Local/Area United Methodist Church Districts
Disaster Relief Teams In Mississippi This Week

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Bob Keast - Camden, TN; Artie Griffith - Camden, TN; Rev. W. Glenn Hill - Jackson, TN; H. Jerry Walker - Paris, TN; Nan Robbins - Paris, TN; Rev. Mike Jeffers - Gleason, TN; Bob Peppler - Buchanan, TN; Carol Peppler - Buchanan, TN; Brigitte Wills - Paris, TN; Terry Cuff - Camden, TN; Jimmy Dale Phifer - Camden, TN; Dan McCue - Camden, TN; David Atkinson - Benton, KY; Jerry H. Dinwiddie - Camden, TN; John Conder - Camden, TN; John Rogers - Atlanta, GA; Billy Nobles - Camden, TN; Curt Cruff - Benton, KY and Livingston, TX; Shirley Baker - Paris, TN; Allen Burnett - Paducah, KY; Mike Louis - Huntingdon, TN; Carol Galloway - Paris, TN; Harry Curtis - Eva, TN; Cendy Curtis - Eva, TN; Jimmy Whittington - Selmer, TN; Wayne L. Hall - Camden, TN; Jane Sikora - Vancleave, MS; Terry Erickson - Calvert City, KY; Rev. Ron Hutson; Harry Henderson - Martin, TN; Tommy Weatherford (NOT PICTURED) Camden, TN.




arial_sm Local and area United Methodist Church Districts have formed disaster relief teams that are – or will be - assisting with clean up and recovery efforts from Hurricane Katrina. Under the organization of the Memphis UMC (United Methodist Church) Conference, three combined-district teams have been established that will maintain an organized schedule for arrival in the Katrina disaster-stricken area in rotating shifts of week-long periods.

Jimmy Whittingham, Coordinator for the Memphis UMC Conference is overseeing organization, permits and deployment of the three groups: Group 1 – Memphis; Group 2 – Western Kentucky; and Group 3 is comprised of the remaining portion of West Tennessee outside of Memphis, including Benton, Carroll, Crockett, Dyer, Gibson, Henry, Lake, Lauderdale, Obion and Weakly Counties.

The Group 3 UMDR (United Methodist Disaster Relief) Team deployed from the Camden First United Methodist Church Sunday, September 11 at 6:00 a.m. to Ocean Springs and Vancleave, Mississippi. St Paul United Methodist Church in Ocean Springs is providing relief team with two meals a day and housing during their stay. Volunteer team members have electricity and the availability to take showers, but they cannot drink the water. Gasoline and diesel is in limited supply – if available at all.

Paris-UMC District coordinator Artie Griffith said, "The people have somewhat come to grips with the vast reality and begun the recovery process... when we leave, I hope that we have at least assisted in bringing them a few steps closer... to normality." There are 21 UMC member volunteers on this mission from the Group 3 UMDR in Mississippi this week including Dan McCue and Artie Griffith, coordinators for the Paris UMC District churches; Bill Nobles, Glen Hill, Bob Keast, Terry Cuff, Jerry Dinwiddie, Harry Henderson, John Condor, Jerry Walker, Jimmy Dale Phifer, Mike Lewis, Tommy Weatherford, Nancy Robbins, Brigitte, Wills, Shirley Baker, Harry Curtis, Ciendy Curtis, Robert Peppler, Carol Peppler, Mike Jeffers and Wayne Hall.

Bob Keast shook his head and stated, "Devastation... doesn't even come close to a descriptive word, I really feel for the people whose lives have been affected" The group left on the 11-hour journey pulling the United Methodist Disaster trailer that was assembled in the Fall of 2003, and several other pieces of heavy equipment owned by individuals. Group 2 from the Western Kentucky district is scheduled for deployment next week. Keast returned home September 15, but will return to the disaster site on Monday, September 19.