Emergency Response News Briefs
July 19, 2007 • Archive
New Titles, Responsibilities for Domestic Response Staff
As of July 1, Church World Service domestic emergency response field personnel are called Emergency Response Specialists (ERSs) and will focus their work on disaster training and disaster project development. The ERS team has the following full-time staffers: Lura Cayton, Joann Hale, Heriberto Martinez, and Lesli Remaly-Netter. In addition to training or project development, each will also work with state Voluntary Organizations in Disaster (VOADS) for planning and preparing for future disaster events.
CWS-ERP Provides Training for UCC
CWS Domestic Response staff person Tom Davis provided presentations
on disaster emotional and spiritual care for the Disaster Ministries
Network of the United Church of Christ June 21-22 at the UCC's
annual meeting that included an overview of "Light Our Way," a
guide book on disaster spiritual care produced by the Spiritual
Care taskforce of National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster
(NVOAD).
ERS Meets with Oklahoma Long-Term Recovery Leaders
Emergency Response Specialist (ERS) Lura Cayton met with the long-term
recovery leaders in Sweetwater, Oklahoma on July 9. The community
suffered a tornado in the spring that damaged several homes; some
of which will be repaired with funds granted by a local power company.
The critical unmet needs are being met, and further resources are
not requested by the community. Cayton provided guidance on priority
disaster-caused unmet needs in the group's decision-making on assistance
to be provided.
CWS Monitoring Possible Needs in Japan Following Quake
The Church World Service Emergency Response Program is monitoring
the need for any support that may needed in response to this week’s
earthquake in northwest Japan which killed nine people and triggered
a leak of contaminated water from a nuclear power plant. CWS’s
local partner is the National Christian Council of Japan.
CWS in Contact with Brazil Partners Following Crash
Church World Service is saddened by the loss of life due to the
plane crash in Sao Paulo, Brazil, that killed 189 persons. CWS
is in contact with partners in Brazil to express our concern and
to learn if any partner staff were personally affected by this
tragedy.
Kenya Experiencing Severe Tremors
During the past week, Kenya has been experiencing tremors that
have ranged from 4.5 to 5.6 on the Richter scale - highly unusual
events in Kenya. Meteorologists are saying the tremors are centered
near Lake Natron in Tanzania which is around the Arusha region
and are affecting neighboring countries. CWS East Africa staff
are monitoring this closely.
Material Resources Update: Kansas
As reported in an updated situation report this week, CWS is making
a small shipment of 125 Health Kits and 100 School Kits to the
First Christian Church in Independence, Kan.; this follows another
shipment early this week of 100 Clean-up Buckets and 100 Health
Kits to First Christian Church in Coffeyville. All shipments are
in the wake of flooding that began June 26 and has affected nine
counties, with flooding inundating the community of Coffeyville,
Kan., with an estimated 1,700 barrels of crude oil, when holding
facilities broke at the Coffeyville Resources refinery.