# Missouri Conference responders continue to support those recovering from disasters. Read on to see the ways Missouri United Methodists are serving their neighbors both at home and across the UMC connection.

Help Us Collect 250 Flood Buckets in September
September is National Disaster Preparedness Month. With natural disasters on the rise and hurricane season off to a strong start, the we've set a goal of collecting 250 UMCOR cleaning kits by the end of the month. Cleaning kits (aka flood buckets) provide essential clean-up supplies to people who have experienced a natural disaster. Deploying kits is just one way Missouri United Methodists show up and serve when it matters most. Getting involved is easy: Gather the cleaning kit supplies, assemble the kit and drop it off at your nearest Missouri Disaster Response Hub. [link removed] Learn more→

Upcoming Early Response Fall Trainings
Interested in becoming ERT-trained or equipping a team at your local church? We have two trainings planned for this fall.
Fall 2023 Training Options:
[link removed] 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, September 23 in Macon (recertification available) Registration closes on September 14 for the September 23 training date.

[link removed] 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, November 11 in Wentzville

To receive your UMCOR ERT Badge you must:
Attend the in-person training session all day.

Pass the test given at the end of the training session.

Complete and pass the background check. Instructions will be sent the morning of your training session to be completed in class that day.

[link removed] Register Here → To deploy to a disaster site, responders must have an active [link removed] Safe Gatherings certification.
Kit-Packing Efforts

This summer has been busy for the Missouri Annual Conference Disaster Network preparing and shipping kits.
2,200 new menstrual hygiene kits were completed. Those kits were sent together with 200 cleaning buckets from the New McKendree disaster kit hub storage location along with 1,075 hygiene kits and 35 cleaning buckets from Arkansas partners to be stored in affiliate warehouses in Texas. That’s the UMC connection at work!
The students attending the UNITE camp at Central Methodist University in July assembled 200 hygiene kits.
As part of their Welcome Back to School week, students at Central Methodist University, led by the Center for Faith and Service, will assemble an additional 600 hygiene kits.
Missouri Hub Updates

Around Missouri, our hub network has been hard at work preparing verifying, assembling, storing and shipping a variety of kits.
The New McKendree disaster kit hub quickly verified, assembled and distributed 83 buckets for the recent flooding in the Glen Allen/Marble Hill area. Fifty storage totes were also sent to the area.
The Woods Chapel disaster kit hub quickly verified and assembled 43 cleaning buckets and had them flown to the Kirksville airport where they were picked up and delivered to the Baring, Missouri, area to serve those affected by tornados.
Long-term Recovery Work
Recovery work does not end when the news stops covering a natural disaster. Missouri Disaster Response is committed to supporting communities through every stage of recovery. Here is how Missouri Disaster Response is partnering with communities to support their long-term recovery needs.
Glen Allen Tornado Long-term Recovery: Meetings have begun and are awaiting to hear the specific needs for rebuilding/repairing in that area. Recent flooding has challenged the timeline and caused further damage to many already awaiting tornado recovery assistance.
St. Louis Flooding (2022) Long-term Recovery: Currently awaiting needs assessment before sending assistance.
Baring Tornado Long-term Recovery: Meetings will begin in August to assess community needs and assist in recovery/rebuilding efforts.
Resources
Local Church Disaster Preparedness Guide
Sometimes it is hard to think about a disaster when we are not in the “season.” Being prepared for a disaster of any form and any magnitude is crucial for your church, its members and the community. The key to being prepared is to make people aware of the plan, both church and community, and to practice and update your plan on a regular basis. This guide will help you to think through and formulate a disaster response plan for your local church. [link removed] Download the free guide→
September is Disaster Preparedness Month
FEMA observes September as National Preparedness Month to raise awareness about the importance of preparing for disasters and emergencies that could happen at any time. Ready.gov features resources and social media toolkits for promoting disaster preparedness. [link removed] See the resources→
Building a Team
If you are working to build a response team at your local church, invite your potential ERT-team members to add their names to the [link removed] training wait list and contact Scott Burdin at mailto:[email protected] [email protected] for further discussion.

Stay connected with Missouri Conference Disaster Response efforts. Information about opportunities to serve and train will be posted in these places:
[link removed] Follow us on Facebook
[link removed] Subscribe to this newsletter, if you don't already
Attend trainings to stay prepared for when disaster strikes
Questions? Contact Conference Disaster Response Coordinator Scott Burdin at mailto:[email protected] [email protected]
[link removed] Subscribe to our newsletter
Missouri Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church
3601 Amron Court, Columbia, Missouri, 65202 | 573-441-1770


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