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TN UMC Disaster Hotline: 615.695.2765 | |
| Ministry Resources | Disaster Info: > Contact the Flood Recovery Network (click logo to view site): .png) > 2010-2011 Flood and Storms website > Tips for post-flood clean up > Disaster Response and Recovery blog site: .png){kind=small} TN UMC Disaster Response and Recovery online giving: Online giving tutorial: 1. Go to the Administration & Finance online giving page by CLICKING HERE 2. Enter a dollar amount next to " - TN Conf. Disaster Response: " (see the image below) and complete and follow the instructions given to you by the online form 3. OR, give to UMCOR by CLICKING HERE
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Current needs: > 2011 Floods (West TN and KY) Needs: flood buckets/kits CLICK TO GIVE > April 2011 Alabama storms Needs: Beddings, flood buckets/kits, tarps CLICK TO GIVE |
Please scroll down to view a story/event listing, or a directory of news/events:
- CFMT announces flood relief funds and allocated recovery accomplishments at Two-Year Anniversary (Press release, 5/1/12)
- CCOCM announces resignation of Brandon Hulette (Press release, 3/28/12)
- Kingston Springs, Dodson's Branch areas severely damaged in weekend storms; large tarps in great need (Press release, 3/5/12)
- United Methodists respond to deadly tornado outbreak (Press release, 3/4/12)
- 2011: Tsunami to tornadoes, floods, fires (from TNUMConnects 12/14/11)
- United Methodists give flood survivors hope (from UMNS)
- FRN: TN UMC's Hulette interviewed on News Channel 5 (from TNUMConnects 10/19/11)
- FRN: flood-affected neighborhoods to be canvassed (Press release, 10/10/11)
- FRN: Youth groups from Connecticut serve East Nashville (from TNUMConnects 7/13/11)
- The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee launches new flood website (from TNUMConnects 4/27/11)
- New flood recovery hotline available for 2010 flood survivors (from TNUMConnects 4/20/11)
- The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee Awards More Than $665,000 in Flood Relief Grants (from TNUMConnects 3/29/11)
- FEMA and National Disability Rights Network sign agreement (from TNUMConnects 3/16/11)
- Garth Brooks' Nashville concerts raise $5 million to help flood victims (from The Connector, March 2011)
CFMT announces flood relief funds and allocated recovery accomplishments at Two-Year Anniversary (Press release, 5/1/12)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | Community FoundationContact: Rebecca Finley (email, 615.321.4939)
Nearly 12,000 flood-damaged homes repaired, over 182,000 Tennessee clients served, and more through The Foundation’s nonprofit flood grantees
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Two years after the historic May 2010 flood devastated Middle Tennessee, and millions of dollars in flood relief contributions from across the region and the world were entrusted to The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, all of the $15.04 million donated for flood relief have been distributed or allocated to organizations addressing flood recovery in Tennessee.The Community Foundation has awarded flood relief grants to 112 local nonprofit organizations to address the immediate and long-term needs of flood survivors. Detailed information about flood response and grantmaking is available at www.cfmtfloodresponse.org.
Through the work of The Foundation’s nonprofit flood grantees, progress toward recovery to-date includes:
• 11,978 damaged homes repaired.
• 586 homes rebuilt.
• 3,210 pieces of furniture and appliances provided, including couches, beds, stoves, refrigerators and more.
• 1,239 people received rental or mortgage assistance.
• 794,267 volunteer hours dedicated to flood response, rebuilding and restoration projects.
• 18,250 flood survivors provided access to counseling services.
• 8,585 flood victims’ calls for help answered by 2-1-1.
• 5,475 flood-affected homes in Davidson County visited through door-to-door outreach to assess continuing needs and connect flood survivors with the Flood Recovery Network or other resources.
• 2,002 cash gift cards provided to help flood survivors purchase clothes, construction materials or other needed items.
• 143 tons of debris cleared from waterways.
• 182,000 flood-impacted clients helped across Tennessee through a broad range of nonprofit services.
Flood recovery progress data is based on reports The Foundation’s flood grantees provide. The Community Foundation awards grants to nonprofits in conjunction with volunteer grant committees, long-term recovery committees within affected communities and other community leaders.
"Through the hard work of nonprofits, made possible by remarkable generosity, our community is recovering from the flood, and we have been able to impact thousands of lives,” said Ellen Lehman, president of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. “From homes rebuilt and volunteers mobilized to serve, to calls for help answered individually and flood victims' needs heard and addressed, the collective work of nonprofits and dedicated citizens has rebuilt lives and restored this community. We are extraordinarily honored to serve in flood response and provide stewardship of charitable funds intended to support important progress toward recovery, thanks to so many who rose to the occasion in every way to help make an impact."
Flood relief contributions to The Community Foundation came through an outpouring of support from around the globe and through donations of all sizes. In the wake of the flood, even as its effects were unfolding, the response was immediate from the artists and companies that contribute so much to MusicCity’s entertainment industry. Music industry events accounted for more than 67 percent of flood response donations.
Garth Brooks, along with his wife, Trisha Yearwood, performed nine sold-out shows at Bridgestone Arena from December 16 - 22, 2010. Proceeds from the concert series raised over $5 million to create The River Fund of The Community Foundation, which was essential in long-term recovery efforts.
“Trisha and I would like to thank the great city of Nashville, and the caring people of Tennessee for coming together to help the flood victims, “ said Garth Brooks. “We would also like to thank those outside the state who played a vital role in the beginning of the healing process. To help your own is expected, to help total strangers is unheard of. I love those little church signs. One of my favorites is, ‘Character is not created in crisis, it is revealed.’ May I say the people of Tennessee revealed they have a great deal of character.”
In the early day of flood response, on May 15, 2010, Great American Country (GAC), its parent company Scripps, and Brad Paisley, spearheaded a nationwide concert and telethon featuring artists like Keith Urban, Sheryl Crow, CeCe Winans, Paisley, among others, to raise money for flood victims through The Community Foundation.
“When Nashville faced the devastation resulting from the 2010 flood, the incredible passionate response from our neighbors and people from many corners was absolutely unbelievable! I’ve lived in five other cities and states, and I have never witnessed a community that came together so quickly to help each other,“ said Ed Hardy, president GAC. “The amazing leadership of our Mayor Karl Dean should be the model for what every city should want in their mayor. When our company, Scripps Networks and our network, Great American Country decided to attempt to help raise the awareness and need for additional financial assistance by doing a live national telethon, we partnered with the Nashville Convention and Visitor’s Bureau and Gaylord Entertainment. All three of us immediately selected The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee as the single best organization through which to channel and distribute the nearly $2 million in donations. They are an organization that gets the job done.”
For more information about flood recovery progress, how The Community Foundation deployed resources in the flood’s aftermath, the disaster grantmaking process and individual stories of Middle Tennesseans’ flood recovery through the help of flood grantees, visit www.cfmtfloodresponse.org.
About The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee | The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee oversees more than 840 charitable funds, providing customized philanthropic solutions with flexibility for donors, nonprofit organizations and the community. In the past 20 years, The Community Foundation has distributed more than $565 million to community programs and institutions. It is located at 3833 Cleghorn Avenue, #400, Nashville, Tennessee 37215. For more information, call 615.321.4939 or visit www.cfmt.org.
> A.N.O.W.: Outreach, Disaster Response & Recovery
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CCOCM announces resignation of Brandon Hulette (Press release, 3/28/12)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | Connectional Ministries
Contact: Vicki Sharber (vsharber@tnumc.org)
Brandon Hulette, TN UMC Dir. of Mercy, Mission and Disaster Response has resigned, effective immediately. He has graciously consented to assist us in closing out the Flood Recovery Network ministry for the next month.Meanwhile, Jason Brock will temporarily assume these responsibilities in the area of Mercy, Mission and Disaster Response in addition to continuing his primary responsibilities with Church Vitality and Justice.
If there are any questions, please contact Bettye Lewis, Dir. Conference Council on Connectional Ministries (615.329.1177. blewis@tnumc.org)
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Kingston Springs, Dodson's Branch areas severely damaged in weekend storms; large tarps in great need (Press release, 3/5/12)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | March 5, 2012
TN Conference Disaster Response & Recovery
Contacts: Brandon Hulette, Dir. of Disaster Recovery (disasterresponse@tnumc.com, 615.695.2765), Kevin Sparkman, Communications Coord. (communications@tnumc.org, 615.329.1177)
- Large tarps are in high demand (disaster response to the storms have rendered the Conference supply of tarps completely depleted). Please donate your large tarps today, at least 20' x 30' in size, to the TN Conference Center (MAP).
- Flood/cleaning buckets and/or UMCOR kits are also in demand. Please donate these items to the Conference Center (MAP) as well.
- NOTE: Please do NOT donate health kits at this time
- Monetary donations can be made through United Methodist Committee On Relief (CLICK HERE)
- Volunteer Community Work Day has been scheduled: Dodson's Branch Community Center, Saturday, Mar. 10, 2012, 9 am-3 pm (contact TN UMC Disaster Response & Recovery for details: 615.695.2765, disasterresponse@tnumc.com).
- Please bring sturdy work shoes and gloves!
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TN UMC truck/trailer arriving to storm-affected area to deliver needed supplies. (photo courtesy of Denna Hornby)
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> See March 4, 2012 release
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United Methodists respond to deadly tornado outbreak (Press release, 3/4/12)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | March 4, 2012
TN Conference Disaster Response & Recovery
Contacts: Brandon Hulette, Dir. of Disaster Recovery (disasterresponse@tnumc.com, 615.695.2765), Kevin Sparkman, Communications Coord. (communications@tnumc.org, 615.329.1177, 615.579.4870)
TN Conference UMC coordinates Emergency Response Teams to storm-damaged areas
Volunteers from the Tennessee Conference of The United Methodist Church Disaster Relief and Recovery Ministry continue to respond to the deadly tornado outbreak experienced across the country over the weekend."Our hearts and prayers are with those affected by these devastating storms" said Brandon Hulette, Director of Mercy, Mission and Disaster Recovery for the Tennessee Conference UMC.
Tornadoes officially touched down in several parts of Middle Tennessee, specifically in areas that are part of the Tennessee Conference, on Friday afternoon March 3.
As of 6:00 pm cst on Saturday, Mar. 4, The Conference has deployed two trained Emergency Response Teams (ERT) to the Kingston Springs Area of Cheatham County, TN in coordination with state and local officials and TNVOAD, as well as sent tarps from a Conference stockpile. Work will continue in that area at least through the weekend, with operations based out of Kingston Springs UMC, a local church damaged in the storm.
Two ERT's have likewise been deployed to the Dotsons Branch area of Jackson County, TN along with cleaning buckets, health kits, and tarps. Work will likely continue in that location into the week with TN Conference UMC personnel coordinating the volunteer effort there in conjunction with Tennessee VOAD partners and emergency management officials.
Those in need of volunteer or other assistance in the storm-affected areas should contact their local emergency management agency.
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2011: Tsunami to tornadoes, floods, fires (from TNUMConnects 12/14/11)
United Methodists reach out with help as year’s disasters become record-setters from Japan to Joplin
a UMNS Report by Linda Bloom*
The tsunami that followed the 9.0-magnitude March 11 earthquake off Japan’s northeastern coast left piles of rubble in Ishinomaki and 10,000 of its residents missing.
Today, Japanese Christians are operating a volunteer center in the fishing port to help the survivors recover their lives.
What many have called Japan’s triple disaster – the effects of the worst-ever earthquake, tsunami waves that easily scaled manmade defenses and unleashed radiation from a damaged nuclear power plant – was just the beginning of a year full of disasters to which United Methodists gave their money, labor and prayers in organized relief efforts.
Drought, combined with political strife, sparked a hunger crisis for some 13 million in the Horn of Africa, while earthquake survivors in Turkey need assistance as winter sets in. Hurricanes, tornados and floods whipped across the United States, setting new records of destruction.
‘Still a very ruined city’
In Japan, the recovery process has been steady but slow. “Ishinomaki is still a very ruined city with heaps of damaged cars, mountains of garbage, trucks carrying loads of debris, and shovel engines removing the rubble,” wrote Rev. Jeffrey Mensendiek, a United Church of Christ missionary based at the Emmaus Center in nearby Sendai, after a visit in October. “Parts of the city have been cleared, but other areas are just as they were right after the tsunami.”
The United Methodist Church has been working with Japanese church partners and other organizations to assist with earthquake relief and recovery efforts. A May gathering of regional partners in Seoul, Korea resulted in the creation of the Japan Ecumenical Disaster Response Office, a consortium led by the National Council of Churches of Japan.
The United Methodist Committee on Relief has raised $11.8 million for Japan relief, including donations from Japanese-American congregations. Grants allotted to date have included a total of $1.35 million to the ecumenical Asian Rural Institute in Tochigi, which suffered extensive earthquake damage.
After a November visit to Japan, Thomas Kemper, top executive of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries, said he was impressed by the “creative response to the crisis” through the “Tohoku Help” center established by the Sendai Christian Alliance Disaster Relief Network in November.
Recovery efforts include an interfaith telephone hotline staffed by Buddhist and Christian volunteers and a special program supporting foreigners who live in the affected area but do not receive assistance from the Japanese government. “Tohoku Help is ecumenical in its approach, drawing the best people from all Christian churches and communities in the Sendai region,” he said.
Using connectional resources
The United States was plagued with what seemed to be a continuous round of storms, floods, tornadoes, hurricanes and tropical storms – with a few unexpected earthquakes, wildfires and landslides thrown in – as evidenced by the list of “2011 Federal Disaster Declarations” complied by the Federal Emergency Management Association.
The power of the United Methodist connectional system has helped move the churches and communities affected by these disasters toward recovery.
After dozens of tornadoes caused extensive damage in Alabama on April 27, UMCOR-trained Early Response Teams poured in from all over the United States. Since then, the North Alabama Conference, which has received a $1 million UMCOR grant, has served as host to hundreds of United Methodist volunteer work teams, providing housing and handling hundreds of recovery cases.
“I could never say enough about the professionalism, the expertise displayed, and the genuine heart for ministry that was exhibited by the teams of Methodist people who wanted to be the hands and feet of Christ to us,” the Rev. Nancy Cole, disaster response coordinator, wrote for the blog of North Alabama Bishop Will Willimon.
Then came the Joplin, Mo., tornado on May 22, now ranked as the seventh deadliest in U.S. history, with a death toll of 157.
Woods Chapel United Methodist Church – 140 miles away in Lee’s Summit, Mo. -- has had one or more volunteer teams serving in Joplin every week since the tornado occurred. Missy Nance, now a volunteer coordinator, learned how to install siding and hang sheetrock so she could help. “If you can’t do it, we teach you,” said Ivan Lindner, a Woods Chapel volunteer.
On June 24, thousands were forced to flee their homes in Minot, N.D., as floodwaters covered the town. Relief efforts by the denomination began immediately, even though some churches – like Faith United Methodist – were flooded as well.
Help has continued to come from around the connection. United Methodists pulled a trailer full of tools and equipment from Indiana to North Dakota to work on waterlogged homes like the one owned by Edward and Becky Ortiz. An Indiana Conference team spent two days on the home, removing air ducts, heaters, tools and a refrigerator from the basement, then dismantling the hardwood floors upstairs.
After Hurricane Irene swamped parts of the New York Conference, the Mississippi Conference acknowledged New York’s five-year commitment to post-Katrina rebuilding with a $50,000 grant for New York’s Hurricane Irene Relief Fund.
“Just as we have been helped by the overflowing generosity of the NewYork Conference in the recovery from Hurricane Katrina, we want to be engaged with you in this time of need,” wrote Mississippi Bishop Hope Morgan Ward in an Oct. 20 email.
Two trained early responders from the Upper New York Conference, Linda Cooper and her husband, Tom, assisted with Alabama’s tornado cleanup in May. A few months later, they were assisting communities in their own conference affected by flooding from Tropical Storm Lee.
And in early September, when Texas was scorched by uncontrolled wildfires that burned more than 1,500 homes, the responders assisting those affected included UMCOR-trained spiritual and emotional care teams.
*Bloom is a United Methodist News Service multimedia reporter based in New York. Follow her via Twitter.
This article was featured in the TN Conference weekly eBlast TNUMConnects. FREE to your INBOX weekly!Click the button to subscribe now!
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United Methodists give flood survivors hope (from UMNS)
PREVIEW: As the skies opened and the rain let loose on Friday, April 30, 2010, theWilliams family settled in for the night.
The next morning, they awakened to find their furniture and other belongings submerged in raw sewage in their basement. Often, three of the six children, now ages 8 to 18, slept downstairs. Some of the water began climbing upstairs as well.
Although the house is not in a low-lying area, the sewers had backed up. “The fence around the house created a fishbowl,” Erica Williams explained.
“There was water everywhere — nasty sewage. The water clogged the ductwork.” However, that wasn’t all.
“A week or so later,” she said, “the rats came. They went into the ventilation system. We killed 18 big rats. Then the mold came. Then the bugs came.”
But the family had nowhere to go.
> Read full story
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FRN: TN UMC's Hulette interviewed on News Channel 5 (from TNUMConnects 10/19/11)
TN UMC Dir. of Disaster Response and Recovery Brandon Hulette was interviewed Friday, Oct. 14 by Nashville News Channel 5 in response to the Flood Recovery Network's recent canvassing efforts. The interview and news story appeared on the 6:00 pm news and is currently available for viewing on their website www.NewsChannel5.com.
Click the video image below to watch:
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FRN: flood-affected neighborhoods to be canvassed (Press release, 10/10/11)
For Immediate Release: Oct. 10, 2011
Flood Recovery Network will canvass flood-affected neighborhoods
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Flood Recovery Network, a program of The Tennessee Conference of The United Methodist Church, will be canvassing flood-affected neighborhoods starting Oct. 11 to determine where flood survivors still need help and what kind of help they need.

The canvassing effort aims to provide help to flood survivors who still may be struggling to recover. Canvassers will begin this effort in Madison and Donelson, two areas where Flood Recovery Network case managers have found a higher density of outstanding need. This canvass also seeks to provide help to flood survivors who began the recovery process on their own but need additional resources to complete their recovery. As time and resources allow, canvassers will move on to other flood-affected neighborhoods throughout the city.

The Flood Recovery Network provides case management to flood victims and helps them get the resources they need to recover. The Network is working in coordination with the Nashville Mayor’s Office and The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.
Canvassing will take place through mid-November. Canvassers will be wearing badges identifying their affiliation with the Flood Recovery Network. Verizon Wireless contributed 21 tablet computers and wireless Internet service to assist in the canvassing.
Any flood survivor in need of recovery assistance is encouraged to call The Flood Recovery Network at 615-567-3232.
WHO: Flood Recovery Network

WHAT: Neighborhood canvassing

WHEN: Starting Oct. 11, 2011

WHERE: Madison and Donelson

MEDIA CONTACT: Brandon Hulette, Flood Recovery Network (direct line: 615.695.2765)
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FRN: Youth groups from Connecticut serve East Nashville (from TNUMConnects 7/13/11)
source: Nashville.gov Public Works
Out of state volunteers continue working in East Nashville to assist residents with storm brush and debris removal. Youth groups from Connecticut spent their post-Fourth of July holiday in the Inglewood area. More volunteers are expected this week. Clean up crews are being coordinated by Metro Beautification and Environment and the Flood Recovery Network. A huge thanks to the following youth groups and their leaders for helping our city:
• Mystic Congregational Church UCC, Mystic, CT (16 volunteers)
• Saugatuck Congregational Church UCC, Westport, CT (17 volunteers)
• Ellington Congregational Church, Ellington, CT (25 volunteers)
> Read the FULL article here
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The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee launches new flood website (from TNUMConnects 4/27/11)
New online initiative features extensive breakdown of grant allocations and tracks donations
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – In its continued effort to help survivors of the May 2010 flood restore their lives and to remain transparent with flood donations and the grantmaking process, The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee has launched a new initiative detailing its flood response efforts at www.cfmt.org.
The site boasts significant improvement in the areas of content, more intuitive navigation, and design, with the goal of making it easier for people to understand and track The Community Foundation’s flood response efforts.
Some of the revamped features include:
• “Where is the Money Going?” allows users to track the money donated and distributed to support ongoing recovery. It features an extensive breakdown of flood relief funds and detailed lists of grants given to date by fund, including the funded organization; area of need served, from rebuilding to counseling and more; and counties served.
• The “Response Overview” tab allows visitors to research how The Community Foundation deploys resources strategically and effectively in the flood’s aftermath and explains the grant-making process.
• The “Flood Stories” section provides stories of Middle Tennesseans’ courage in the face of the flood. The section also provides glimpses of survivors’ journeys, including help from nonprofit organizations, made possible, in part, by flood grants from The Community Foundation. Flood survivors are invited to tell their own story of recovery on the website. Another feature of this section is a photo slideshow of recovery efforts.
“We remain committed to being fully accountable and transparent about our flood response and are very excited to have this new tool to provide people enhanced and easier access to the details,” said Ellen Lehman, president of The Community Foundation. “This online initiative allows us to continue to inform our community, detailing our response and the incredible ongoing efforts of dedicated community leaders and organizations working to getting people back on their feet.”
To date, The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee has allocated $10.1 million in flood relief grants to more than 100 organizations. The allocations have come from the $14 million collected in disaster response funds. To get detailed information on The Community Foundation’s ongoing flood response efforts, visit www.cfmt.org.
The Community Foundation continues to assess evolving and emerging needs from the 2010 flood and work with community leaders, volunteer-led long-term recovery committees active in each of the affected counties and volunteer committees working to provide strategic grant funding to organizations helping flood survivors recover.
About The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee:
The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee oversees more than 800 charitable funds. In its first 20 years, The Community Foundation has already distributed $507 million to community programs and institutions. It is located at 3833 Cleghorn Avenue, #400, Nashville, Tennessee 37215 (MAP). For more information, call 615.321.4939 or visit www.cfmt.org.
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New flood recovery hotline available for 2010 flood survivors (from TNUMConnects 4/20/11)
Flood Recovery Network provides additional referrals and assistance for those still coping with the 2010 flood
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – As long-term recovery continues, the Flood Recovery Network (FRN) has been established as an additional resource to ensure quality, customized, timely flood assistance for those Tennesseans who still need help in recovering from the May 2010 flood. The Flood Recovery Network’s centralized hotline, operating now at 615-567-3232, is designed to be a one-stop resource for flood survivors with ongoing, unmet needs.
The hotline is a streamlined system to provide information and customized assistance to flood survivors. Callers to the hotline requesting help will be able to speak directly to a Flood Recovery Network representative who will begin assessing the needs of the flood survivor. Each call the hotline receives will be assessed on an individual basis, and managed accordingly.
"There is hope," states Brandon Hulette, director of the Flood Recovery Network. “The Flood Recovery Network offers relief specific to an individual's needs, across our community and our region. Recovery efforts for flood survivors needing assistance have been ongoing since last May and will continue over the next year."
An official website for the Flood Recovery Network will be online in coming weeks and will further expand its capability to field requests for help, offer information and statistical data, and to help advance a message of hope to flood survivors that flood recovery efforts have not ended.
The Flood Recovery Network is a collaborative effort to ensure those who still need help in recovering from the flood receive assistance as quickly and efficiently as possible, with uniform access for flood survivors at any stage of recovery. The Tennessee Conference of the The United Methodist Church, is facilitating the Flood Recovery Network, which is supported in part by The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee flood relief grant funds. Partners throughout the state’s long-term recovery community are providing aid to flood survivors who call the hotline, from rebuilding houses to mental health counseling and more.
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The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee Awards More Than $665,000 in Flood Relief Grants (from TNUMConnects 3/29/11)
$6.2 million in flood grants awarded to date
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – In its continued effort to restore the lives of Middle Tennesseans who were affected by the May 2010 flood, The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee distributed its latest grant allocations from its disaster response funds, totaling more than $665,000.
The Metro Nashville Disaster Response Fund, The Tennessee Emergency Response Fund, and The River Fund allocated $665,910 to local organizations providing flood recovery services. To date, $6.2 million in flood relief grants have been awarded to more than 100 organizations from The Community Foundation’s disaster funds. Organizations can apply for flood relief grants online at www.cfmt.org/floodrelief/nonprofit.
In its latest rounds of grantmaking, The Community Foundation awarded the following flood relief grants and allocations:
Metro Nashville Disaster Response Fund - serves Davidson County
$51,000 to Big Brothers of Nashville to provide rental assistance to families affected by the flood who have accessed case management in Davidson County.
$10,000 to Double Impact to address unmet needs to help support approximately 200 families affected by the flood.
$100,000 to Tennessee Conference United Methodist Church to spearhead a behavioral health collaboration providing counseling for suicide, depression,post-traumatic stress disorder
to flood victims in Davidson County.
Tennessee Emergency Response Fund – serves 40 Middle Tennessee counties, including Davidson County
$10,000 to Advocates for The Upper Cumberland to assist families with recovery expenses as a result of the May 2010 floods in Cannon, Clay, Jackson, Macon and Smith counties.
$35,000 to the Ark Community Resource & Assistance Center to assist Cheatham County families with recovery expenses as a result of the May 2010 floods.
$10,000 to Harpeth River Watershed Association to conduct cleanup and debris removal from the Harpeth River in Williamson, Cheatham and Davidson counties.
$20,000 to Helping Hands of Hickman County to provide case management and assistance to Hickman County residents who were affected by the May 2010 flood.
$25,000 to Humphreys County Long Term Recovery Organization to provide long-term recovery assistance for families with unmet needs in Humphreys County.
$100,000 to Tennessee Conference United Methodist Church to provide behavioral health services including counseling for suicide, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and more to flood victims in Middle Tennessee.
The River Fund - created with proceeds from the December 2010 Garth Brooks concerts
$125,000 to Cheatham County Long Term Recovery Organization to provide ongoing support and case management services to flood victims.
$119,000 to Disaster Recovery Services to provide building materials for home repair assistance for flood-affected families in Dyer County.
$25,900 to Hope for Haywood to provide long term-recovery assistance to flood victims of Haywood County.
$35,010 to Mennonites Disaster Group to assist in the rebuilding of flood damaged homes in Hickman and Perry counties.
To view the entire list of flood grantees to date, visit http://www.cfmt.org/floodrelief/grantees/
The Community Foundation continues to assess evolving and emerging needs and work with community leaders, long-term recovery committees and volunteer committees to provide strategic grant funding to organizations serving victims of the flood. Middle Tennessee organizations are encouraged to apply for flood relief grants online at www.cfmt.org/floodrelief/nonprofit.
Donations to the disaster response funds can be made online at www.cfmt.org or by mailing a check to The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, P.O. Box 440225, Nashville, TN, 37244.
To learn more about The Community Foundation’s flood relief efforts, visit www.cfmt.org.
About The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee
The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee oversees more than 800 charitable funds. In the past 20 years, The Community Foundation has distributed $507 million to community programs and institutions. It is located at 3833 Cleghorn Avenue, #400, Nashville, Tennessee 37215. For more information, call 615-321-4939 or visit www.cfmt.org.
This article was featured in the TN Conference weekly eBlast TNUMConnects. FREE to your INBOX weekly!
Click the button to subscribe now!
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FEMA and National Disability Rights Network sign agreement (from TNUMConnects 3/16/11)
WASHINGTON-Today the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) signed a memorandum of agreement that further strengthens their growing partnership to ensure that the access and functional needs of people with disabilities are incorporated into all aspects of planning for, responding to and recovering from disasters. Today's signing was hosted by the White House, and was attended by advocates from the disability and emergency management community, including disaster survivors, as well as national security and disability advisors for President Obama.
"FEMA is just one part of the emergency management team," said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. "The President and I are fully committed to addressing the needs of people with disabilities, in part by ensuring that Americans with disabilities - critical members of our team - have a seat at the table to make sure we are serving and protecting all of the members of our communities equally, before, during and after a disaster."
While FEMA has coordinated with the NDRN in the past, this agreement will strengthen their relationship to ensure the needs of people with disabilities, young children, seniors, and all members of the community are fully integrated into emergency planning efforts. Specifically, the agreement will ensure that advocates for the NDRN's 57 state and territory affiliates have access to FEMA disaster response offices, including workspace and logistical support, before, during and after a disaster, to be involved in policy decisions and coordinate directly with the entire emergency management team. This partnership will help FEMA leverage the resources of the entire community, including the resources the NDRN or other organizations can offer, to better meet the needs of the entire population impacted by a disaster.
"NDRN and our Disability Rights affiliates are a valuable source of knowledge to disaster officials at all levels, and will help ensure that individuals with disabilities can survive and recover from a disaster," said NDRN Executive Director Curt Decker.
Improving how FEMA plans for and incorporates the needs of people with disabilities into all aspects of disaster operations has been a top priority for the Obama administration and Administrator Fugate. In the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina then-Senator Barack Obama introduced legislation that directed the Secretary of Homeland Security to ensure that each state provided comprehensive information regarding plans for evacuating individuals with disabilities and a variety of access and functional needs, and to plan for providing food, water, and shelter for evacuees with disabilities or access and functional needs. Early last year, Administrator Fugate established the first-ever office within FEMA focused on this goal, the Office of Disability Integration and Coordination. In July 2010, FEMA signed a memorandum of agreement with the National Council on Independent Living which allows the 450 centers for independent living from across the country to access FEMA disaster recovery centers in order to better assist people with disabilities impacted by a disaster. In September 2010, FEMA hosted its first-ever "Getting Real" conference, which brought together stakeholders from the disability and emergency management communities to discuss how we can better partner together and integrate the needs of people with disabilities into our emergency planning. And in November 2010, FEMA announced new guidelines, the Functional Needs Support Services Guidance, on general population emergency sheltering for people with access and functional needs.
FEMA's mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.
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Garth Brooks' Nashville concerts raise $5 million to help flood victims (from The Connector, March 2011)
The River Fund makes grant allocations totaling $1.37 million to non-profits helping flood victims rebuild - UMCOR Tennessee Conference one of the recipients of this allocation
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| photo credit: Steve Lowry |
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Gifts from the record-breaking Garth Brooks concert series at Bridgestone Arena, spearheaded by Brooks and Trisha Yearwood, total $5 million to support Tennessee flood recovery through The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. To-date, The Community Foundation has collected $4.35 million of the $5 million from its concert sales or from amounts pledged toward this effort.
The nine sold-out concerts, which were held December 16-22, 2010, represent a collaborative effort of organizers and countless volunteers from across the community who donated their time and talent to make the unprecedented series happen. “Our community is indebted to Garth Brooks for not only providing nine amazing concerts and bringing thousands of people to Music City, but for the amazing generosity he has shown for flood victims who are rebuilding their lives,” said Ellen Lehman, president of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.
“Playing music has never felt better or ever felt more right...I am really honored to have been a part of this happening,” said Brooks.
The Community Foundation has designated proceeds from the concerts to The River Fund, the charitable fund established within The Community Foundation by Brooks to help provide aid for flood victims through grants to non-profit organizations. Grant allocations totaling $1.37 million from The River Fund have been made for Davidson County flood relief to Hands On Nashville, The United Methodist Committee on Relief – Tennessee Conference (UMCOR), and The Community Resource Center.
$659,500 has been allocated for a home rebuilding partnership spearheaded by Hands On Nashville, an organization instrumental in flood relief, to streamline home rebuilding efforts for flood victims in case management. This collaboration will serve all areas of Davidson County, consolidating rebuilding project supervision, construction material acquisition and delivery, and communications with other long-term recovery resources. Organizations participating in this partnership include Westminster Presbyterian Church, West Nashville Flood Recovery Network and Southeast Nashville Flood Recovery, among others.
$200,000 has been allocated for The United Methodist Committee on Relief – Tennessee Conference to continue its work to provide help to flood victims for needs which will otherwise be left unmet.
$514,795 has been allocated for The Community Resource Center, which will work to provide new household furnishings like couches, end tables, coffee tables, and more for flood victims.
Grants from The River Fund are being made to non-profits serving flood victims in the flood affected counties of Tennessee. The Community Foundation and its volunteers are working with county-based long-term recovery committees to identify continuing need and the best ways to support flood victims. Grants from The River Fund will be made over time, ensuring the optimal management of charitable resources to help the maximum number of flood victims.
There are several flood relief funds within The Community Foundation, including The River Fund, the Metro Nashville Disaster Response Fund and the Tennessee Emergency Response Fund. More information is available online at www.cfmt.org.
Flood victims seeking help should call 2-1-1 to be directed to a case manager.
> source: The Community Fund of Middle TN
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