Disaster Ministries

The United Church of Christ’s (UCC) National Disaster Ministries (NDM) helps with short-term assistance, but especially in the long-term recovery of communities, churches and individuals affected by flooding, tornadoes, blizzards and any other natural disaster in the U.S. and abroad. Each UCC conference in the United States utilizes a volunteer Disaster Coordinator to serve as a communications conduit between local people affected by disasters, Conference staff and the UCC National Disaster Ministries staff.

The effects of global warming threaten to only increase the scope, scale and number of disasters worldwide. UCC Disaster Ministries is a program of the United Church of Christ that responds to natural and human caused disasters all over world and is well positioned to respond in most events.

Resources

Disaster Preparedness Manual, best practices for donating to disaster survivors, spiritual care in times of disaster, and more.

Volunteer

Your service as a UCC Disaster Recovery Volunteer helps people rebuild their physical homes and is an act of presence that demonstrates the commitment to walk beside people as they seek to rebuild their lives. 

Donate

Donate to OGHS, Emergency USA Fund, and International Emergency Fund Relief. 

Updates

Learn about the latest disaster relief efforts locally and globally.

Partners

UCC Disaster Ministries has a long-standing tradition of collaboration in recovery work.

Have a Plan

Is your church prepared to withstand a natural disaster and to help your congregation and community in the aftermath?  Do you want to be prepared but don’t know where to start?

Being ready just got easier, thanks to the new A Disaster Preparedness Manual for Churches” from UCC Disaster Ministries and the Insurance Board, a property and liability insurance program for the UCC and other churches.

Tailored for use by houses of worship of any denomination or faith, the concise, easy-to-use 24-page manual is a step-by-step guide on how to prepare your building and congregation for a disaster and to serve your wider community when one occurs. The manual assembles exactly what congregations need to know, and do, in one PDF document.

Disaster Preparedness Manual for Churches

If Your Community is Affected by a Disaster:

A MARC (a Multi-Agency Response Center) will be established in your area. Even if you think you will have insurance and other resources to cover all your losses, it is important to register with the MARC. It is VERY IMPORTANT to take these steps in the correct order, otherwise, you may cause yourself to be ineligible for some programs.

Business owners, private nonprofit organizations, homeowners and renters may be eligible for low-interest disaster loans or for qualified homeowners and renters, disaster grants help pay for basic repairs to make a home habitable, temporary rental assistance, and serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance or other sources from the U.S. Small Business Administration to help recover from losses not covered by insurance, grants or other sources. SBA’s Customer Service Center : 800-659-2955 or 800-877-8339 – TTY or email.

How to Register Online

Visit www.DisasterAssistance.gov and follow the steps listed on the website.

How to Register with a Smart Phone
On a smart phone, download the FEMA app and click on “disaster resources,” then “apply for assistance online.
How to Register by Phone

Call FEMA’s toll-free registration line at 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585; or use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS). Telephone registration is available from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Central Daylight Time, seven days a week.

How to Register In-Person

Visit a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) and speak to a FEMA specialist one-on-one. To find the nearest DRC, go online to FEMA.gov/DRC.

Make Contact

Email the Disaster Ministries Coordinator/Associate Conference Minister for your Conference:

Iowa: Brice Hughes
Nebraska: Coral Parmenter
South Dakota: ACM Rev. Samantha Houser

If Your Church is Affected by a Disaster:

 

Make Contact

Email the Disaster Ministries Coordinator/Associate Conference Minister for your Conference:

Iowa: Brice Hughes
Nebraska: Coral Parmenter
South Dakota: The South Dakota Board of Directors or someone on our ministerial staff

Take Care of Insurance

Contact your insurance agent immediately. If your church is covered by Insurance Board insurance, you may find your agent’s contact information on our Partners page.

Conference Support

Contact your area’s Associate Conference Minister for further Conference suppport.

Prepare for the Future

Learn more about how to prepare for disasters in the future.