Wyoming Disaster Response
Robert (Bob) Stowe is the current Wyoming District Disaster Incident/Response Coordinator. This covers all of Wyoming in both the Rocky Mountain and Yellowstone Conferences. Bob can be reached by EMAIL or by phone at 307-682-5868
The Coordinator's duties include:
- Responding to Wyoming incidents/disasters following the procedures as outlined the RMC Disaster Response manual (located on the RMC Website) and coordinating with the District Superintendent and Conference Disaster Response Coordinator.
- Recruit and coordinate response teams
- Assist with writing grants for UMCOR funds for use in repairs, follow through with the distribution and reporting on how the funds were used.
- Become and active member of WY VOAD (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster Relief)
The Coordinator's duties include:
- Responding to Wyoming incidents/disasters following the procedures as outlined the RMC Disaster Response manual (located on the RMC Website) and coordinating with the District Superintendent and Conference Disaster Response Coordinator.
- Recruit and coordinate response teams
- Assist with writing grants for UMCOR funds for use in repairs, follow through with the distribution and reporting on how the funds were used.
- Become and active member of WY VOAD (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster Relief)
Montana Disaster Recovery Update
Early Response Team (ERT) Member Training, Oct. 21
Register online for this training. The mission of an Early Response Team is to provide a caring Christian presence in the aftermath of a disaster. All ERT members are trained by authorized United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) trainers. Participants learn the basics of disaster response, including how to stabilize and secure homes safely, and how to work effectively with survivors and others on the response team. This standardized class is required for the basic ERT UMCOR identification badge. The eight-hour training will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 21at Aldersgate UMC, 1621 Thornton Ave., Butte, MT 59701. Registration fee is $10.
Every Early Response Team needs a leader – someone that will pull the team together, gather the information needed for the destination and make arrangements. Those interested in leading an ERT can attend this training from 5 to 9 p.m. Oct. 20 at Aldersgate UMC, 1621 Thornton Ave., Butte, MT 59701. Team leaders should attend both the Friday evening and Saturday trainings.
For more information, email Nancy Flint at [email protected] or Sally McConnell at [email protected].
Wyoming Disaster Recovery Update
Please feel free to contact me if you or your church is interested in hosting a Disaster Response Training Event or would want to develop a plan for your church and/or community.
Bob Stowe, WY Dist Disaster Recovery Coordinator
Early Response Team (ERT) Member Training, Oct. 21
Register online for this training. The mission of an Early Response Team is to provide a caring Christian presence in the aftermath of a disaster. All ERT members are trained by authorized United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) trainers. Participants learn the basics of disaster response, including how to stabilize and secure homes safely, and how to work effectively with survivors and others on the response team. This standardized class is required for the basic ERT UMCOR identification badge. The eight-hour training will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 21at Aldersgate UMC, 1621 Thornton Ave., Butte, MT 59701. Registration fee is $10.
Every Early Response Team needs a leader – someone that will pull the team together, gather the information needed for the destination and make arrangements. Those interested in leading an ERT can attend this training from 5 to 9 p.m. Oct. 20 at Aldersgate UMC, 1621 Thornton Ave., Butte, MT 59701. Team leaders should attend both the Friday evening and Saturday trainings.
For more information, email Nancy Flint at [email protected] or Sally McConnell at [email protected].
Wyoming Disaster Recovery Update
Please feel free to contact me if you or your church is interested in hosting a Disaster Response Training Event or would want to develop a plan for your church and/or community.
Bob Stowe, WY Dist Disaster Recovery Coordinator
Recovery Up-dates from 2015 Events
Niobrara County Flood Response
Approximately 30 flood-damaged homes were repaired last fall to the point where the homes were safe, secure and warm during late September to mid-October. Two United Methodist UMVIM teams worked with World Renew to get this work accomplished. There were about a dozen people that helped with each of the UMC teams, coming from Cheyenne, Denver, Pine Bluffs and Gillette. We did substantial work on four homes to make them inhabitable. United Methodist have pledged to shoulder half the cost of Case Management from late Fall thru the rebuilding of destroyed houses.
This spring six destroyed homes are being completely rebuilt outside of the flood plain. Mennonite Disaster Services are providing skilled builders to accomplish this. As of April 4, all six foundations have been poured. Walls are up on four of the houses. A couple houses have had electrical wiring and plumbing installed. United Methodists and the Disaster Response group of the RMC UMC have pledged about $45,000 to ensure that the last two families had sufficient funds to have their homes rebuilt. Those two houses are part of the six currently under construction. There may be additional requests for help to furnish these homes.
Cole Creek Fire Recovery
About 20 homes were destroyed by the Cole Creek Fire in mid-October. Almost 300 properties in rural Casper had fire damage to homes, out buildings, livestock, pasture and/or fences. Last fall the remains from the burned homes were assessed and ashes and residual debris were removed to the landfill.
A Long-Term Recovery Group currently has three Case Managers determining needs in the affected community. Only a handful of properties didn't have household insurance, but over half of the properties were under-insured for the wild-fire damages incurred. People are working out settlements and Unmet Needs will then be determined and brought to the table to request assistance from the community and religious and charitable organizations. There may be opportunities to repair homes, to rebuild out buildings and fences, and to provide financial assistance to those affected.
Bob Stowe
Niobrara County Flood Response
Approximately 30 flood-damaged homes were repaired last fall to the point where the homes were safe, secure and warm during late September to mid-October. Two United Methodist UMVIM teams worked with World Renew to get this work accomplished. There were about a dozen people that helped with each of the UMC teams, coming from Cheyenne, Denver, Pine Bluffs and Gillette. We did substantial work on four homes to make them inhabitable. United Methodist have pledged to shoulder half the cost of Case Management from late Fall thru the rebuilding of destroyed houses.
This spring six destroyed homes are being completely rebuilt outside of the flood plain. Mennonite Disaster Services are providing skilled builders to accomplish this. As of April 4, all six foundations have been poured. Walls are up on four of the houses. A couple houses have had electrical wiring and plumbing installed. United Methodists and the Disaster Response group of the RMC UMC have pledged about $45,000 to ensure that the last two families had sufficient funds to have their homes rebuilt. Those two houses are part of the six currently under construction. There may be additional requests for help to furnish these homes.
Cole Creek Fire Recovery
About 20 homes were destroyed by the Cole Creek Fire in mid-October. Almost 300 properties in rural Casper had fire damage to homes, out buildings, livestock, pasture and/or fences. Last fall the remains from the burned homes were assessed and ashes and residual debris were removed to the landfill.
A Long-Term Recovery Group currently has three Case Managers determining needs in the affected community. Only a handful of properties didn't have household insurance, but over half of the properties were under-insured for the wild-fire damages incurred. People are working out settlements and Unmet Needs will then be determined and brought to the table to request assistance from the community and religious and charitable organizations. There may be opportunities to repair homes, to rebuild out buildings and fences, and to provide financial assistance to those affected.
Bob Stowe
Niobrara County Flood - June 2015
The evening of June 3, 2015 a severe thunderstorm dropped hail and rain, estimated at 7 to 10" over a four-hour period, on Niobrara County.
People in the very small town of Manville were evacuated from homes about 8 PM. About 2 AM Lusk residents were evacuated as the storm waters flowed into Niobrara River and through the town of Lusk. The normally tranquil intermittent river was 1/4 to 1/2 mile wide the morning of June 4.
All told, nearly 50 homes were totally destroyed or severely damaged. Click here to see pictures of the flood damage.
Another 70 homes suffered moderate damage to the ground floor or only flooded basements. Some of the basements in the next two days had up to four feet of raw sewerage back up into the homes.
FEMA declared Niobrara County a disaster area and is currently on site meeting with those affected by the flood.
Case Managers are also on site and estimate at least 40 homes will need moderate to extensive repair. Many of the destroyed structures were mobile homes that were washed several miles downstream. Some "stick-built" homes were also destroyed, with one home washed of its foundation and it lodged in the overpass above the railroad, causing this structure to wash out and the overpass to collapse.
The HOPE is that materials and funds will soon become available to allow volunteer teams to start with the worst-case structures, working down to the minimally affected structures. However, team skills will be matched with work to be done, so some of the less-affected structures may get repaired by teams who don't have full carpenter skills, but can replace drywall, etc. earlier than their damage might dictate.
The evening of June 3, 2015 a severe thunderstorm dropped hail and rain, estimated at 7 to 10" over a four-hour period, on Niobrara County.
People in the very small town of Manville were evacuated from homes about 8 PM. About 2 AM Lusk residents were evacuated as the storm waters flowed into Niobrara River and through the town of Lusk. The normally tranquil intermittent river was 1/4 to 1/2 mile wide the morning of June 4.
All told, nearly 50 homes were totally destroyed or severely damaged. Click here to see pictures of the flood damage.
Another 70 homes suffered moderate damage to the ground floor or only flooded basements. Some of the basements in the next two days had up to four feet of raw sewerage back up into the homes.
FEMA declared Niobrara County a disaster area and is currently on site meeting with those affected by the flood.
Case Managers are also on site and estimate at least 40 homes will need moderate to extensive repair. Many of the destroyed structures were mobile homes that were washed several miles downstream. Some "stick-built" homes were also destroyed, with one home washed of its foundation and it lodged in the overpass above the railroad, causing this structure to wash out and the overpass to collapse.
The HOPE is that materials and funds will soon become available to allow volunteer teams to start with the worst-case structures, working down to the minimally affected structures. However, team skills will be matched with work to be done, so some of the less-affected structures may get repaired by teams who don't have full carpenter skills, but can replace drywall, etc. earlier than their damage might dictate.