Holston Disaster Response
The mission of an Early Response Team is to provide a caring Christian presence in the aftermath of a disaster.
Contacts
Holston Conference Coordinator
Disaster Response Ministries
Jim Fetzer • 865/675-3331
Northern Early Response Team Coordinator
Dave Henderson • 276/870-1720
Southern Early Response Team Coordinator
Ralph Brock • 423/240-8953
ERT Training Coordinator & Financial Support
Mark Hicks • 865/809-9044
First Aid, CPR & AED Training Coordinator
Pat Wilcox • 941/345-6050
ERT Deployment; Registration and Insurance Coordinator
Nancy Hobbs • 276/708-6110
Disaster Response
Please make all donation check payable to Holston Conference Advanced Special # 143
Early Response Teams fill a specific need in the early days after a disaster to establish the presence of the church. There are specific tasks assigned to a team, but their first priority is the people they serve. These teams are different from the regular UMVIM teams you might be familiar with. Careful attention should be paid to the responsibilities of team members.
Early Response Teams …
- share the love of Christ in ways that make a Christian difference.
- take steps to prevent further damage to property, by doing tasks such as tarping, and cleaning out flooded homes.
- take note of the victim’s needs and report them to the local conference, or other disaster relief operations.
- listen and help victims begin to heal.
- provide an opportunity for Christian service for those who want to give their time.
Why do we need Early Response Teams?
- Disaster victims are reassured that the church cares for them.
- Members of the United Methodist Church and the community are able to see the church in action.
- Immediate assistance is available to persons who are usually older or disabled without a family support system nearby.
- Teams provide immediate and quick response care for victims. (United Methodists can be “first in” and “last out.”)
