Category: Disaster Response

Categories
Community Disaster Response Fires Uncategorized

Denver Channel 7 News Assists ACS DR with Fire Relief

The Cameron Peak fire is declared to be the largest recorded wildfire in the history of Colorado State. It started near Chambers Lake on August 13, 2020 and was declared 100% contained on December 2, 2020.

By Cathy Kissner – Loveland, Colorado

The Cameron Peak Fire Recovery Center was bolstered on December 7 by Denver Channel 7 News who collected donations for those affected by the Cameron Peak Fire that burned areas around Red Feather, Glen Haven, and Estes Park west of Fort Collins. The largest fire in Colorado, it took more than four months for fire crews to get the fire contained. After burning more than 200,000 acres, it left 40 homes completely destroyed and more than 200 homes with heavy smoke damage.

“This is one of the largest donations we have ever received from a news channel,” explained Cathy Kissner, director of Adventist Community Services and Disaster Relief for the Rocky Mountain Conference. “The people affected by this fire will receive these much-needed items which will help in their recovery as they find new footing and a new normal for their lives.”

Donations were delivered to the Adventist Community Services Disaster Response Center in the Outlet Mall of Loveland for the Cameron Peak Fire Recovery where site manager June Spaulding and her team were happy to receive them. Among items donated were new pillows, washcloths, diapers, shovels, rakes, lawn carts, tools, and hoses.

The Center has also received quilts and comforters from a quilting club and from the ACS Center in Loveland. The Distribution Center was open until December 28 to serve those impacted by the Cameron Peak fire.

Categories
Disaster Response Fires Hurricanes

ACS DR Teams Continue Responding to Fires and Hurricanes

Tremendous efforts in response to the tragic fires that have been burning over the last few weeks continue to take place on the West Coast. The North Pacific Union Conference (NPUC) and Pacific Union Conference (PUC) ACS leadership are supporting their local conferences who are working within the affected communities. In Oregon, our NPUC ACS DR Coordinator Larry Mays, is leading the efforts at both the Warehouses in Salem and Grants Pass which are still operational. Volunteers from Washington, South Central, Montana, and Rocky Mountain conferences are assisting at facilities that will continue to function in partnership with the State for some time. The Northern California, Central California, and Southern California conferences are providing relief to those who have been hit hard by the burning fires. Charlene Sargent, Pacific Union ACS Director, has coordinated the delivery of essential goods to each of the affected areas.

Read latest brief on the Northwest fires by Byron Dulan, NPUC ACS Director.

Northwest ACS is seeking for volunteers to assist with Warehouse Management operations. Click here, if interested.

While the West has been struggling with the aftermath of the fires, other regions around our Division have also been experiencing crisis. Louisiana has been struck or threatened by tropical storms or hurricanes each week over the last two months, which has led to a dearth in goods for some of our conferences assisting in the State. The Southwest Region Conference has partnered with several groups to support our Distribution Centers that are operating in these areas. Irene Williams, ACS Coordinator, has been hosting weekly food distribution for the community.

The Florida Conference ACS Team had set up a Warehouse in Pensacola in response to Hurricane Sally that made landfall in September near Gulf Shores, Alabama, and moved through the Florida Panhandle. However, since the need has not been as great as anticipated, they had over 1,500 ACS clean-up buckets, along with 200 large tarps that had not been used. Conrad Duncan, Florida ACS Director, was looking for a way to distribute them to those in need. Aware of the shortage of supplies in Louisiana, we reached out to our Arkansas-Louisiana Conference ACS Director Lavida Whitson, who readily accepted to receive the buckets and tarps which were delivered this Sunday. This was an answer to prayer as they thought that they would have to close their Distribution Sites. Now, many more individuals and families can be helped with these much needed goods.

Photos of the transfer of goods from Florida Conference to Arkansas-Louisiana Conference.

Categories
Disaster Response Fires

ACS DR Teams Coordinate Relief Efforts in the Pacific Northwest

A commercial building that was destroyed by wildfire is shown Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, in Malden, Wash. High winds kicked up wildfires across the Pacific Northwest on Monday and Tuesday, burning hundreds of thousands of acres and mostly destroying the small town of Malden in eastern Washington state. (AP Photo/Jed Conklin)

ACS Disaster Response continues to provide relief to those who have been affected by the tragic fires in the Pacific Northwest. The North Pacific Union Conference and Oregon Conference ACS leaders have secured two Warehouses in Oregon. A team of ACS DR volunteers from the South Central Conference have arrived to start work at the Warehouse in Salem. Prior to their arrival, they visited a couple of the Distribution Sites in Lincoln City which are essential to get supplies out to the community. Since Oregon has never experienced a disaster of this magnitude, we were asked by the State if they could accompany the team to Lincoln City to educate the locals on how to set up a Distribution Site. We also have a team from the Rocky Mountain Conference who started operations today at the Warehouse in Grants Pass. These individuals will train local teams in Management Operations enabling them to operate on their own and to be able to function solely with local support.

We are in communication with the ACS leadership of the Northern California and Central California conferences who are engaged in the relief efforts in response to the numerous deadly fires that have caused extensive damage and evacuation of a number of communities in various areas of the State. Some of these areas are heavily populated by Seventh-day Adventists, and we will continue to support the efforts on the ground as the situation develops. Additionally, our Florida Conference is now responding to those affected by Hurricane Sally by opening a Warehouse in Pensacola, Florida.

Let us continue to remember those who have been affected by these disasters, as well as those who are responding to them.

Categories
Disaster Response Hurricanes

Groups Support Coordinated Hurricane Laura Relief Efforts

The South Louisiana Community Services Federation Officers and its constituents are grateful for the tremendous support received from several groups for the Hurricane Laura Aftermath Project. The Westbank United SDA Church obtained the U-Haul truck which carried supplies to be distributed in the Lake Charles area on September 8, 2020. The supplies such as food, water, and masks were donated by Westbank United, Ephesus at Covington, Ephesus at New Orleans, Berean, Faith, Caffin Avenue, Fondren, Smyrna, Emmanuel (at Hammond) SDA Churches, Norbert Doxon (Marrero SDA Church), Vera Ragland, South Louisiana Youth Federation, Clio Place Baptist Church, St. Claire Oliver (St. Mary’s Baptist Church), American Red Cross, NENA’s, Feeding Ministry of Mandeville, LA. , City of New Orleans Neighborhood Engagement, and Baptist Community Ministries.

The Hurricane Laura survivors also received gift cards from South Louisiana Federation, Ephesus SDA Church, and Glen and Sherlette Burkhalter. As a coordinated effort, they were able to serve 400 people. On September 13, 2020, the Fondren SDA Church of Houston, Texas, traveled to Lake Charles with more supplies in a 16-foot truck to provide to those affected. “A Spiritual Hats off to all of our pastors, especially Elder Durandel Ford, Community Services Director of Southwest Region Conference, and our President Calvin Watkins who were in full bloom in terms of their support and communication,” said Irene Williams, M.S.W., A.C.S. Coordinator of Southwest Region Conference.

The South Louisiana Community Services Federation Team members are:

Irene H. Williams, MSW, Coordinator
Lyn Hakeem, MSW, Assistant Coordinator
Leslie Hutchinson, BA, Assistant Coordinator
Sherlette Burkhalter, MS, Treasurer
Lucinda Keller, LPN, Advisor
Carrie Cyprian, Advisor
Elder Gwendolyn Garrison, LPN, Recording Secretary
Stephanie, RD, Reporting Secretary
Arlene Mossey, BS, Chaplain

Categories
Disaster Response Fires Local Conference

ACS DR in Oregon Responds to Fire Tragedy

Photo Credit: Kaleb Eisele
Photo Credit: Kaleb Eisele

States in the Pacific Northwest are the latest to be struck by raging fires. NAD ACS is in communication with the North Pacific Union Conference ACS leadership on how to best assist the affected communities. Upper Columbia Conference ACS DR has received a request from Spokane Regional Health District for volunteers to assist at the Spokane Convention Center which is housing evacuees.

In the state of Oregon, small fires that started September 7th night in the Clackamas County last week continued to spread rapidly. The county had suggested using the Gladstone Campground as an evacuation site for RVs. Laura Pascoe, the executive director of PACS, and Andy Villanueva, ACS DR director of Oregon Conference, got together with the leadership at the conference to make it happen. The campground is currently housing over 125 RVs and trailers.

Every day more and more residents from the community are showing up asking for help. “When someone drives up and asks, ‘Do you still have room for us?’ and we say yes, you can see the relief come over them. Today is a crazy day, but because we’re able to help our neighbors, it’s a great day, too,” said Villanueva. Several people from the community are also dedicating their time and services to bring relief to those affected. Volunteers are leading evacuees into RV spots. Donations of food, water, children’s board games, coloring books, and crayons have come in for evacuees. A truckload of food was brought in by the owners of Hue Vegan Cafe. On September 11th and 14th morning, free pancakes were distributed thanks to Chris Cakes Northwest. World Central Kitchen has also delivered food today for all the evacuees and volunteers.

DONATIONS:

The Gladstone Park evacuation site is requesting not to send food or other physical donations at this time. If you would like to help, you can donate to a fund to provide needed supplies at the evacuation site. Donate to the “Oregon ACS- Wildfire” Fund at this link.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED:

The evacuation site at the Gladstone Campground is looking for several volunteers this week. If you are willing and able to pitch in, please fill out a volunteer form provided at this link, or call our volunteer hotline at (971) 350-8109.

For news and updates, please visit the Gladstone Campground Facebook page.

MORE ARTICLES:

Let us remember to keep the families of those affected by the deadly fires in prayer, as well as those who are providing relief.

Categories
Disaster Response Fires

ACS Responds to Oregon and California Fires

ACS Disaster Response Teams are assisting with the Recovery Efforts in response to the deadly wildfires in California that have burned more than 3 million acres of land, and the most recent Pacific Northwest fires that have destroyed hundreds of homes in Oregon. Through the leadership of the Pacific Union Conference and Central California Conference and in collaboration with Fresno County, a campground has been secured to offer temporary shelter for evacuees. Almost 1,500 people have been put up in ACS DR trailers, cabins, and RVs that are being utilized to house those who have been affected. In addition, we were also able to provide Emotional & Spiritual Care training on the campground to those who were interested.

The Oregon ACS Disaster Team is currently on the ground providing assistance to those who have been affected. The Oregon Conference has opened up their Gladstone Park campground to evacuees in RVs. Volunteers are guiding community members into the evacuation spaces. Andy Villanueva, Oregon Conference Disaster Response Director said, “You can see the relief come over people.”

With countless fires ranging around California, the Northwest, and Oregon, let us continue to keep those who are affected and the first responders in prayer during these trying times.

Categories
COVID-19 Disaster Response

ACS Disaster Response Update

Adventist Community Services Disaster Response is continuing to support local communities around our Division even during these uncertain and pressing times due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We have been able to bring relief to communities through collaborative efforts with our partner organizations. Currently, we are working with our federal partners, FEMA, to offer face coverings, AAMI Level 3 gowns, and 55-gallon drums of hand sanitizers for our conferences at no cost.

For the past few days, some of our conference ACS DR teams have been preparing for potential disasters in their territory. This past weekend, the Gulf States team made preparations for impending storms. The Arkansas Louisiana Conference prepositioned flood buckets, muck out gear, scoop shovels, kitchen kits, etc. in Hamon, Louisiana. The conference’s ACS Director, Lavida Whitson, was extremely pleased with the preparation and work of her local Hamon ACS Coordinator, Daniel Hoover, who is outfitted to render assistance for the storm that passed through yesterday early morning.

NAD ACS Disaster Response Director, W. Derrick Lea, is also in communication with the Mid-America Union Conference Director, Roger Wade, about some of the protests that are taking place around the country. Minneapolis is responding in such a way as to address the needs of the city by cleaning up debris and, most importantly, looking for ways to render emotional and spiritual care to a hurting community. Les Morrison, Minnesota Conference ACS Director, is leading this effort in Minneapolis.

Categories
Disaster Response

Spokane Emergency Management PPE Warehouse

The Spokane County Emergency Management PPE Warehouse has been functioning since the end of March. It is being managed by Andrew McCrary, Joe Urbin, and Jeremy McCombs (all under the required 59 years of age), under the direction of Adventist Community Services. These three gentlemen who have day jobs on the administrative level accepted the challenge asked of ACS to manage this Warehouse that is located in Eastern Washington to inventory and distribute PPEs to hospitals, firemen, police, non-profits, and several other organizations. So far, approximately 1.7 million items have been distributed from the Warehouse which is also assisted by firemen and National Guard. “I call them quiet heroes – working much of the time in isolation in a location unknown by most people, guarded by law enforcement. Thank you men for your service! And their service has not ended yet…,” said Patty Marsh, ACS Director of Upper Columbia Conference. Last Monday, the Warehouse received ten million items! On Tuesday, a young pastor from Northern Idaho who has a great interest in ACS and DR assisted all day with this wife. They both loved being involved by assisting the management team at the Warehouse.

Categories
Disaster Response Local Conference Tornadoes

South Central Conference ACS Disaster Team Responds to Nashville Tornadoes

UPDATE: March 13, 2020

South Central Conference Adventist Community Services Disaster Response volunteers are distributing hygiene kits, bottled water and sack lunches in the community assisting those families impacted by the March 3, 2020 tornadoes that ripped through the Nashville area.

Christine Washington, President of Middle TN ACS Federation, Regina Stevenson, Federation ACS Disaster Response Coordinator and their team members walked the streets performing Mobile Distribution in the affected area. Pastors James Owens and Ronnie Forte provided grief counseling to the survivors.

If you would like to help, the best way is to donate MONEY. You can send your monetary donation to:
South Central Conference
715 Youngs Lane
Nashville, TN 37207

Mark your donation “ACS Disaster Nashville.”

PLEASE NO USED CLOTHES OR USED ITEMS!!!

Report by: Lillie Buckingham & Barbara Barnes, SCC Directors
Photos by: Jonathan Freeman

Categories
Disaster Response Tornadoes

Tornadoes Rip through Tennessee

Homes damaged by storms are left in ruin Tuesday, March 3, 2020, near Lebanon, Tenn. Tornadoes ripped across Tennessee early Tuesday, shredding more than 140 buildings and burying people in piles of rubble and wrecked basements. At least 22 people were killed. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

Update – March 4, 2020

ACS continues to monitor the situation in central Tennessee where 24 people have been confirmed dead. The Disaster Response leadership from the three affected conferences South Central, Kentucky-Tennessee, and Georgia-Cumberland have been attending TN VOAD meetings.

Public Safety and several help organizations have cleanup teams positioned and ready to be of service in Nashville. FEMA also had their Incident Management Assessment Teams (IMAT) headed to the area. The Red Cross has set up five shelters that are currently housing residents whose homes have been damaged.

Donated goods have already started to arrive in Nashville where ACS can be of assistance, if requested. South Central will be the lead conference, with support coming from Kentucky-Tennessee. Additionally, Georgia-Cumberland Conference is willing to lend their shower trailer, should the need present itself.

Multiple tornadoes touched down across central Tennessee early this morning, including one that caused severe damage in downtown Nashville. Twenty-two people are reported to be dead, including several children. Our South Central ACS Director, Lillie Buckingham, has been in communication with the TN VOAD. Our Kentucky-Tennessee ACS Director, Steve Rose, is reaching out to their team leads around the conference assessing the needs of these communities. We are also in contact with the Southern Union Conference ACS Director, Lynell LaMountain, and Georgia-Cumberland ACS leaders Gary Rustad and Rhonda Haight, to offer support as the needs are determined on the ground.

Please keep the affected families in your thoughts and prayers.