Hurricane Path
A weather service map shows the potential path of Hurricane Francine. (Map Courtesy of Louisiana Conference)
Louisiana Annual Conference | September 10, 2024
The last hurricane to strike the coast of Louisiana was Hurricane Ida in August 2021, over 1,000 days ago.
In the time since, The Louisiana Conference of The United Methodist Church has seen significant changes, including the installation of a new bishop, Bishop Delores J. Williamston.
As Hurricane Francine approached, which struck the Louisiana coast on Sept. 11, Bishop Williamston shared a video message reflecting on her experience preparing for her first hurricane as bishop.
"Since I arrived in Louisiana, so many of you have offered me valuable advice on how to prepare for a hurricane," she said. "You have been giving me some great advice, advice that I would like to share with you. You have told me to stay calm, stay cool, stay connected, stay in touch with your church family, and when the storm passes, we have an opportunity to be the hands and feet of Christ."
Bishop Williamston concluded her video message by stating, "We are a conference of hope, even in the midst of a storm. Hope never disappoints, and we should never give up on hope."
Bishop Williamston's Message
Ready to Respond
The Louisiana Conference of The United Methodist Church is prepared to respond to Hurricane Francine by addressing areas of need in the storm's aftermath.
Local United Methodist churches closest to the affected areas will be essential partners in the response, with the Conference supporting their efforts and communicating needs across the state.
Several churches from Southwest to Southeast Louisiana are ready to house volunteers and serve as staging areas for relief supplies.
Once specific needs are identified, the Conference Office will notify the entire Annual Conference with details on how all churches can assist.
Early Response Team on Alert
An alert has been sent to the Early Response Team (ERT), as well as the ERT chainsaw team, both of which will be essential in the days following the storm.
Early Response Teams (ERT's) fill a specific need in the early days after a disaster to clean out flood-damaged homes, remove debris, place tarps on homes, and otherwise help to prevent further damage while providing a caring Christian presence.
John Sauls is the ERT Coordinator for The Louisiana Conference and says that the primary objective of ERT response is to make homes secure and allow homeowners to get back into their homes.
"We try to do this as quickly as possible, as long as they’re safe,” he explained. “The chainsaw team are members that have gone through some very specific training.”
Sager Brown Prepped and Ready to Respond
On Monday, Bishop Williamston visited Sager Brown Depot in Baldwin, Louisiana, and reported that Sager Brown is "ready to roll when needed."
The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) operates a supply depot at Sager Brown, which collaborates with affiliate warehouses in Alabama, Illinois, Missouri, Pennsylvania, and Texas.
Each year, more than 2,000 volunteers prepare approximately $4 million in relief supplies for shipment from UMCOR Sager Brown Depot in response to disasters across the United States.