Frequently Asked Questions-Joplin Missouri Tornado-May 2011

1. What is the Status of the local United Methodist Clergy and Facilities?

All of our United Methodist clergy and their families are safe and accounted for. St. James UMC was destroyed. St. Paul's UMC and the local district office were extensively damaged. The rest of the United Methodist churches and facilities received minimal to no damage. All congregations are feeling the effects of loss and grief. Please keep the people of Joplin in your prayers.

2. Can I volunteer right now?

You can schedule a team through Missouri Volunteers in Mission online here. Once you have submitted your preferred team dates please be sure to download the necessary team forms. We will schedule teams in the order requests are received. Thank you for your service to joplin and continued patience through this scheduling process.

Americorps is coordinating some volunteer response. You can reach their volunteer hotline at (417) 625-3543 or register your interest online at www.211missouri.org. If you are interested in long-term rebuilding efforts through the United Methodist Church please fill out this online form.

3. What is an Early Response Team (ERT)?

ERT's are individuals or groups who have been through the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) Basic Training course, have completed their Annual Conference Background Check procedures and have received an UMCOR ERT badge.  In the early phases of disaster it is important to utilize teams with the knowledge of extreme disaster scenarios, debris removal policies (for insurance companies, FEMA, SEMA, etc.), and with a good understanding of what it means to provide appropriate spiritual and emotional support to disaster survivors.  The ERT Basic course equips volunteers to enter a disaster scenario with a solid understanding of these areas.

4. How can I become a certified United Methodist Early Response Team (ERT)?

The next ERT Basic Training Course will be held on October 1st at the Conference Office in Columbia, Missouri. For more information and to register for this training event click here. If you are from a Conference outside of Missouri you can contact your Jurisdictional Volunteers in Mission Coordinator regarding local ERT training schedules. Attending this training course and completing your Conference background check procedures (in Missouri, Safe Sanctuaries) will equip you to enter disaster sites as a volunteer in the early stages of disaster, before regular VIM teams.

5. What material goods can I donate now?

Emergency Clean Up Buckets: We will be collecting these kits through Festival of Sharing (view a list of additional drop off sites) for tornado, flooding and other disaster sites. Click here to view the contents of these buckets.

Donate: Bishop Schnase is urging churches to collect a special offering this Sunday to assist with the disaster response in Joplin. The Missouri Conference has established a fund to receive monies into the Disaster Response account #7465.  Churches are encouraged to collect a special offering this Sunday (May 29).  Donations for relief may be made through the local church or checks marked #7465 may be made payable to the Missouri Annual Conference and mailed directly to the Treasurer’s Office  at 3601 Amron Court, Columbia, Missouri, 65202.

You can also donate to relief efforts for Joplin online: