The Ohio Conference Disaster Response Ministry has been active in recovery efforts after severe flooding in nine Northwest Ohio counties in late August 2007 —clean up kits delivered, basements drained, long-term recovery committees organized, plans begun for rebuilding damaged homes. All these things are being accomplished by members of the Disaster Response Team, supported by our local churches.

Soon after the flooding, more than 1,600 cleaning and personal care kits were delivered by Team volunteers to churches, shelters and local government agencies in Ottawa, Bucyrus, Galion, Findlay, Upper Sandusky, Shelby and Carey.

"These gifts have seriously depleted our supply of both kinds of kits," said Team Director Jim Ditzler. "We need to replenish our supply as soon as possible so they are quickly available to be distributed when the next disaster occurs."

Your church can help by assembling and donating more kits. Click here for suggestions on how to do this most effectively.

The new Disaster Response mud-out trailer (pictured above and below) — equipped with heavy-duty pumps, large dehumidifiers, generator, fans, shovels and other equipment needed to drain basements and remove mud — is helping family after family remove flood water and debris from their home.  Team member Terry Tangeman has spent countless hours delivering the trailer to homes where it is needed and helping residents dry out their basements.

Tangeman, along with Jim Ditzler and Team co-Director George Siddall, have helped to establish long-term recovery committees (LTRC) in several of the affected counties. They expect to be in relationship with the recovery groups for up to two years.

An important function of the LTRCs is to help residents repair their damaged homes and businesses, and the Team will help supply volunteer workers. "There are definitely going to be needs for groups of people with even a modest level of construction experience to repair and rebuild damaged homes," said Ditzler. "George Siddall or I would be glad to hear from anyone who is interested in volunteering for this kind of work."