ERT Teams Needed in North Alabama

3/28/2018

Updated March 28

North Georgia ERTs (Early Response Teams) are requested as soon as possible to respond to severe tornado damage in the Southside and Gadsden, Ala. area and Jacksonville, Ala. area.

Coordinators prefer that at least the team leader be currently badged, so mixed teams of badged/unbadged are fine in this situation. The work is primarily debris removal and some tarping of damaged homes.

Team leaders interested in serving in the Southside/Gadsden area should contact Rev. Carrie Jones at 256-872-6758 so that work projects can be arranged. The Volunteer Reception Center for the city of Southside will be located at Southside UMC. The earliest check-in should be at 8:30 a.m.  

In the coming weeks there will be need for repairs and at least 29 rebuilds.

Teams interested in serving in the Jacksonville area should call Jacksonville First UMC distribution coordinator Bill Prestridge at 256-454-2888. The United Methodist disaster response effort has been assigned 60 houses. 

In addition to homes and businesses, Jacksonville State University saw major storm damage, and is the largest employer in the community. The school is working on plans on how to finish the semester. 

North Georgia's Disaster Response Coordinator, Rev. Scott Parrish, has been on site in both Alabama communities this week. 

"This is a different sort of Holy Week experience," said Parrish.

Teams should keep up with the number of hours worked, number of workers, number of jobs completed and share that with the North Alabama DRC Randy Burbank (rburbank@umcna.org) and with North Georgia Conference DRC Scott Parrish (scott.parrish@ngumc.net).

Find more information on the North Alabama Conference website at https://www.umcna.org/postdetail/11120638

Summary:

  • Teams needed immediately
  • Leader should be badged UMCOR ERT
  • After serving, report hours worked, number of jobs completed, and number of volunteers to Scott Parrish at scott.parrish@ngumc.net