CTC Hurricane Laura Response & Relief

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Disaster Response Ministry in DeRidder, LA providing Hurricane Laura relief

Sept. 11 - 4 p.m.

UMCOR and Disaster Response ministries are ministries that every person in the location financially provides for and such a needed ministry for when disaster hits. Check out the following photos from DeRidder, LA

How God and the People of SW Louisiana are Bringing Hope in the Midst of Destruction

Sept. 9 - 1:15 p.m.

It has been two weeks since Hurricane Laura slammed into the Texas/Louisiana coast and ripped through the states – hitting Louisiana particularly hard. Susan Luttrell, who serves as the Coordinator of Disaster Response for the Central Texas Conference, has been in constant contact with local and state authorities and relief agencies. She says that while the good people of southwest Louisiana are exhausted and storm weary, tired of having to rebuild while wearing masks, beyond frustrated with not being able to actually hug their neighbors, they seem to understand there is a light in the destruction left by COVID-19 and Laura – a light that shines from the love of Christ knowing God is riding out this storm with them and God will not leave his children without hope. Click here or the title above to read much more from Susan about the inspiring folks of SW Louisiana and how you can help in the relief efforts.

Prayers and Patience are What's Needed Now

Aug. 26, 5:15 p.m.

As Hurricane Laura takes aim on the Louisiana/Texas coastline with what is projected to be a devastating storm surge, many of the good people of the Central Texas Conference are already asking “what can we do to help?” The immediate answer is to pray and hold tight until the areas of need are revealed once the storm passes and proper damage assessments can be completed. The CTC disaster response team has been, is and will continue to be in contact with UMCOR and counterparts from the Louisiana Conference, Texas and Arkansas Conferences and will share details on how you can help as appropriate.

According to Susan Lutrell, CTC Disaster Response Coordinator, here are the things that we can all be doing.

• Pray now.
• Be Patient. This is not going to be an overnight response. First responders must do their job and then an assessment of the region. Infrastructure needs to be back in place and the ability to “house” volunteers has to be determined
• Be Prepared. If you have people in your church trained to respond as either an ERT or an Emotional & Spiritual Care Team remind them to read over their manuals and be sure they have supplies ready. Please do not self-deploy no matter what you see on the news or how many times you hear what the church across the street is doing. It is important for us to follow our proven response protocols.
• Give Donations. Give monetary donations to UMCOR.org at this point. If this disaster is of a significant size we will also recommend that churches/people give to the Louisiana and Texas Conferences disaster line. We will share that information as it becomes available. Churches and individuals can also help by making Cleaning and/or Hygiene Kits. Contact Clara Downey for drop off location.

If you have questions, please contact Susan Luttrell or Clara Downey.