DRT is deploying a 1st Response Coordinating Team to Joplin, MO. A relief effort will be set up working with the Mt. Hope Church in Joplin.
To volunteer in any of these areas, please register on the DRT website. http://www.churchesofchristdrt.org/
Donations are greatly needed as well to help continue helping those in such need following disasters. Tax deductible donations can be made online at the above DRT website or can be sent by postal mail to:
CHURCHES OF CHRIST DISASTER RESPONSE TEAM
810 HOLLYWOOD BLVD.
WEST MELBOURNE, FLORIDA 32904
DRT will also be continuing the relief efforts currently established in the Tuscaloosa, AL area as well as continuing to help the Muscle Shoals area as needed to reach out to several surrounding communities.
Below is an excerpt of an update from one of our coordinators, Harry Mansfield. Harry's daughter and son-in-law live very near to the destruction in Joplin as well as Harry's son-in-law being part of the EMS that was called into Joplin.
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We just got off the phone with my daughter.
The hospital you see in the pictures from Weather Channel is in the southwest part of the city and is aprox 3-4 miles from Range Line the main commercial north-south street where the Wal-mart, Home Depot and Sports Authority stores were hit. The area bettween those locations is heavily residential.
The tornado continued on through more residential areas after crossing Range Line (If you look on a map Range Line may be listed as Bus 71.) I worked quite a bit in Joplin in the 80's and Denise lives 40 miles west of the city and we estimate that appox 25-30% of the city was destroyed. Also, Denise's husband is a Firefighter and Emergancy Management Specilist and has been deployed to Joplin. He says they are requesting a large number of body bags. The stores that were demolished are usually heavily occupied on a Sunday afternoon. There was very little or no warrning given on the appoach of this tornado, and the people in those stores were unable to get out. The original medical emergency center that was setup has been over run and two additional centers have been setup in schools. The Joplin metro area has an estimated population of 80,000 to 100,000. Jasper Co. MO has a total population of 117,000 with most of that in the Joplin vacinity. Also many of the cell phone towers are down and most of the land line commuincation in Joplin is out, so making phone contact is nearly impossible. Denise will keep me updated as she gets more info.
Monday, May 23, 2011
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Wednesday, February 02, 2011
DRT volunteers are out cutting trees, taking generators to those without electric and checking on members of local churches and community.
I know many of you would like to help in your own communities so I'm listing just a few suggestions to help get you started after this winter storm.
1. Get in touch family members, friends, neighbors, especially the elderly to check on any needs they have. Remember.... phone lines are down many times so you might need to physically check on them. Also especially when calling those that are elderly...do not just assume that they aren't home if they don't answer. Its a good idea to physically check on them.
2. Get a group of volunteers to help with cutting downed trees, shoveling sidewalks and drives, putting down salt, etc. of those in your church family, etc. from there help the surrounding neighbors. **It is VERY important to get the homeowners permission BEFORE cutting or moving any trees, limbs, etc.**
3. Fix finger foods, desserts, etc. to take to the local fire departments, etc. During times like these they are usually working so many hours without time to grab something to eat.
If you live near an airport that has had many cancelled flights, you can check with the airport to see about bringing the same types of foods in for the travellers that are stranded. Many of them hadn't planned for this and are there with no extra money to buy food.
Be creative... there are many ways to reach out into your community to share the Love of Jesus by your good works.
If you have any other suggestions, please leave a comment...
I know many of you would like to help in your own communities so I'm listing just a few suggestions to help get you started after this winter storm.
1. Get in touch family members, friends, neighbors, especially the elderly to check on any needs they have. Remember.... phone lines are down many times so you might need to physically check on them. Also especially when calling those that are elderly...do not just assume that they aren't home if they don't answer. Its a good idea to physically check on them.
2. Get a group of volunteers to help with cutting downed trees, shoveling sidewalks and drives, putting down salt, etc. of those in your church family, etc. from there help the surrounding neighbors. **It is VERY important to get the homeowners permission BEFORE cutting or moving any trees, limbs, etc.**
3. Fix finger foods, desserts, etc. to take to the local fire departments, etc. During times like these they are usually working so many hours without time to grab something to eat.
If you live near an airport that has had many cancelled flights, you can check with the airport to see about bringing the same types of foods in for the travellers that are stranded. Many of them hadn't planned for this and are there with no extra money to buy food.
Be creative... there are many ways to reach out into your community to share the Love of Jesus by your good works.
If you have any other suggestions, please leave a comment...
YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE
YES.... 1 person... (YOU) can make a difference....
As calls are being made by DRT to locate areas in need of assistance following this major winter storm we are hearing comments that concern me. One of the replies we're hearing when asking the question to churches, etc. if all their members are ok and if they all have electric is "I think so, I haven't heard from anyone needing help".
PLEASE..... don't wait on people to call you... I'm encouraging all of you... if you live in an area with power outages, PLEASE check on your family, friends and neighbors, especially the elderly. PLEASE don't count on someone else doing it or wait on them to call you. In these extreme cold temperatures... with no heat... YOU can literally be the difference between life and death for someone. As you do this, please encourage everyone else you know to do the same.
DRT is ready with generators, chain saws, volunteers, etc. for areas in need of assistance. If you live in an area or know of areas needing help please contact us.
We are so thankful to those of you who have stepped up to help with this storm by volunteering or donating funds we are so encouraged by you. If you haven't helped yet, it is not to late.....
As calls are being made by DRT to locate areas in need of assistance following this major winter storm we are hearing comments that concern me. One of the replies we're hearing when asking the question to churches, etc. if all their members are ok and if they all have electric is "I think so, I haven't heard from anyone needing help".
PLEASE..... don't wait on people to call you... I'm encouraging all of you... if you live in an area with power outages, PLEASE check on your family, friends and neighbors, especially the elderly. PLEASE don't count on someone else doing it or wait on them to call you. In these extreme cold temperatures... with no heat... YOU can literally be the difference between life and death for someone. As you do this, please encourage everyone else you know to do the same.
DRT is ready with generators, chain saws, volunteers, etc. for areas in need of assistance. If you live in an area or know of areas needing help please contact us.
We are so thankful to those of you who have stepped up to help with this storm by volunteering or donating funds we are so encouraged by you. If you haven't helped yet, it is not to late.....
Monday, January 31, 2011
MAJOR WINTER STORM
It's a busy week as DRT prepares for the major winter storm headed across the U.S.
Coordinators have been contacted and put on standby.... trailers have been loaded with the equipment, tools and supplies necessary to provide the assistance needed for winter storm assistance ....It is estimated that over 100,000,000 (YES.... ONE HUNDRED MILLION) people will be affected by this storm. Currently 30 states have winter storm watches and warnings associated with this storm.
There will be many power outages in areas with extremely cold temperatures. I've been in touch this morning with several elderly people who are so worried about losing power and not having heat, etc. With this much snow and ice predicted this will surely be the case. The DRT trailers are stocked with chain saws, generators, blankets, food, etc. However, with the economic times the way they are DRT funding is down considerably and DRT NEEDS YOUR HELP..... We are making an urgent plea for your help.
Donations can be made through PayPal on the DRT website or by postal mail to:
Churches of Christ Disaster Response Team
810 Hollywood Blvd.
West Melbourne, Florida 32904
Coordinators have been contacted and put on standby.... trailers have been loaded with the equipment, tools and supplies necessary to provide the assistance needed for winter storm assistance ....It is estimated that over 100,000,000 (YES.... ONE HUNDRED MILLION) people will be affected by this storm. Currently 30 states have winter storm watches and warnings associated with this storm.
There will be many power outages in areas with extremely cold temperatures. I've been in touch this morning with several elderly people who are so worried about losing power and not having heat, etc. With this much snow and ice predicted this will surely be the case. The DRT trailers are stocked with chain saws, generators, blankets, food, etc. However, with the economic times the way they are DRT funding is down considerably and DRT NEEDS YOUR HELP..... We are making an urgent plea for your help.
Donations can be made through PayPal on the DRT website or by postal mail to:
Churches of Christ Disaster Response Team
810 Hollywood Blvd.
West Melbourne, Florida 32904
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
The blink of an eye or so it seems, is all the time it takes for our life... our world as we know it to be turned completely upside down.
Sometimes this happens by our own doing, other times not. Either way it can hurt so much we feel as though our entire being has been devoured and spit out. But through all of this....how we handle the pain...anguish...the disappointment....and who or what we look to for guidance to help get us through this dark....most painful period in our life, is what is going to get us through it or bury us deeper.
The disaster survivors that I've worked with over the past 18 years have experienced many of these same feelings and emotions. Many have lost family members....others have lost "everything" they owned.
Just imagine for a second.... Look all around you... see the pictures of the children....your daughters favorite doll.....the pictures of family members no longer with us....the family heirlooms...the things that can never be replaced...
Now close your eyes.... You may be in your retirement years now...but if not, imagine you are. You've lived a modest life, you've worked hard and paid your house off... you don't have much to go on but you feel pretty confident that you'll be ok through your remaining years... WHEN IT HAPPENS... in the blink of an eye the powerful storm has flooded your house as well as all your neighbors houses up to and in some cases higher than the roofs. You've been responsible, you have insurance.... but you couldn't get flood insurance... and why would you anyway? You are nowhere near a flood zone. You are in your 60's...70's...80's...90's... You thought you had planned for the remainder of your life and now its ALL gone! You are in shock... many of you are past the years of picking up and starting over... What do you do?....Who do you turn to in this time of devastation?
GOD is the one constant... the rock... the never changing force we need to look to... HE is the One that can and will get us through these times that seem as though they'll never end. It doesn't mean its going to be easy... but what will you....what will I.... learn from these challenges?
There are times we will never know the "why" of things while we're here on earth. Will we allow them to make us stronger or pull us down? Will we use what we've been through to help us understand what others are going through? Will we even be....dare I say it?? ..... Less judgemental? No matter how you think you would handle a situation... please take my word for it.... YOU REALLY HAVE NO IDEA.... until you experience it yourself.
When you encounter that rude salesperson... restaurant server... or whomever you might come in contact with (I'm talking to myself as well).... Remember... you have NO IDEA their situation or even how you would handle it if you were in their shoes.
The Disaster Response Team is comprised of wonderful volunteers who are willing to "be there" for these disaster survivors who may have just lost everything. To be there to listen... to assure... to hug.... to provide emotional, spiritual and physical support to those who have nowhere to turn. Home cooked meals are provided to the communities in the disaster areas.... volunteers come from all over the U.S. to help "clean up" as well as helping to rebuild lives and homes. Building material, new clothing and household supplies are provided for those without/under insured. If you haven't been a volunteer with The Disaster Response Team (DRT) please consider it. It will change your life forever. If you have volunteered... then you know what I mean and we are so thankful to you.
DRT is in desperate need of funding to continue. The economic times have been rough on everyone and we understand that.... it's also been rough on donations coming into DRT. Please consider making this mission a priority in your 2011 budget... Please ask your church congregations to make it a monthly priority as well.
We are always in need of volunteers in the disaster areas... whether you can come for a day...week... month... you are so needed.
We are especially in need of volunteers willing to be trained as coordinators and who can be at a disaster at least 3 weeks at a time.
Please consider and pray about these needs. YOU are needed!
Sometimes this happens by our own doing, other times not. Either way it can hurt so much we feel as though our entire being has been devoured and spit out. But through all of this....how we handle the pain...anguish...the disappointment....and who or what we look to for guidance to help get us through this dark....most painful period in our life, is what is going to get us through it or bury us deeper.
The disaster survivors that I've worked with over the past 18 years have experienced many of these same feelings and emotions. Many have lost family members....others have lost "everything" they owned.
Just imagine for a second.... Look all around you... see the pictures of the children....your daughters favorite doll.....the pictures of family members no longer with us....the family heirlooms...the things that can never be replaced...
Now close your eyes.... You may be in your retirement years now...but if not, imagine you are. You've lived a modest life, you've worked hard and paid your house off... you don't have much to go on but you feel pretty confident that you'll be ok through your remaining years... WHEN IT HAPPENS... in the blink of an eye the powerful storm has flooded your house as well as all your neighbors houses up to and in some cases higher than the roofs. You've been responsible, you have insurance.... but you couldn't get flood insurance... and why would you anyway? You are nowhere near a flood zone. You are in your 60's...70's...80's...90's... You thought you had planned for the remainder of your life and now its ALL gone! You are in shock... many of you are past the years of picking up and starting over... What do you do?....Who do you turn to in this time of devastation?
GOD is the one constant... the rock... the never changing force we need to look to... HE is the One that can and will get us through these times that seem as though they'll never end. It doesn't mean its going to be easy... but what will you....what will I.... learn from these challenges?
There are times we will never know the "why" of things while we're here on earth. Will we allow them to make us stronger or pull us down? Will we use what we've been through to help us understand what others are going through? Will we even be....dare I say it?? ..... Less judgemental? No matter how you think you would handle a situation... please take my word for it.... YOU REALLY HAVE NO IDEA.... until you experience it yourself.
When you encounter that rude salesperson... restaurant server... or whomever you might come in contact with (I'm talking to myself as well).... Remember... you have NO IDEA their situation or even how you would handle it if you were in their shoes.
The Disaster Response Team is comprised of wonderful volunteers who are willing to "be there" for these disaster survivors who may have just lost everything. To be there to listen... to assure... to hug.... to provide emotional, spiritual and physical support to those who have nowhere to turn. Home cooked meals are provided to the communities in the disaster areas.... volunteers come from all over the U.S. to help "clean up" as well as helping to rebuild lives and homes. Building material, new clothing and household supplies are provided for those without/under insured. If you haven't been a volunteer with The Disaster Response Team (DRT) please consider it. It will change your life forever. If you have volunteered... then you know what I mean and we are so thankful to you.
DRT is in desperate need of funding to continue. The economic times have been rough on everyone and we understand that.... it's also been rough on donations coming into DRT. Please consider making this mission a priority in your 2011 budget... Please ask your church congregations to make it a monthly priority as well.
We are always in need of volunteers in the disaster areas... whether you can come for a day...week... month... you are so needed.
We are especially in need of volunteers willing to be trained as coordinators and who can be at a disaster at least 3 weeks at a time.
Please consider and pray about these needs. YOU are needed!
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Clovis, NM youth group at DRT Ohio Property Work Camp
Jessica Biller - Mid-County Church of Christ- Troy, Ohio
Working in the DRT Supply Barn
Hanging out and jamming after work--
This has been a busy week.. We have an awesome youth group from Clovis, N.M. staying and working at the DRT Ohio property this week. This group is such a blessing! They are part of the team that do the non-glorious "behind the scenes" work and we are SO thankful to them. If it weren't for the volunteers who work behind the scenes readying things for disasters.... the remainder of the DRTeam could not accomplish what is needed when working in disaster areas.
It has been raining more than we had hoped this week, however it didn't deter this group. They willingly went to work doing whatever was needed. Some of the "rain day" work included.... Sorting, inventorying and organizing donated supplies in the DRT Supply Barn..... sorting and organizing tools in the Tool Room of the barn..... When it hasn't been raining (including this afternoon! WooHoo!) They have been cleaning out the trenches that had been dug for the placement of drainage pipe in the fields as well as placing the pipe in the trenches..... We've had a horrible time with flooding here at the property but the drainage pipes will greatly reduce this! Today they are power spraying the barns and hopefully if the rain will hold off painting will take place on the exterior of the barns. Now that the supplies have been sorted and organized we are also able to load the supply trailer for the next disaster......
Speaking of which....
An upgraded hurricane forecast has been released today.
According to Joe Bastardi of AccuWeather... 2010 will be 1 of 5 most active hurricane seasons since record keeping began 160 years ago. He is predicting 18-21 named storms. He expects at least 8 of those named storms to make landfall in the U.S. including 6 hurricanes, 2-3 of those to be major hurricanes (catagory 3 or higher)
Lets take the time now to be preparing if you live in one of the coastal states... And all the rest of us begin preparing to help those who may come in harms way during this hurricane season.
Also remember wildfires are currently taking place in Arizona, tornadoes have hit MN. and Montana and DRT is in the process of completing our commitments in Haiti.
Please continue to pray for DRT as well as those affected by disasters.
We are so thankful to those of you that volunteer and help financially through DRT. Please continue so we can be ready for the next disaster.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Is It Just Me Or Do You Struggle Too?
Have you ever had so many things happen in your life at once that you wonder if GOD has forgotten His promise to never leave us? I imagine most of us have experienced this at one time or another. I won't go into details about my life recently but I've been experiencing this very feeling. It's not easy to admit it but I've doubted GOD about his ability to handle the situations in my life....I try to handle everything myself... I really don't know why, I'm absolutely no good at it. Why is it that I turn things over to GOD "after" all of my attempts at trying to fix things don't work? I have a theory... Sometimes.....Maybe ... Just maybe... I'm afraid He won't allow things to turn out the way "I" want them. I don't think this is the case with every instance.....many times I believe we just do it subconsciously... but I do believe it happens often... at least for me.
I recently read the following: When you get Jesus, you plug into the plan you were made for; you get Heavens direction for your decisions; you get inexhaustable, "unloseable" love; you get God's grace to help you weather every crisis; you have someone who's bigger than every challenge that's bigger than you are.
Let's help each other to remember that He is able to do exceedingly more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us. Eph. 3:20
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DRT is at work preparing for upcoming disasters as well as continuing to work on the Haiti disaster and now assessing the flooding in the Edmond/Oklahoma City areas.
We've had several volunteers working tirelessly here at the Ohio DRT Property. We are also anxiously awaiting the arrival of the Clovis, New Mexico youth group this Saturday! They also came to help us organize/clean trailers, etc. last year. We are so blessed to have them as part of the team. They are so willing to do whatever is needed.
Please keep those affected by the flooding in Oklahoma in your prayers as well as those ministering to them through disaster relief. 90% of those affected are without insurance. Funding is needed as well as volunteers. You can register on the website to volunteer.
We will provide more details as soon as the DRT assessors have met with the leaders in Edmond, Ok. this week.
Until then, Shine Jesus Shine
I recently read the following: When you get Jesus, you plug into the plan you were made for; you get Heavens direction for your decisions; you get inexhaustable, "unloseable" love; you get God's grace to help you weather every crisis; you have someone who's bigger than every challenge that's bigger than you are.
Let's help each other to remember that He is able to do exceedingly more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us. Eph. 3:20
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DRT is at work preparing for upcoming disasters as well as continuing to work on the Haiti disaster and now assessing the flooding in the Edmond/Oklahoma City areas.
We've had several volunteers working tirelessly here at the Ohio DRT Property. We are also anxiously awaiting the arrival of the Clovis, New Mexico youth group this Saturday! They also came to help us organize/clean trailers, etc. last year. We are so blessed to have them as part of the team. They are so willing to do whatever is needed.
Please keep those affected by the flooding in Oklahoma in your prayers as well as those ministering to them through disaster relief. 90% of those affected are without insurance. Funding is needed as well as volunteers. You can register on the website to volunteer.
We will provide more details as soon as the DRT assessors have met with the leaders in Edmond, Ok. this week.
Until then, Shine Jesus Shine
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