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Hurricane Florence

First

How are you?
We are wanting to hear from all 185 churches in the Presbytery -

Can you help your brothers and sisters recover from Hurricane damage?
Is your church building damaged or your pastor's home?
How many of your members are affected by hurricane damage?

We are concerned about and trying to get a handle on the extensive damage though out our Coastal Carolina Presbytery.... in order for staff to see both the help available and the needs in the region, we are asking the Clerk of Session or the pastor or other church member to complete this simple form to check-in with us.. It helps us to have all this information in one place and to know which churches we need to call who do not respond. The form takes less than 5 minutes to complete

Please click here to let us know how you are doing.

So far 50 churches have reported in so we still want to hear from 135 others. Even if you are fine, please take a minute to check in! FYI ....over 20 churches have reported damage so far...

Please know that you are being prayed for by the presbytery staff, the PDA team and other churches around the country.

We do particularly ask for your prayers for Rev. Eduardo Moreno, Associate for Hispanic Ministries, and his family, as their home and car were both completely flooded.

-- Your Presbytery Staff

This week we are grateful to have four members of the National Response Team (NRT) from Presbyterian Disaster Assistance deployed with our Presbytery. The NRT is made of volunteers who have experience and training in disaster response. While here they will be assisting the Presbytery staff in contacting as many churches as possible that have suffered some damage from Hurricane Florence.

A note from the team:

We are saddened we have to be here just two years after another major hurricane. You just got back on your feet and now this must be overwhelming. The church is the church and we came to stand with you again in this difficult time.

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance ministry exists to:

help the Presbyteries assess the needs of your communities;
to give spiritual and pastoral support to your leadership; and
to connect the presbytery to the many resources and services from government, faith partners and agencies.

We are skilled in organizing for long-term recovery. We realize it’s early yet, but soon work will begin.

The team of four PDA volunteers have been in your Presbytery for nearly a week assessing the needs, meeting with people in churches, and gathering information for Long Term Recovery groups to help get you back in your homes.

What we need from you:

Reporting to your Mission Coordinators about your church building needs, member and community needs, etc. would hasten our process.

Know that we love you, your Church loves you and God loves and is with us all.

-- The PDA NRT

Needs:

Big Needs that Churches might fulfill:

Is your church a potential place that volunteers groups could stay? This would be hosting groups from 10 to 25 people on a periodic basis in partnership with PDA. If interested, we help you understand what this looks like and offer a great deal of guidance in setting it up. Please let us know if you'd like to have this conversation.
Make Clean-Up Buckets
see www.CWSKits.org for the ingredients
A shower trailer (or some to sponsor a rental of one)
Storage space to receive donated items that are then distributed in the local community near your church.
If you know of a church wanting to travel with a group to work in the area ... please have them call the PDA Call Center, Eden Roberts, (866) 732-6121, pda.callcenter@pcusa.org
A donation drive for various supplies (not clothing) for the recovery efforts

Individual Volunteer Opportunities:

Long Term Recovery Groups in each county need leadership from the community.
Blood donors are urgently needed in many communities.
Volunteers are needed at the food banks to pack up food boxes.
Local distribution centers need labor to load and unload supplies.
If you might be willing to host a smaller group of volunteers in your home or guest house - maybe 2 to 9 people, please let us know.

Financial donations are welcome at

Presbytery of Coastal Carolina, 807 W King Street, Elizabethtown, NC 28337 or by credit card by calling 910-862-8300
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance
see pda.pcusa.org/situation/hurricane-florence/
The Long Term Recovery Group in your County needs money to operate and help survivors
Local Congregations doing relief work or rebuilding from their own damage

Please share this information with your congregation in print, email and online:

Home Cleanup Hotline for Hurricane Florence

From now through October 5, 2018, call the number below for help with home cleanup. As they are able, reputable and vetted relief agencies may assist you and your neighbors cut fallen trees, remove drywall, insulation, flooring, furniture, appliances, tarp roofs, etc.

All services are free, but service is not guaranteed due to the overwhelming need.

This is the number to register on CrisisCleanUp.org is not a Presbyterian service but guides volunteers from dozens of agencies to persons in need of clean-up help. Importantly, this hotline CANNOT assist with social services such as food, clothing, shelter, insurance, or questions about FEMA registration. Volunteers work free of charge and provide the tools and equipment necessary to complete the work.

To request this help through CrisisCleanUp.org CALL: 1-800-451-1954

If you are part of **group** looking for clean-up opportunities, your group can register on this site to see the home owners requesting assistance and the type of help needed. You can fulfill those needs as you are able.

If you have experienced loss or damage of any kind
REGISTER with FEMA by calling:
(800) 621-3362 or online at DisasterAssistance.gov

Never throw away a letter from FEMA, initial rejection only means you need to appeal.