Disaster Response News
Tornado topples two UMC steeples, leaves churches intact
5/4/2023
An EF2 tornado blazed through Shawnee on April 19, killing three and damaging numerous properties. Two properties affected were United Methodist churches - Shawnee Wesley and Shawnee St. Paul’s. The ...
When disaster strikes
4/5/2023
Disaster doesn’t have a particular season, but the collective minds of Oklahoma communities are tuned to thoughts of disaster during tornado season. With the 2023 storm season already in full swing, ...
Disaster Response in Idabel Area
11/10/2022
Idabel United Methodist Church is the center of a disaster response after severe storms, tornadoes, and straight-line winds swepth through Bryan, LeFlore, and McCurtain counties. Mark Jardine and ...
Conference letter about Hurricane Ian
10/6/2022
As you are aware, the state of Florida has been devastated by Hurricane Ian. We want to provide you with some updates from our partners at UMCOR. While authorities have not yet given the all-clear to ...
OKUMC helps complete work on disaster recovery sites
5/10/2022
The Oklahoma Conference helped complete work still needed to address recovery efforts due to a May 2019 flooding event. Dana Parker, the Oklahoma Conference disaster response coordinator, said she was...
Rural Church Sunday emphasizes role in disaster response
9/10/2021
Rural Church Sunday will be held on Sept. 19, and this year, the Oklahoma Conference is focusing on the role of small and rural churches in disaster response. Dana Parker, the new conference disaster ...
Ministry in a Minute
4/26/2021
A Disaster Relief team works on damage sustained at a home in rural Oklahoma on April 13.
Disaster Response distributes 125,000 masks
10/2/2020
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Oklahoma Conference Disaster Response team obtained and distributed 125,000 masks and 24 55-gallon barrels of hand sanitizer to schools, churches and health ...
Disaster Recovery prepares for long-term response with little funding
9/6/2019
The Office of Mission is working to address the needs of Oklahomans affected by the spring weather events that caused near-record flooding across the state. Rev. Jeremy Basset, director of the ...
Disaster Repsonse announces completion of “Let’s Finish This”
9/7/2018
Oklahoma’s Disaster Response ministry has announced the completion of the “Let’s Finish This” initiative. The initiative called for United Methodists in Oklahoma to help complete work on many homes ...
Disaster Response progress report
12/22/2017
Bishop Jimmy Nunn has called for volunteers to help some 230 Oklahoma families repair homes ruined in flooding two years ago. Three months later, Disaster Response Coordinator Richard Norman reports ...
Loss in paradise
11/10/2017
Oklahoman living in Puerto Rico rides hurricane’s winds BY HOLLY MCCRAY In the days after Hurricane Maria, it took the connections of Oklahoma United Methodist Volunteers In Mission to get Chelsea ...
Hurricane Relief: The latest from Rev. Richard Norman, OKUMC-DR coordinator.
9/1/2017
Dear Oklahoma United Methodists, In the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, the Oklahoma United Methodist Disaster Response Ministry (OKUMC-DR) wants to keep you updated on what is requested of us so ...
Home makeover
3/17/2017
In Kingston, Oklahoma, photos tell the story of what United Methodist volunteers accomplished for a single parent and her children. In 2015, a tornado destroyed their house. With FEMA funds, they ...
Disaster worker honored
2/10/2017
Richard Norman, who is the Conference’s disaster response coordinator in the Office of Mission, recently received the Servant Leader award from the partnership group called Oklahoma Voluntary ...
Cleaning supplies, volunteer help needed
9/16/2016
Recent flooding, fires, and storms in numerous U.S. annual conferences have nearly depleted the supply of clean-up kits (aka flood buckets) available through UMCOR (the United Methodist Committee on ...
Bible survives Davis sanctuary collapse
5/20/2016
by chris schutz Stepping carefully across the rubble and broken stained glass left by a destructive storm, a helper emerged with precious cargo and handed it to Sue Harshaw — her Bible. She had ...
Case managers seek out ‘most fragile’ after disaster
5/20/2016
by chris schutz In the chaos that follows a fire, flood, tornado, or other disaster, it’s sometimes difficult to figure out who most needs help and how best to deliver it, said Christy Tate Smith, a ...
OK grateful to volunteers still coming from outside state
4/8/2016
Three groups of volunteer disaster workers from outside Oklahoma were treated to grilled hot dog and burger lunches March 15 and 16 by the Oklahoma United Methodist Foundation, as one way to thank ...
Storm story -- Snapshot of a bigger picture
4/8/2016
To better understand The United Methodist Church’s promise to help disaster victims, look at how money from one grant was spent after the devastating May 2013 tornadoes in Oklahoma. These numbers ...
Missouri volunteers answer prayers
2/26/2016
Down in Canyon Camp, chainsaws roared as 22 United Methodist volunteers from Missouri cleared hundreds of broken trees during a week in January. "They’re an answer to prayer," said Canyon’s manager,...
Call for disaster help in Tulsa
1/15/2016
The Andrews family is among those in west Tulsa who lost homes in tornadoes last year. Living with the couple in their mobile home were the elementary-age daughter, a nephew, and grandmother. The ...
UMCOR grants: $1 million to help victims of flooding
11/20/2015
By HOLLY McCRAY Now well into their senior years, the couple always has lived in the modest frame house in southern Oklahoma. They had been so proud to pay off the mortgage. Yet in retirement, their ...
Parsonage houses volunteers far from home
7/13/2015
By CHRIS SCHUTZ An unused parsonage in Newcastle provided housing for two weeks for disaster response workers from Michigan after a May 6 tornado damaged property in the area, especially in Bridge ...
Disaster Response
4/17/2015
Trish Harris, left, pastor of Noble UMC, helps a Moore homeowner fill out paperwork requesting volunteer aid after tornadoes in the state on March 25. Most home damage occurred in Moore and in two ...
Disaster response cases drop to fewer than 500 families
3/6/2015
Ministry to May 2013 tornado survivors Workload is reduced, but the Church’s disaster response continues after the deadly May 2013 storms in the state’s central region. United Methodists vow to serve...
NOMADS travel to help central Oklahoma recover
6/6/2014
At the Newalla home of David and Tamara Boydston, NOMADS Jeannie Hansen of Florida and Barbara Sullivan of Mangum paint trim boards; below: David Sullivan of Mangum and Dan Brown of Arkansas ...
One year later … Mission director assesses UM aid as 2013 tornado recovery continues
6/6/2014
This aerial view shows a tornado-damaged Moore neighborhood on May 31, 2013.Welcome changes are visible there today, with new and repaired homes going up. UMNS photo by Mike DuBose 3,258 families ...
Disaster consultant joins OCC staff
1/24/2014
The Oklahoma Conference of Churches (OCC) has named Mary Hughes Gaudreau of Guthrie as new director of emotional and spiritual care. The post was established through a grant from United Way of Central...
South Central Jurisdiction -- Mission interpreter ready to share stories
1/24/2014
A member of the Southwest Texas Conference, Becky Harrell now serves as mission interpreter for the South Central Jurisdiction (SCJ), which includes the churches in Oklahoma. She is available to share...
4,000-plus volunteers deploy to help after tornadoes
12/13/2013
A UMNS photo by Mike DuBose Volunteering through Moore-First UMC, Sharon Johnson cleans tornado debris at a home in late May. Numbers track just how extensive is the disaster recovery work...
2 MORE DISASTER RECOVERY CENTERS
11/1/2013
Ceremonies in mid-October officially open case-management centers in Shawnee and El Reno for the Oklahoma Disaster Recovery Project, a collaboration by five major nonprofits, including The ...
5 nonprofits unite in disaster response
10/11/2013
Photo by Holly McCray Moore Mayor Glenn Lewis wields oversized scissors to cut the ribbon Sept. 18 and officially open the Oklahoma Disaster Recovery Project case management center in his ...
Love letters - 2013 May Tornado Relief
9/20/2013
Oklahoma Conference staff members find words that bless, such as these, as they continue to open envelopes that deliver money gifts for the special fund “2013 May Tornado Relief.” As of Sept. 12, the...
UMCOR grants $100,000 for wildfire recovery
1/4/2013
By Holly McCray The denomination’s emergency relief agency awarded a $100,000 grant in December to help Oklahomans recover from disastrous summer wildfires. The money from UMCOR, the United ...