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

Doug Hoy

Phone: 717-766-7441 ext. 3402

Email: drc@susumc.org


District Disaster Response Coordinators

Altoona

Vacant

Harrisburg

Vacant

Lewisburg

Pastor Kelly Kocher-Ross

E-mail: kkocher-ross@susumc.org

Gale Roland

E-mail: galemale53@gmail.com

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre

Ron Lucas

E-mail: ronkar1976@comcast.net

State College

Pastor David McElwee

E-mail: dmcelwee@susumc.org

Pastor Eugene McCallips

E-mail: emccallips@susumc.org

Williamsport

Vacant

York

Pastor Brian Lucas

E-mail: blucas@susumc.org


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. 

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