UMCOR by Jeff Bills

The following report was taken from the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) website. Your giving to HOPE helps to support this world-wide relief agency of our denomination. If you wish to make a special donation to help the flood victims of Iowa, you can make your donation to HOPE and designate it for Iowa relief and every dime of your contribution will be used to assist those affected by this flood.
DES MOINES, Iowa, June 19, 2008 (UMNS)–As waters began to recede in central Iowa and the shock of a second “500-year flood” in 15 years became a numbing reality, the focus was shifting from the rescue phase to relief and long-term recovery.
United Methodists are among a statewide interfaith consortium and action teams from local churches that are reaching out to the estimated 38,000 people left homeless, farmers who have lost a projected 10 percent of the 2008 corn crop and countless churches and parsonages inundated from the ravages of nine rivers.
Bishop Gregory Palmer spent June 18 visiting clergy and surveying damage in the Cedar Rapids area, including Trinity, Salem and St. James United Methodist churches – all three of which have been partially underwater in the floods.
"The disruption caused by the floods is overwhelming, but the way in which people are pulling together in communities more than balances this out," said Palmer, of the church's Iowa Area. "The outpouring of tangible compassion from the church along with the resolve of local people to reclaim their lives is signaling hope … hope … hope."
Representatives from the United Methodist Committee on Relief are expected to tour Iowa by the first of next week to assess damage and formulate a response plan. UMCOR already has issued a $10,000 emergency grant to the conference to aid in responding to the May 25 tornadoes in Parkersburg.
Representatives of the United Methodist Iowa Annual (regional) Conference were among eight Christian groups networking to respond to emergency needs, and an ecumenical blog was set up at www.iowawaters.blogspot.com to share information. The Iowa Disaster Human Resource Council (IDHRC), which is an even broader interfaith coalition, was coordinating some of the first steps of the rescue response to complement efforts by the American Red Cross and Salvation Army in some of the hardest-hit areas.
Except for Iowa's Mississippi River areas, first-responders were invited beginning June 17 to support those returning to their homes for the first time since being evacuated. First United Methodist Church in Marion ramped up to serve as a host site for volunteer crews. As of June 18, teams from five states already had committed to assist in the Cedar Rapids area, according to the Rev. Mike Morgan, pastor of the Marion congregation.
Early response has included consoling residents who have lost many of their possessions."This morning, about eight clergy went into the St. James United Methodist Church neighborhood about three hours after people were let into their homes. This was very necessary," Morgan said.
Coralville United Methodist Church received its first volunteers when 14 people from First United Methodist Church in Wichita, Kan., stopped to help while en route to a mission trip in Wisconsin.
"I know the worst hasn't hit in (Iowa City) and Coralville. We're keeping (Cedar Rapids) in our prayers," Williams said in a blog entry.