NWS Key Messages
Hundreds of United Methodist churches lie in the projected path of Hurricane Florence, which is now forecast to make landfall close to the South Carolina-North Carolina state line. The storm's southward jog puts coastal South Carolina "closer to the center of the potential landfall area," according to a post on the South Carolina Conference website.
The new projected path of Hurricane Florence puts all 982 churches in the South Carolina Conference at risk for serious, even catastrophic damage from storm surge, high winds and flooding. In addition, Western North Carolina Annual Conference, now within the likely zones of impact from Hurricane Florence, posted a Sept. 12 update on its website urging its 1,079 churches to prepare for the storm.
Ann Huffman, disaster response coordinator for the North Carolina Annual Conference, responded to an email inquiry from United Methodist Insight.
"In our 3 coastal districts, there is a total of 191 churches. Depending upon where Florence makes landfall, as many as 80 percent of these churches could be at great risk," Ms. Huffman wrote. "It is quite possible that as many as 1/2 to 2/3 of our 800+ conference churches could be affected by this storm."
North Carolina Conference has made efforts to train pastors and church members in disaster readiness, Ms. Huffman added.
"On June 2, 2018, our conference through a Duke Endowment Grant invited all churches that experienced damage from Hurricane Matthew (2016) and Hurricane Irene (2011) to a workshop of healing and preparation that used the Church Readiness training from UMCOR's Connecting Neighbors curriculum," she wrote. "The churches were required to have the pastor plus 5 additional church members in attendance and each received a Duke Endowment grant award.
"Additionally, in the last 3 years, our conference has trained 767 as Early Response Team responders. Our conference has also appointed a Conference Response Team Coordinator who has concentrated on ER Team development and has identified 72 Early Response Teams that will be available to respond to tarp roofs, remove debris, and muck out flooded homes and to be available to listen to survivors tell their stories."
The North Carolina Conference posted an article on preparations on its website Sept. 11:
"We are in the bullseye of Hurricane Florence and experts are issuing warnings of a storm on the same scale as Hurricane Hazel in 1954. North Carolina Conference Disaster Response is closely monitoring the storm’s progress. It is essential that we take their warnings seriously and be prepared.
"Essential Resources for Hurricane Florence
"Read 5 Ways to Prepare for a Hurricane. Every church should follow these steps to help with congregational care and reporting needs to the Conference Disaster Call Center.
"Pastors: Know your role and responsibilities in the Conference Disaster Plan and make sure to be familiar with the updated grid. The role of parish pastors can be found on pgs. 5-7.
"... MERCI (Goldsboro, NC) will be receiving completed flood buckets and health kits. We will keep you updated on the schedule. We will NOT be collecting clothing. Please pay attention to local requests. Many sites will most likely need diapers, wipes, formula and adult disposable underwear. There may be other needs, but do not assume you know what is needed! Provide only what is requested."
South Carolina Annual Conference issued an update at 2 p.m. (EDT) Sept. 12.
"As Florence approaches, our Conference Disaster Committee composed of District Disaster Coordinators and conference staff to prepare for Florence response. The Cabinet has been advised on how to communicate preparation plans to their churches.
"A centralized Crisis Assistance Hotline has been established to take in and manage calls for assistance in the wake of Hurricane Florence, which is poised to strike along the coast of South Carolina or North Carolina late Thursday or Friday:
"This hotline is part of an effort by volunteer organizations statewide – including the South Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church – to coordinate response to those who need help after the storm.
"UMCSC Disaster Response teams will coordinate their efforts solely through this hotline.
"Pastors and churches are encouraged to share this information with their congregations and communities to ensure people who need help after the storm will get it in a timely manner.
"There is not a separate hotline for UMCSC this year, as has been the case with previous storms."
While United Methodists in the Carolinas prepared for a direct hit from the hurricane, other annual conferences seized the opportunity to educate their own regions about disaster preparedness.
In the Michigan Annual Conference, Kay DeMoss, senior content editor for MIConnect, the conference news journal, wrote an article directing Michigan pastors and members to the conference's disaster response resources. In the North Alabama Conference, disaster response coordinator Randy Burbank urged churches to engage in three actions immediately:
- "Pray! Pray that this impending disaster will not happen. Pray for the evacuees as they leave behind homes. Pray for the emergency workers who are now preparing. If Florence does hit land as a hurricane, pray for those same emergency workers who will be out there working hard and hardly resting.
- "Begin planning now your response, whether it is giving what will be needed most and for the longest, money, or planning to send a team to assist. If you are planning to send a team, please wait for the invitation from the affected Annual Conferences. As soon as I receive it, I will pass it along to you.
- "Finally, and this is crucial, help the Conference Warehouse in Decatur. Please read the follow newsletter from the Warehouse and volunteer NOW to help out. DO NOT send any items to the Warehouse or the impacted areas, unless directed by your Conference Disaster Response and Recovery Team and the Disaster Warehouse Team."
Initially in any disaster, the best way for local congregations to help is through money donations to the United Methodist Committee on Relief's U.S. disaster fund. Contributions may be given through local congregations, marked for UMCOR's United States Disaster Response Advance #901670. Secure donations can also be made online.
United Methodist Insight Editor Cynthia B. Astle contributed to this report.