Western Plains District

By Bud and Susan Taylor, District Disaster Ministries Coordinators

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
We had a successful trip to Eureka, MO, with eleven workers from Western Plains joining seven others as we worked on repairing basements from the December 2015 floods.  Three projects were completed during our workweek. We appreciated first-time volunteers Dennis & Mabel Friesen from McPherson and Sonja Griffith, our D.E.M., from Kansas City.

Bud & Susan, along with Harry & Phyllis Hochstetler, will be project leaders in Eureka from Jan. 7 – Feb. 3, 2018.  The first week is filled, but Western Plains has now been assigned a half group for the week of Jan. 14.
There are also some slots open the weeks of Jan. 21 and Jan. 27. 

Please share that volunteers are needed the weeks of Jan. 14, 21, and 27, with special emphasis on Jan. 14.  Because others are also interested, we need to report the number of volunteers we have as we fill slots.  
If you can serve, please let us know ASAP or whenever possible.  

Here is info about other BDM sites.  Note there are also work camps in Florida and Puerto Rico in January.

Hurricane Harvey, Irma, Maria & CA Wildfires

• It has been a very busy fall with the hurricanes, fires and the Las Vegas shooting
• NVOAD fall meeting was cancelled due to a number of members responding to the events of the past few months. 
• BDM is looking for more creative ways to aid in recovery for these events since they are at a greater distance than our long-term rebuild projects.

Florida Hurricane Recovery

• BDM is partnering with Volusia Interfaiths/Agencies Networking in Disasters (VIND) & UCC for the week of Dec 10-16 in Daytona Beach area. Nine volunteers will be working to repair roof damage due to Hurricane Matthew in 2016 and additional damage from Hurricane Irma 2017. Paul Boldosser has been the contact for this.
• Additional work weeks of Jan 7-13 & 14-20 will be led by John Mueller in the Southeastern District in Lorida, FL. They will be working to repair several damaged buildings near and at the Lorida Church of the Brethren affected by Hurricane Irma.  Interested volunteers can contact John at talktojohnmueller@gmail.com.  Housing & meals will be provided. Volunteers need to provide their own transportation to FL as well as daily to job sites for all work weeks. There are 11 signed up (mostly local) who will work on 2-3 buildings. Those who volunteer will need to be comfortable on scaffolding and ladders will be required.

Hurricane Harvey Response

• 3 volunteers went to help muck & gut homes.  This was in partnership with International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) and NECHAMA (Jewish Disaster Response).  An average of one home per day was cleared of debris and damage including the home of a woman on dialysis.
• At this time there are no further plans to help with recovery in TX as many other VOAD’s are working there.

Puerto Rico Recovery

• BDM is continuing to monitor the recovery through the district. Roy visited the week of December 4 and met with District leadership as they work on budgeting and planning.
• Jeff Bruens and Bill Gay just returned from doing rebuilding work from Nov 1-18. They were primarily doing roof and other major repairs to the guesthouse at the Christian Community Center in Caimito that can house volunteers in the future.
• EDF funds have been sent to the District as they identify unmet needs and support churches, members and local community.
• The BDM Shipping Container with supplies and tools is arrived Dec 7 from New Windsor to a Brethren church on the island.
• A work camp is planned for Jan 13-20, 2018 led by Shirley Baker and the Western PA District.
• Future work camps will be made available as the district identifies needs.

• Those wishing to volunteer should contact Terry:   tgoodger@brethren.org  or 410-635-8730.

Future recovery work

• BDM is monitoring all Long-Term Recovery needs in U.S. as well as Island Territories.
• We are searching for a project site following the closing of Eureka, MO. Possible options might be North Carolina with Hurricane Matthew Recovery or in Florida doing Matthew or Irma recovery.
• BDM will continue to support other areas with periodic weekly trips with BDM and outside volunteers.
• Lois & Lindy Frantz are monitoring the recovery in CA from the wildfires and will alert us if there are opportunities to serve.

Bud and Susan Taylor
WPD Brethren Disaster Coordinators
taylorbud48@cox.net
susandtaylor@yahoo.com