Category: Disaster Response

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Disaster Response Donations Hurricanes Partnership

FEMA Assistance for Harvey, Irma, and Maria

If you or your family and friends have been impacted by the hurricanes, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) offers resources to help with recovery. Registering online, at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, is the quickest way to register for FEMA assistance.

Visit the Hurricane Harvey, Irma, or Maria pages for trusted recovery information.

To donate or volunteer, contact the voluntary or charitable organization of your choice through the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters (NVOAD) at www.nvoad.org.

NVOAD is coordinating closely with the Puerto Rico Governor’s Office on offers of assistance. To make a cash donation directly to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, visit www.unitedforpuertorico.com.

Donations for the US Virgin Islands can be made to www.usvirecovery.org.

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Disaster Response

Las Vegas Shooting Attack

On October 2 early morning, a gunman opened fire on a group of individuals that was attending a country music festival. The latest reports confirm over 50 people killed, along with roughly 500 injured. Currently, emergency management is on the scene and evaluating how the Recovery Efforts will be organized.

NAD ACS DR has contacted our local Nevada/Utah Conference Director, Jerry Waggoner, about ensuring that our local resources are aware of our willingness to assist should there be an expressed need. We have reached out to our Emotional/Spiritual Care team members in a couple of Conferences that are near Las Vegas, Nevada. Additionally, we reached out to the Red Cross and discussed our availability. Our team is now on standby, and trust if we are needed we’ll be able to meet the needs of the survivors recovering from this traumatic experience.

Photo Credits: NBC News
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Disaster Response Hurricanes

ACS Responds to Hurricane Irma

A photo taken on September 6, 2017 shows the Hotel Mercure in Marigot, near the Bay of Nettle, on the French Collectivity of Saint Martin, during the passage of Hurricane Irma. France, the Netherlands and Britain on September 7 sent water, emergency rations and rescue teams to their stricken territories in the Caribbean hit by Hurricane Irma, which has killed at least 10 people. The worst-affected island so far is Saint Martin, which is divided between the Netherlands and France, where eight of the 10 confirmed deaths took place. / AFP PHOTO / Lionel CHAMOISEAU (Photo credit should read LIONEL CHAMOISEAU/AFP/Getty Images)

The ACS Disaster Response Teams are currently in Florida assisting with the Recovery Efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma. They are working with the State, as well as the Florida and Southeastern Regional Conferences, to determine how and where a Warehouse will be placed. The Florida Conference is looking for ways to support those affected by the devastating flooding in Jacksonville and other areas nearby. Flood Buckets have been located and will be secured and delivered in the next couple of days. The Florida Conference has also assisted a couple of communities in debris removal after trees were blown down in the devastating winds.

The Southeastern Regional Conference conducted a needs assessment of the Fort Lauderdale, Naples, and St. Lucie areas to ascertain how these communities were recovering after the Hurricane. It appeared that these areas sustained little structural damage to their homes; however, the power outage was noted as the biggest challenge in several neighborhoods. They also were able to visit with five churches in these areas and spoke with both members and pastors who felt blessed to have made it unscathed through Irma.

Additionally, food has been a necessity and NAD was able to secure food packets for those in need. Conrad Duncan, Florida ACS Director, transported and distributed them to the affected areas last Saturday. Furthermore, several Distribution sites have been set up and are actively functioning in the State. Donations are currently being accepted at these locations. Though we await the State’s decision on where and when a Warehouse will be secured, we are providing services to those in need from the following locations:

Westchester Spanish Seventh-day Adventist Church
9500 SW 16th St.
Miami, FL 33165-7667

Ft. Myers Seventh-day Adventist Church
3451 Ortiz Ave.
Fort Myers, FL 33905-7801

Jacksonville Southpoint Seventh-day Adventist Church
3208 Herring Rd.
Jacksonville, FL 32216

South Orlando Seventh-day Adventist Church
1112 W Oak Ridge Rd.
Orlando, FL 32809-4712

Brandon Seventh-day Adventist Church
1221 Victoria St.
Brandon, FL 33510

Southeastern Camp Ground
1771 FL Hwy 20
Hawthorne, FL 32640

Please remember all those who have been affected by this devastating tragedy.

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Disaster Response Hurricanes

Harvey Response Continues

September 13

During the last week, Adventist Community Services Disaster Relief (ACS DR) volunteers throughout the North Pacific Union Conference (NPUC) have been torn between increasing storm devastation needs far to the east and the potential of wildfire recovery efforts close to home. Read More

As ACS Disaster Response warehouse teams are efficiently working in close partnership with the distribution sites in Texas, communication with Florida, (Southeastern Regional and Gulf States) are underway. The discussion centered around identifying the needs in the areas that were struck by Hurricane Irma. The power outages could lead to the need for food, water and other essentials. Additionally, the high number of trees that fell could have a great impact on transportation challenges on the streets in these local communities.

This assessment stage will continue for another day as teams will send their workers into the field to speak with Emergency Management, other faith based groups and local Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters that might have verifiable needs that have already presented itself. More updates to follow.

COLUMBIA UNION ADVENTISTS SEND 10,525 PERSONAL CARE KITS TO PEOPLE IMPACTED BY HURRICANE HARVEY. READ MORE

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Disaster Response Partnership

FEMA Partnership Day

The NAD ACS Disaster Response Team is currently participating in the Voluntary Organization Partnership Day which is being held in Washington, DC today. This event is hosted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and National VOAD. The purpose of this event is to promote and recognize the services provided by voluntary, community, and faith-based organizations to disaster survivors. During the day, various organizations and groups from within FEMA will be part of an exhibit showcase that will be open to the public. There will also be informal discussion panels on disaster-related topics and an opportunity to meet with subject matter experts.

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Disaster Response Floods Local Conference

Heavy Rains Cause Flooding in Wisconsin

The state of Wisconsin has experienced devastating floods in the past few days. As the torrential rains continue to pour down, the tally of damaged homes keeps rising. There have been reports of more than 4200 homes damaged or even completely destroyed. Businesses were also heavily impacted by the flood; 26 businesses are reported with damage and 11 businesses were fully destroyed.

Multiagency resource centers have been opened throughout the three counties that were affected in the southeastern area, to meet the needs of the survivors. Each county has local organizations that are taking care of the donations for that county. Volunteers have been meeting at the Mt. Zion Christian Church at 7:30 and 12:30 daily to go out and help with cleanup. The West Central region of the state was also heavily impacted by flooding and damaging winds. Four shelters have been set up in that area.

Let us remember all those who have been affected by this disaster.

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Disaster Response Fires

South England ACS Assists in London Fire

A 24-story apartment complex in London got caught on fire early Tuesday morning, June 13. Several charity organizations and agencies were seen on the ground providing immediate assistance to those who were affected by this unforeseen tragedy, one of them being the South England Conference Community Services Department. The staff helped out on the scene by distributing food and clothes. ADRA UK has also been involved by providing the funds for much-needed supplies.

Read more information here on the work that Adventist organizations are doing to provide relief to the victims and their families.

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Community Disaster Response

ACS Continues Work in Airway Heights

The Emergency Management in Spokane County had requested ACS to cover water distribution on Sunday, June 4, while the military was on a special training mission. They asked Latter Day Saints Church to cover on Sabbath as they did not want to disrupt our worship day.

Duane Kraft, an 82-year-old gentleman from the Spokane Valley SDA Church, was one of the volunteers who dedicated their time and services on that day. “I was in church yesterday and they said they needed help and I thought I’d come,” Kraft said. One of the youngest volunteers found on the scene was 16-year-old Philip Keer, who also decided to come out and help rather than spending time at home.

Leonard Westermeyer from Upper Columbia ACS is the Volunteer Coordinator who is in charge of the water distribution for Spokane County. Patty Marsh, UCC ACS Director, is extremely appreciative of Westermeyer’s strong leadership skills.

Watch this video clip to get a glimpse of the work that ACS is doing.

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Disaster Response Floods

Arkansas Flood Stories

One family that sought the assistance of Adventist Community Services in the aftermath of the devastating floods were David and Wendy Kratz, who lived in the town of Pocahontas. They came to our local Distribution Center and expressed gratitude for all the help we could provide. David told the DR team his story of how he and his wife were addicted to Meth about ten years ago, but have fully recovered and are now raising their3-year-old daughter. Through this crisis, they were able to get in contact with the Seventh-day Adventist by meeting a group of people who he stated “live out their religion.” His wife added that the support was very much appreciated and they never realized how great the Adventist people were until now. David invited the ACS volunteers who were assisting in the area to visit on Labor Day as they grilled in his backyard. His kindness was greatly appreciated!

Another resident of the local community rushed up to some of the team members with a couple of Bibles in her hand. She explained that they had enough for each person in the house and she knew many would be stopping by our location, and perhaps we’d be willing to allow them to take one with them. As she was leaving, she asked if she could post our location to her Facebook and twitter page so others affected by the floods could stop by and receive the needed items.

The Bayfills also truly appreciated the services ACS DR was providing. Gary and Shella Bayfill, whose home was flooded by the devastating floods, left the house within hours of being evacuated. This family had nowhere to go and only had what they could fit into their vehicle. Both were recently baptized into the Pocahontas SDA Church. Calls went out from the local ACS team to support this local community with tangible resources, which included the Bayfills. When the team heard the family didn’t have anywhere to stay, the doors of the church were opened and the church basement was turned into a shelter. Shella could not stop expressing how blessed she was by the local SDA Church. She stated “no one knows what we go through when you experience something like this.” She went on to say how extremely grateful she was that the church stepped up, and believes that Jesus is strengthening her through them.

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Disaster Response Floods Uncategorized

Arkansas Floods

The State of Arkansas has been heavily impacted by the recent Missouri floods. The waters from Missouri have flowed into Arkansas, resulting in substantial flooding. For days the rain continued filling the Black River, causing levees in several communities to overflow and break. The effects of these events had devastating consequences on the towns of Georgetown, Pocahontas, DesArc, and Bescoe. The Arkansas/Louisiana ACS DR Coordinator, Lavida Whitson, is leading out a team in the operation of small Warehouses that are currently distributing needed items to the local communities.

ACS is partnering with various faith-based organizations such as the Red Cross, LDS, and others that had donated goods to us for previous disasters sitting at a Warehouse ready for use. The International Paper Company donated 1000 boxes to be used for distribution. Payron Elementary, a local public school in Clarksville, also set up a collection center for bleach. By the end of their call they had secured about 200 bottles of bleach which were distributed, along with food and other household supplies.

On Memorial Day, there were approximately 15 volunteers who took their holiday to serve their community. They not only distributed supplies, but also spoke with many survivors that were uncertain about how they would manage through the next day. ACS DR provided some resources, and in areas where we couldn’t help we tried to connect them with other organizations that might offer the assistance needed. “The one thing you quickly realize when working on a Disaster is how many it takes to truly have an impact on a community affected by Disaster. It’s encouraging to see we have such competent, dedicated people working in every community within the Division,” said W. Derrick Lea, NAD ACS DR Director.