directly with disaster survivors and will be led by Mary Hughes Gaudre...

Conference Care Team members respond after wildfires
Written: 3/24/2006
Terry Koehn, left, and Stephen Hale tour homesites ruined by wildfires March 1 in Stephens County. By HOLLY McCRAY Flames continue to gorge on Oklahoma land and homes. Perhaps Terry Koehn of Marlow offered the frankest perspective amid the drought and wildfires: "It’s almost...

Hearts ablaze
Written: 2/10/2006
Volunteers sign up to help as wildfires continue State emergency management officials reported 786 homes damaged and thousands of acres of land scarred by wildfires between November and late January. United Methodists count among those responding to help fire victims. One prong of th...

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