Colorado Floods

Last Updated on Monday, 02 February 2015 12:44 | Written by Communications |

rmcumc.org/cofloods

See also: http://rmcumccoloradoflood.com

What You Will Find On This Page

Latest Updates, Anniversary Offering & Prayer
Contacts for Flood Recovery
Flood Recovery Notes
Photos and Stories
Volunteer Opportunities
Donations

latest updates: 01/22/2015

Update from your UMCOR Flood Recovery Team

As of Jan. 1, 2015:

Number of Volunteers Coordinated = 1400+
Number of Volunteers Hosted = 570
Number of Volunteer Hours of Service = 18,000+
Total Value of Volunteer Hours = $414,000
Number of Projects Worked = 63
Number of Projects Completed = 21
Number of Cases Opened = 143
Number of Cases Closed = 73

Flood Recovery Project in Loveland

The UMCOR Project Manager Larry Glover has a flood recovery project at a home in Loveland for which he needs some special help on, including repairing some cracks in plaster walls and painting a few rooms once the cracks are repaired. Please contact Larry at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 303-549-6515 if you are able to help him.

Flood Recovery Team seeking volunteers for area projects

The UMCOR Flood Recovery Team is looking for volunteers interested in helping the flood victims get their lives back to somewhat normal. Please contact Larry Glover at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 303-549-6515, or Deb Campbell at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 303-532-7563 if you have a group that is willing to take on one or more of the projects.

Below is a list of projects with locations and some possible dates:

Hang, tape and finish drywall in Glen Haven area: Tuesday, Dec. 16 or Thursday, Dec. 18 (can use 2 to 8 people)
Texture drywall adjacent to log walls in Berthoud area: Saturday, Jan. 24 (can use 2 to 3 people)
Install and paint trim around door in Milliken area: can do most anytime (can use 1 or 2 people)
Reroof a shed in the Milliken area: can do most anytime (could probably use 3 or 4 people)
Drywall finishing in the Drake area: can do anytime (could probably use 6 to 10 people)
Debris cleanup in the Lyons area, plus several areas around Drake and Estes Park: can do anytime the weather permits (can use up to as many as 20 people)
Repair or build either woven or barb wire fence in several locations: anytime the weather is decent and the ground isn’t frozen (from 2 to 10 people)

Rocky Mountain Conference Flood Recovery Team seeking stories, photos

The Flood Recovery Team has expressed before that what keeps it motivated in the recovery process is your stories -- whether you are a flood survivor, volunteer, staff member or general observer of the flood disaster, and its aftermath. Whatever it is you have to share, we want to hear it. Please send your stories, photos, videos and testimonials to Sara Goodwin, Communications Associate - Flood Recovery, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . For current success stories about flood recovery, go to the Stories We Want To Share section on the Colorado Flood Recovery Team's website.

Conference Flood Recovery Team makes strides in progress this year

The Rocky Mountain Conference's Flood Recovery Team has been working hard since the flood hit in September 2013. Here is some of the progress the team has made as of Oct. 1, 2014:

Number of Mission Teams = 27
Number Teams/Individuals Hosted = 22/401
Number of Projects Worked/Completed = 59/17
Number of Cases Managed = 182
Number of Cases Closed = 31
Number of Volunteer Hours For Previous Month = 2,182

The RMC Flood Recovery Team has several flood rebuild and recovery projects that we are currently working on. Here are a few flyers with volunteer needs and opportunities listed on them. For more information, please visit the team's website and "like" their Facebook page.

Rocky Mountain Conference Flood Recovery Team available to speak to churches about progress

The Rocky Mountain Conference's Flood Recovery Team is available to speak to your congregations about the progress of the conference's flood recovery project. If you're interested in having one of our team members speak at your church or an event, please contact Sara Goodwin at 720-633-5507 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Rocky Mountain Conference Flood Recovery Team thanks churches for anniversary participation

The Rocky Mountain Conference’s Flood Recovery Team would like to thank and congratulate all Colorado congregations that participated in the flood anniversary by using the prayer to bless the offering, collected donations, and talked about flood recovery and survivors in their sermons.

A special thanks to Christ UMC in Fort Collins, Community UMC in Keenesburg, and Jefferson Avenue UMC in Wheat Ridge for sharing their stories with us.

If your congregation also supported flood recovery efforts and/or recognized the anniversary, please contact Sara Goodwin at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and tell her what your church did. Pictures are welcome. Also, visit the team's new website for information about upcoming flood-related events, facts about the flood, how to help survivors, progress made on flood recovery projects, and contact information if you are a flood survivor yourself and in need of help. You can also follow the team on Facebook by liking their page at www.Facebook.com/UMCORColoradoFloods.

Flood Anniversary Offering & Prayer

Sept. 13 marks the anniversary of the flooding that devastated our state. The churches of the Rocky Mountain Conference are invited to show their continued support for the flood recovery efforts on Sunday, September 14, by taking a special offering to help flood survivors. Below is a blessing for the offering, survivors, and volunteers that you may use if you wish. The special offering that day may be sent to the Conference Disaster Fund.

A Blessing for Flood Recovery

Gracious and Loving God,
we come before you today
mindful of the flood which swept through our homes,
businesses and churches merely a year ago.

The peaceful, flowing water of the rivers and tributaries
brought chaos and destruction into our lives.

And so we pray for…
… our families, friends and neighbors who lost their lives in this disaster.

We ask your blessing, Eternal God,
on their loved ones as they wade through grief.

We pray for ourselves, families, friends and neighbors
who survived the swift waters of destruction.

We ask your mercy, Compassionate God,
as we and they work with courage and resilience for the future.

We pray for all those whose professions
involve helping people in turmoil and through recovery.

We ask your presence, Loving God,
so they may care for themselves while caring for others.

We pray for the volunteers who are serving strangers and neighbors,
removing mud and debris
so others may help rebuild lives and homes.

We ask your strength and inspiration, Gracious God.

We pray that this offering may be used to meet the needs
of our communities, ourselves, families, friends and neighbors,
to recover and thrive on the other side of disaster.

May your Spirit guide us to strength, courage, and resilience
to remain faithful until the work is done.

In your holy name we pray.

Amen.

Contacts for Flood Recovery

Mike Moore: Flood Recovery Director
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(303) 550-0036

Mike is the project director and manages the overall project and team. This includes all administrative, financial and reporting duties, along with ongoing support of the individual team members. He is also closely involved with the Long Term Recovery groups in each county, ensuring that our resources and efforts are making a significant impact for the flood survivors.

Larry Glover: Project Manager
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(303) 549-6515

Larry works directly with flood survivors to assess the flood damage to their property, develops a project plan to help the survivor clean up, repair or rebuild their property and then manages the project to completion. He will coordinate the resources required to complete the plan including volunteers, contractors and any other resources required.

Deb Campbell: Volunteer Coordinator
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(303) 532-7563

As the Volunteer Coordinator, Deb is the liaison for UMVIM teams from across our conference and the country that are interested in helping with the flood recovery process. She will work with the teams coming in to Colorado to help them with lodging and the other logistics of their visit as well as making sure that they are assigned to a project that fits their skill sets. Deb also recruits volunteers that are needed for other opportunities and assignments in the flood recovery process.

Maggie Roe: Case Manager – Boulder County
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(303) 845-0818

Case Managers work directly with flood survivors to help them through the recovery process. They walk with the survivors to develop a recovery plan, help identify and engage resources to address the specific needs that the survivors have. Maggie is our Case Manager in Boulder County. While she has focus on the Lyons area, she is helping survivors across the county.

Pat Marrs: Case Manager – Larimer County
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(303) 845-0579

Case Managers work directly with flood survivors to help them through the recovery process. They walk with the survivors to develop a recovery plan, help identify and engage resources to address the specific needs that the survivors have. Pat is our Case Manager in Larimer County. While she has focus on the Estes Park area, she is helping survivors across the county.

Gabriele Dooley: Administrative Assistant
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(303) 389-9466

Gabriele is located at the conference office and assists the flood recovery team by providing administrative support.

Flood Recovery Notes

IT’S A LONG PROCESS:

While a great deal of work has happened to date, the recovery from the flood will be a long process. Debris from the flood still clogs rivers and creeks in the mountains and foothills as well as farms and ranches on the plains. With spring runoff approaching, there is concern as to what impact this will have on the altered landscape and what this will mean for recovery efforts this summer.

In addition, reconstruction will not get into full swing until decisions are made on the new course that rivers and creeks will follow. This will go a long way to aiding our governmental agencies in determining the new flood zone, flood way and flood plain. This will finally allow a number of flood survivors to begin the rebuilding process.

PROGRESS TO DATE:

Since the flood, the Rocky Mountain Conference and its churches have:

Obtained grant funding from UMCOR for the Flood Recovery Project
Built a staff focused on flood recovery. The staff is now at five full time and one part time team members.
Distributed nearly 1000 flood buckets
Hosted and coordinated work projects for ERT, UMVIM teams
Local churches have hosted meetings and well as housed ERT and UMVIM teams
Through UMCOR, provided multiple training classes for Case Managers and other long term recovery group functions across the state
Engaged with flood survivors, long term recovery groups and community organizations to offer help and assistance and worked put the processes in place to do so for the long term.

WORKING WITH LONG TERM RECOVERY GROUPS:

The Flood Recovery Team works very closely with the Long Term Recovery Groups (LTRG) in the impacted counties. The LTRG is the community based organization that is focused on helping flood survivors. Before FEMA leaves a disaster area, they get the state, county and local government entities together with the non-profit, community and faith based organizations to form these recovery groups. The LTRG approach is the standard process used for disaster recovery nationwide.

The United Methodist Church and UMCOR are recognized as knowledgeable and experienced in this process and our counted on to provide leadership and resources in this process. UMCOR has specific expertise in Case Management and they provide training in how to implement this function as well as training for individual Case Managers.

Here in Colorado, our team is involved in the Volunteer, Case Management, Unmet Needs and Construction committees of the various counties.

WORKING WITH UNITED METHODIST ORGANIZATIONS:

UMCOR: As was mentioned earlier, the Rocky Mountain Conference Flood Recovery team works closely with UMCOR. UMCOR has provided a grant to fund the team as well as to fund Unmet Needs for flood survivors.

UMVIM/ERT Teams: Of course volunteers are needed and our Volunteer Coordinator, Deb Campbell coordinates with UMVIM and ERT teams from across the country to connect them with flood recovery work projects. Deb also recruits volunteers that are needed for other opportunities and assignments in the flood recovery process

Local Methodist Churches: The churches in the Rocky Mountain Conference have played a large role in support for the flood recovery process. They have been very helpful in supplying volunteers, providing housing for volunteers, helping with hospitality for volunteers, opening their churches for meetings, making flood buckets as well as offering support through their financial contributions and prayers.

Photos and Stories

Volunteer Opportunities

The recovery from the devastating floods that occurred here in Colorado in September is just beginning. Thousands of our neighbors have been significantly impacted by this disaster and they will need help in order to get their lives back to a “new normal”.

Key to helping these individuals and families who survived the flood are volunteers who are willing to step up and make a difference. Rebuilding roads, homes and businesses is important, but there is also a need for volunteers to help flood survivors rebuild their lives.

There are many ways you can live your faith by helping in this time of need. Below are listed several different ways that you and/or your church can help. Please read below to see how best you can serve.

Prayer:

As much as the flood survivors need volunteer time and donations, they also need our prayers. Whether you choose to pray for the volunteers and survivors in a personal way or whether you pray with others at your church, prayer is an incredibly powerful way to help.

UMVIM/ERT Teams:

United Methodist Volunteers in Mission (UMVIM) enables the participation of Methodists in mission volunteer programs so that affirming, empowering and trusting relationship will be established. Teams of volunteers are needed to complete a variety tasks related to assisting flood survivors with cleaning up and rebuilding their property.

If you are a trained UMVIM team leader and have a team of volunteers that would like to help with flood clean-up and rebuilding activities, contact Deb Campbell at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with the size and skill sets of your team as well as when and how long you are available.

If you would like to be an UMVIM team member please contact the outreach or mission team leader at your church to get in contact with a team leader.

Volunteer Care:

Volunteer teams from out of town will be coming to the area to help flood survivors recovery and rebuild. In many cases these teams will be staying in our churches. We will need people to make these volunteer teams stay here a positive experience!

What you can do is:

1. Organize your church to be ready to host a volunteer team. The team will use your church building as a home away from home. Be ready to host by having the logistics worked out in advance. They will need at a minimum:

Place to sleep: Most volunteers bring sleeping bags, bedding, etc. So all they need is a room (or two) with a door. Identify room(s) in your church where the team can stay. Usually it is best to find a spot that will offer the least disruption to the ongoing activities at the church. There also must be some way of separating males and females. A separate room or a room divider.
Bathrooms and access to showers: While most church buildings have bathrooms, many do not have showers. Make arrangements with local community centers, other area churches or schools so that the volunteers have somewhere to take daily showers.
Kitchen use: Not mandatory, but very nice to have for the volunteers is access to the kitchen for food storage and preparations. Be ready by establishing guidelines for the use of your kitchen. These guidelines could include, where to store their food, what appliances they can use, maybe a quick orientation on where utensils are and how to use the dishwasher.

2. Build a team to support these volunteers. This support team can welcome the volunteers to your church and get them acquainted with the building. The support team can also help with providing local information, coordinating meals for the volunteers at the church, transportation, assisting with laundry, anything to help them at their home away from home.

If you are interested in organizing your church to host a volunteer team please Deb Campbell at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Donations

1. Donation to Conference Disaster Response Fund

If you would like to donate, you may do it through the Conference Disaster Response Fund. Please follow the instructions below.
Click "Donate Now" at the top of the "Quick Links" on the right side of the page (OR CLICK HERE)
Select "Disaster Response Fund" in the drop-down menu under Designated Giving
Or send checks payable to Rocky Mountain Conference, Colorado Floods, 6110 Greenwood Plaza Boulevard, Greenwood Village, CO 80111.

2. Donation to UMCOR

If you would like to donate to UMCOR, you can do it through the methods below.
Text RESPONSE to 80888 from your cell phone to donate $10
Call (800) 554-8583
Send check payable to UMCOR, P.O. Box 9068, New York, NY 10087
Donate online at www.umcor.org