Indiana United Methodists respond to floods

A house in Johnson County, Ind., is underwater due to flooding that has affected 21 counties in southern and central areas. A UMNS photo courtesy of Wikipedia.

A UMNS Report
By Linda Bloom*

United Methodists in Indiana have mobilized to deal with flooding in the central and southern parts of the state.

President George W. Bush signed a disaster declaration on June 8 for the state of Indiana, which allows the Federal Emergency Management Agency to coordinate federal assistance to the affected 21 counties.

Meanwhile, the United Methodist Committee on Relief is allocating a $10,000 emergency grant to the denomination's Indiana Area at the request of Bishop Michael Coyner.

Storms and the subsequent flooding also have plagued other Midwest states. In Iowa, where more than 40 counties already had been declared disaster areas, sandbags piled by thousands of volunteers held back the Cedar River in Cedar Falls early on June 11.

In Wisconsin, officials were monitoring dams that were threatening to give way because of high water from days of storms. Lake Delton, a manmade lake, emptied out into the nearby Wisconsin River, and television newscasts repeatedly showed a video of a home there being swept away.

In Indiana, the church's South Indiana Annual (regional) Conference was to begin June 11 assessing some of the flooded areas, according to Bob Babcock, the conference's disaster response coordinator.

"We haven't had any churches that have had flooding," he told United Methodist News Service on June 10. "But we've had numerous churches who have called in wanting to help."

The South Indiana Annual Conference met June 5-7 at Indiana University in Bloomington, and a number of attendees could not immediately return to Indianapolis or other northern destinations because of flooding on the afternoon of June 7. The conference was in session when Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels landed on the lawn of the South Indiana Conference Center in Bloomington to view flood damage in the area.

Up to 10 inches of rain fell that day and started "the worst flooding that we've seen," said Babcock, a retired general contractor who worked with UMCOR in Bosnia in 1993.

Terre Haute and Columbus were among the worst-hit cities. Through the Midwest Mission Distribution Center, which works with the UMCOR Depot in Baldwin, La., the South Indiana conference received 500 flood buckets in Terre Haute on June 10 and 100 flood buckets in Columbus. The North Indiana Conference also sent 80 flood buckets left over from January flooding there, which went to the Red Cross, according to Babcock.

Expansive needs
Only about 5 percent of the residents with flood damage had flood insurance, Babcock said. He anticipates the state will need the help of FEMA, UMCOR, the Red Cross and others to rebuild.

Asbury United Methodist Church in Columbus was assisting residents there by serving as a clothing site, emergency responder post and collection site. "We have many groups mobilized in helping Columbus residents with the devastation of their homes," reported the Rev. Al Stryon, senior pastor. "We will continue with our efforts as long as there are needs."

In Terre Haute, members of Centenary United Methodist Church checked on the residents of Bethesda Gardens, a local retirement/nursing home which was flooded and evacuated on the city's south side. Members also assisted at Terre Haute North High School, where evacuated residents were first taken.

Other congregations have offered their facilities to churches with flooded buildings and have been assisting the Red Cross efforts. Volunteers from Spencer (Ind.) United Methodist Church worked closely with the Red Cross center at the elementary school, and members of First United Methodist Church in Mooresville helped with the Red Cross response in Martinsville.

Donations for UMCOR's relief efforts in the Midwest can be made to Domestic Disaster Response, UMCOR Advance #901670. Checks can be dropped in church offering plates or mailed directly to UMCOR, P.O. Box 9068, New York, NY 10087. Write the Advance number and name on the memo line of the check. Credit card donations can be made by calling (800) 554-8583 or online at http://www.givetomission.org/.

*Bloom is a United Methodist News Service news writer based in New York.