There are three reported deaths in the Golden City area, some hospitalizations with minor injuries in Jefferson City and significant property damage around the state due to a series of storms in Missouri last night including Carl Junction, Eldon and Jefferson City. Please stay out of areas with damage and allow first responders to do their work. Early Response Teams (ERT) will be invited once local public safety experts have deemed it O.K. for the next level of professional and volunteer response teams.
Additionally, Missouri continues to be impacted by flooding, especially northwest Missouri. You can help by giving generously to response efforts. Please visit www.umcdisaster.org and select “Donate”. Or, text the amount you'd like to give and the word "RESPONSE" to 573-207-4546. Your church may also consider preparing flood buckets. The value of a cleaning bucket is roughly $75 each.  For assembly instructions, visit www.umcmission.org  Cleaning buckets can be dropped off at the following:

• Ashland UMC, 2711 Ashland Ave., St. Joseph, MO 64506-1999, (816) 279-7419
• Wentzville UMC, 725 Wall St, Wentzville, MO 63385, (636) 327-6377 (M-Th 8-4 p.m.)
• La Croix, 3102 Lexington Ave, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701-2686, (573) 339-0302
• Missouri Annual Conference, 3601 Amron Ct., Columbia, MO 65202, (573) 441-1700
• New McKendree UMC, 225 S High St, Jackson, MO 63755, (573) 243-8487

​NEXT ERT TRAINING: If you feel led to serve in disaster readiness and response, consider the next ERT training June 15 in St. Joseph. Register by June 10 here.

Spring Storm Season is here. Several parts of Missouri are already dealing with flooding. As the waters rise, we ask that you pray for those in the path of the water, the first responders and all who are helping keep the water at bay. Please check back for updates on how your church may support the recovery needs as they arise.

Chainsaw teams from the Southeast district, La Croix UMC, New McKendree UMC, and First UMC of Poplar Bluff, and ERT team from Manchester UMC worked with local Malden volunteers to clear fallen trees from the disaster area.

See the pictures below to see some of the team in action.

Chainsaw teams from the Southeast district UMC churches have been busy cleaning up tornado debris in Mattthew and Malden, MO.

Malden, a small town in the bootheel, was impacted with an EF2 tornado, Saturday, February 24.

​The damage impacted nearly 70 houses and four people were transported to hospitals.

From KFVS-12According to Malden Police Chief Jarrett Bullock,  the damage was about a mile long and the four injuries are all moderate.
​
An estimated total of $2 million worth of damages is expected and the number could rise, according to Malden Mayor Denton Kooyman.

Donations may be made at City of Malden.

​The Methodist Church of Puerto Rico (MCPR) is moving into the next phase of its Hurricane Maria recovery plan and needs you!
There is an immediate need for Emergency Response Teams. The need for Rebuild Teams should begin by March 1.
The MCPR is recommending trips of 7-8 days (Saturday to Saturday is preferred) of teams of 8-10 people.

The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) and the Methodist Church of Puerto Rico are working together to organize all logistics to ensure teams serve in the places most needed.  ​

Interested? Contact Lucas Endicott or Robin Shepard to get your team signed up

​PROMOTE THIS OPPORTUNITY AT YOUR CHURCH: Use these photos to promote this service opportunity in your local congregation.

Visit the link to learn more: http://www.umcor.org/UMCOR/puerto-rico-volunteers

UMCOR has received a formal invitation from Bishop Hector Ortiz of the Methodist Church of Puerto Rico (MCPR) requesting volunteers to support reconstruction following Hurricanes Irma and Maria.

​The first teams to be deployed will be called Specialized Early Response Teams given the current circumstances and scopes of work that will be asked of them.

For a list of the volunteer guidelines and approximate cost, please email Robin Shepard.