Donations can be made directly to WVMAW
and sent to 520 Second Avenue, So. Charleston, WV 25303
Click on any of the pictures for larger images
CLICK HERE FOR FLOOD MUCK OUT INFORMATION
POSTED 5/15/09
Situation and Analysis
Current Situation regarding flooding in Mingo and Wyoming Counties on May 10, 2009. Types of damage were to homes, private bridges, businesses, faith based organizations and infrastructure. Housing damage estimates are continuing through American Red Cross. Preliminary housing damage estimates from the WV Dept. of Homeland Security Emergency Management (Note: numbers include private bridges to residences):
County Destroyed Major Minor Affected Total
Mingo 60 259 268 305 892
Wyoming 26 56 66 12 160
[noted that this is preliminary and not to represent the full scope]
County Demographics
County Population 65+ Median income %Disability
Mingo 26,818 3806 $25,441 42.1%
Wyoming 23,731 3922 $27,016 41.3%
National Average ~$50,000 15.1%
Declaration Status
Preliminary Damage Assessments completed for Mingo and Wyoming
State Request for Individual Assistance submitted to FEMA
Federal Response: Pending
Initial Response Activities
Meals served from 9 critical locations
Cleaning supplies and water available
Red Cross shelter closed by May 13 as all residents found places to stay
Muck out teams from Southern Baptist
Recovery Activities
Mass Care being done through ARC and Salvation Army. Southern Baptist mud out crews in place.
Human needs assessment continuing to identify scope of needs for voluntary agency support
Agencies contacting WV VOAD to discover needs
VOAD Chair developed strategy with State Individual Assistance Officer and FEMA Voluntary Agency Liaisons to develop a plan
WV VOAD Priority
Promote coordinated response and long term recovery
Avoid duplication of efforts
Ensure equitable distribution of resources and services
Capacity build local resources while promoting partnerships with National VOAD organizations
Encourage close collaboration between active agencies
Partner closely with state and local governmental representatives
Concept of Operations
Identify main areas of concern with assessment teams:
Immediate services include muck out, immediate repairs such as ramps, steps, unstable foundations
Referrals for these immediate needs may be coordinated through Jack Cobb, Southern Baptist. Cheryl to provide contact number.
Donations Management will be through Adventist Community Services, Randy Murphy. Randy’s current needs are for warehousing.
Questions outstanding are who finds the warehousing, who would pay rent or utilities if not donated? Randy is to follow up on locations from referrals within VOAD. Concern about state opening up a donations line before we re ready to accommodate. Cheryl to talk with appropriate offices to prevent.
Volunteer Management will be through Volunteer West Virginia. Cheryl to contact VWV (who had to leave the meeting early) to identify ways to respond to volunteers and opportunities. It may be through the 2-1-1 number. They will coordinate mud out. May phase to long term referrals.
Recovery and Rebuilding will be led by Catholic Community Service, Michael Vincent. Recovery team will meet on Monday at 3pm: Michael Vincent, Joan Stewart, Mary Mason, Debbie Sweeney. Anthony Buller of FEMA Volunteer Agency Liaison will meet with.
Recovery Issues:
Current Needs identified by Cpt. Tom Richmond, Salvation Army:
1—tetanus shots. These have not been able to be stockpiled any longer and must be ordered. They are on order
2—Jurisdiction—concurrent jurisdiction with other response departments (fire, police) needs to coordinated
3—communication. There is a capability for communication system that can patch in remote areas. Understand that National Guard has put up temporary AT&T tower
4—Recovery needs: still in need of cleaning kits, shovels and pitch forks
Existing housing for volunteers: no
Camping—some available at Harless Center. Paradise Island Camping was flooded. Status unknown at this time. To follow up.
WVMAW location at Kopperston can offer some volunteer accommodation on limited basis. Note already has volunteer teams scheduled.
National Guard staying at Harless Community Center but will be moving along soon.
Possible shelter available now at the Freedom Full Gospel Church that was housing Red Cross. Cheryl to provide Joan with phone number of contact to arrange for a mud out crew.
Each agency should provide a needs assessment for recovery and bring to next meeting. Next VOAD meeting will be Wednesday, May 20, 10:00 at John XXIII in Charleston.
POSTED 5/11/09
Flooding in West Virginia has happened within our boundaries and has made the national news once again. Since Saturday evening, we have be
en in touch with folks in Logan, Williamson and Gilbert regarding the degree of damage sustained in each of these communities. It seems that the Gilbert area is the hardest hit.
Currently, the National Guard, FEMA, Red Cross and Salvation Army are in place doing their first response ministry. Other groups such as the Baptist Men and the Mennonites are there with chain saws and shovels. Only essential responders are being allowed in the area at this point in order to keep chaos at a minimum. Houses must be assessed by FEMA and insurance companies before long-term recovery such as that provided by our WVMAW folks can begin.
We have also learned that Hanover, Godfrey's Corner, Justice and Pie communities are also places that have had quite a bit of devastation according to David Hoge of Homeland Security. These areas are in close proximity to the Kopperston Church which may beco
me a site for re-directing our work plans for recovery as soon as the door is open to us. The Kopperson Church and their adjacent Poe Building has been the site for many of our spring, summer, and fall mission work groups, offering lodging, cooking and shower facilities.
Bruce Stevens, Executive of the Synod of the Trinity, called earlier today with the report that he is sending a check for use in the first-response recovery efforts in Gilbert. A skilled first-responder team from the Presbytery of the Carlisle is standing by with all of their gear and preparedness ready to come as soon as we can provide accommodations for them in Gilbert. This team will also bring trailers that can be hooked up to camp sites. Chris Turner, pastor of the Gilbert Church, is off
ering the church as a site for sleeping and organizing the possibility of making showers available at the Harless Community Center.
John Robinson from PDA has called, pledging support from the PCUSA through disaster assistance. A group from Virginia is standing by to journe
y to the area as soon as they have been cleared and given permission.
Congregations wishing to organize mission work groups are encouraged to be in touch with the Presbytery office so that there can be coordination for these efforts. While many are eager to do something immediately, (and many are!) this presbytery has become known for its long-term care and recovery efforts. We will continue to respond in that manner.
Congregations are encouraged to receive special offerings to support the Presbytery's efforts to respond to this crisis. We have had many opportunities over the years to learn how to provide immediate and long-term assistance in disasters such as this. Offerings may be designated for use by the Presbytery of West Virginia Ministry of Advocacy and Work Camps or to the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance Program. These contributions should be sent to Lois Coffey, Financial Administrator/Tr
easurer, at 520 Second Avenue, South Charleston, West Virginia 25303.
Catholic Community Services generally provide case workers that will refer to work teams from the Presbyterian and Lutheran groups. In other disasters, WVMAW through PDA support helped to provide funding for case workers. We will be seeking that funding again, once we determine an amount needed.
We also urge you to pray for those whose lives have been impacted by these raging flood waters.
We will provide daily updates as they become available and will be prepared to give more information at the meeting of Presbytery on Saturday at Bluestone.
Please do not hesitate to call if you have questions. Please share this information with members of your congregations. We are so blessed to have so many people willing to be part of bringing hope and help to our neighbors in need.
May God guide us and give us wisdom and courage for the living of these days!
POSTED 5/12/09
Many are asking about how to provide immediate help to those who are dealing with the aftermath of the floods in Gilbert and the surrounding communities.
In the past, congregations have prepared "Gift of the Heart Kits" which include Baby Kits, Hygiene Kits, Clean Up Bucket and School Kits.
CLICK HERE for a complete listing of items for each from Presbyterian Disaster Assistance Program.
It is recommended that any Kits be taken to the distribution centers which are being identified on the morning and evening news broadcasts. T
hese include the Television Stations, the Kroger Stores and Union Mission. This will facilitate the quickest manner for getting these needed items to the appropriate distribution points in the flooded areas.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call the presbytery office. We will do our best to provide additional information as we are able.
One additional bit of news, Bill and Carol Stanley who are presently serving in Lake Arrowhead, CA have called to express their love, c
oncern and prayers for the presbytery and particularly for the folks whose lives have been disrupted by the flood. Carol served as the Educator of the Gilbert Church and Bill was the pastor of the Kopperston Church. Bill recently visited the presbytery and participated in the Celebration of the Ministry of the Kopperston Church on their last official Sunday, April 19th.