Contacts


Susquehanna Conference Disaster Response Ministry

The Susquehanna Conference of the United Methodist Church and its Disaster Response Ministry share in a partnership with United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR). The ministry responds by providing immediate relief as well as long term recovery support to address the physical, social, spiritual and emotional needs of individuals and families affected by disasters, locally, nationally, and globally.

Susquehanna Conference Disaster Response Coordinator

Deb Currinder

Phone: 717-766-7441 ext. 3402

Email: drc@susumc.org



District Disaster Response Coordinators

Altoona

--

Harrisburg

--

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre

--

State College

--

Williamsport

--


Early Response Teams

Early Response Teams (ERTs) are often the first people invited and provide aid after a disaster strikes. Their mission is to create a caring presence while cleaning up debris and making homes safe, sanitary and secure. ERT volunteers must go through ERT training with UMCOR. This ensures that they will operate under specific guidelines that allow them to be productive and caring while causing no further harm or being a burden.

Conference Early Response Team (ERT) Supervisor:

William "Bill" Toner

E-mail: wetoner@verizon.net

Spiritual and Emotional Care Teams

Disaster Response Spiritual and Emotional Care Teams are faith-based, on-going teams with standardized UMCOR training that provide spiritual and emotional care following disasters. Deployed through the conference Disaster Response Ministry, these teams provide support, information and referral for a holistic disaster recovery and help disaster survivors connect with their personal, community, spiritual, emotional and basic life resources. Teams also support meeting the spiritual and emotion needs of disaster response teams, VIM teams, and first responders. Teams comply with standards set by National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster.

Spiritual and Emotional Care Team Supervisor:

Vacant


If you are interested in learning more about the Disaster Response Ministry, or you would like to be involved, please contact the Conference Disaster Response Coordinator or your District Coordinator. If you wish to support the Disaster Response Ministry financially, please send your donations to the Conference Office with a reference to Advance # 8055. 

Popular posts from this blog

Knoxville Yoked Church Receives Grant from UM Foundation

Image
L to R:  Ed Stuart, Rev. L. Fitzgerald Reist II, Sharon Heck, Gene Heck Impact of Tropical Storm Debby on Local Communities The destruction caused by Tropical Storm Debby in Tioga, Potter, Lycoming, and Union Counties was significant, leading FEMA to issue disaster declarations for these areas. Numerous residents and businesses faced damage and are currently striving to restore their properties.  One church in Knoxville, PA, suffered particularly devastating losses, as an entire wall was washed away due to the flooding. In addition to the wall, they also lost their ADA ramp. Despite these challenges, the community rallied together.  The Cowanesque Church extended an invitation for the Knoxville Yoked Church to join them for Sunday services while repairs were underway.  During this period, the UM Foundation provided a grant of $5,000 to support survivors affected by Tropical Storm Debby, which was awarded to the Knoxville Yoked Church by the Disaster Response Minis...
Read more

IRS Tax Relief after Major Disasters

Image
IRS offers tax relief after major disasters Disaster relief can be authorized by the IRS when certain criteria from the Federal Emergency Management Agency are met. Generally, the IRS will authorize disaster tax relief to all areas identified on a major disaster declaration if FEMA identifies at least one area qualifying for their Individual Assistance program. Those who have been affected by a disaster can visit Tax relief in disaster situations on IRS.gov for information on what tax relief applies to them and other resources that will help them recover. Tax relief The following types of tax relief are a few of the ways the IRS helps after a major disaster. The IRS gives taxpayers more time to file and pay: Taxpayers whose address of record is in an area qualifying for IRS disaster tax relief will automatically receive extra time from the IRS to file returns and pay taxes. The IRS's disaster assistance page provides updates and links to resources. Information is also availabl...
Read more

Central PA Counties affected by Tropical Storm Debbie

Image
There have been many homes in our conference that have been damaged by TS Debby. As of Friday, September 13, 2024, the number is around 140 homes that have qualified as needing major repair or destroyed. This amount of destitution has caused FEMA to issue a Declaration of Individual Assistance to Tioga, Potter, Lycoming, and Union County. We continue to give our support to those areas. If you are in those areas and need assistance, you should call 211. There will also be five Disaster Recovery Centers that will be scheduled to be of assistance. Once those locations, dates, and times are released, I will provide those to you. If you have the desire and skills to help with this recovery, please contact me at drc@susumc.org or 717-766-5376. Deb Currinder Disaster Response Coordinator Susquehanna Conference UMC drc@susumc.org office: 717-766-7441, extension 3402 www.susmb.org
Read more