We believe individuals in our current community and those beyond these walls can be transformed by re-thinking what the church has been and what it could be.
Centenary UMC Greensboro
Friday, January 14, 2026
Come, Follow Christ, Grow in Grace, Change the World

Hurricane Katrina

Hurricane Katrina responses
The United Methodist approach to disaster relief is holistic and long term, on the ground as soon as the storm passes, often picking up where the Red Cross leaves off.  We walk alongside survivors for the duration of their recovery, empowering them to restore their lives.  The United Methodist Church, through United Methodist Committee on Relief (the not-for-profit international humanitarian aid organization of The United Methodist Church) and multitudes of volunteer response teams is committed to long term recovery and rebuilding of lives throughout the disaster area.
 
UMCOR early response teams were among the first response teams on the ground, just hours after the storm passed.  On Tuesday, September 6, 2025 the first team from Western North Carolina arrived in D’iberville, Mississippi, where every home in the area has been condemned. Early efforts involve helping residents get into their homes to claim valuables and salvageable items from the debris. The second team arrived in D’iberville on September 13.
 
There are a number of avenues by which you can be a part of the ongoing work.
  • Financial contributions continue to be the number 1 need in the short term and long term.  To give through church channels, please make checks payable to Centenary UMC, and mark the checks GULF DISASTER or HURRICANE KATRINA.  This money will be forwarded through United Methodist channels, working with the Louisiana, Mississipi and Alabama-West Florida Annual Conference recovery efforts.  100% of monies contributed through the church will go to relief and recovery efforts.
  • The church is also collecting flood buckets, health kits and layette kits.  Instructions for these supplies are on the church website, www.centenaryumcgreensboro.org on the Hurricane Katrina page and in print on the table in the narthex.  If you would prefer to give money to make health kits, a collection bucket is available in the church narthex.  
  • Early Response teams are sent in during the first stages, but they require specialized training, certified by UMCOR and Conference Disaster Response Committee. They are completely self-contained (including housing, meals, and water) and require no infrastructure support where they serve. We may not send un-trained persons into the disaster area on Early Response Teams. Only trained responders may be sent – this is an agreement between all SEJ Conferences. There are multiple training events set up around the conference.  For a complete listing please see the KARE (Katrina Assistance and Resettlement Endeavor) link on the conference website - www.wnccumc.org  Most events do not require any registration. 
  • Re-Building teams     It is estimated that the rebuilding efforts along the Gulf Coast may take 6 years.  There will be plenty of opportunities for volunteer teams to work on the continued cleanup and rebuilding efforts.The rebuilding efforts in the area will be long term. The Western North Carolina Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church has a reputation of staying the course when disaster strikes.  After Hurricane struck South Florida in 1992 we had teams in South Florida for 2 years.  Our Conference will send teams through the Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama-West Florida Annual Conferences for as long as they are needed.  Additional information will be forthcoming about opportunities for Centenary to send volunteer work teams into the affected areas as soon as we have information to share.
 

Early Response teams are sent in the first stages, but they require specialized training, certified by UMCOR and Conference Disaster Response Committee. They are completely self-contained (including housing, meals, and water) and require no infrastructure support where they serve. We may not send un-trained persons into the disaster area on Early Response Teams. Only trained responders may be sent – this is an agreement between all SEJ Conferences.

 
There are multiple training events set up around the conference.  For a complete listing please see the KARE (Katrina Assistance and Resettlement Endeavor) link on the conference website - www.wnccumc.org
 
Flood Buckets These supplies enable people to begin the overwhelming job of cleaning up after a flood or hurricane.  For flood buckets, if the requested sized item is not available, go down to the next available size.  If nothing is available in the requested or smaller size, put masking tape on the outside of the bucket saying, “This bucket contains no________”  

Supplies needed for a Flood Bucket are as follows:
  •  5 gallon bucket with resealable lid
  • Bleach - two, 1 qt bottles or one 82 oz bottle. 5 scouring pads
  •  
    7 Sponges
  • 1 scrub brush
  • 18 cleaning towels (reusable wipes)
  • Liquid laundry detergent (two 25 oz bottles or one 50 oz bottle)
  • 1 household cleaner, 12-16 oz bottle
  • Disinfectant dish soap, 16-28 oz
  • 50 clothes pins
  • Clothes lines (two 50 ft or one 100 ft)
  • 5 packs dust masks
  • 2 pairs of latex gloves
  • 1 pair work gloves
  • 24 bag roll of heavy-duty trash bags (33-45 gallon, removed from box)
  • Insect repellant spray, 6-14 oz size (If aerosol, cans must have protective caps. See special requirements below.*)
  • Air freshener, 8-9 oz can (If aerosol, cans must have protective caps.  See below*)
      Put all items in the plastic bucket and seal lid.  Please ensure that all cleansing agents are liquids (not powder) and in plastic bottles.  All aerosols or flammables: if aerosols are included, pack inside the bucket or strong outer boxes and put the ORM-D mark on the outside of any buckets or boxes containing these items (label on back of this page). 
 

      Buckets cannot exceed 66 lbs each.  Value: $45 per bucket.
 
 
Health kits provide basic necessities to people who have been forced to leave their homes because of human conflict or natural disaster. Health kits are also used as learning tools in personal hygiene, literacy, nutrition and cooking classes. When people gain the knowledge and materials to maintain personal hygiene, their overall health improves.
  •  1 hand towel (15" x 25" up to 17" x 27", No kitchen towels)
  • 1 washcloth 
  • 1 comb (large and sturdy, not pocket-sized) 
  • 1 nail file or fingernail clippers (no emery boards or toenail clippers) 
  • 1 bath-size bar of soap (3 oz. and up)
  • 1 toothbrush (single brushes only in original wrapper, No child-size brushes)
       
  •  1 large tube of toothpaste (expiration date must be 6 months or longer in advance of the date of shipment)
  •  6 adhesive plastic strip sterile bandages 
 
 
  •   6 cloth diapers
  • 2 shirts or 2 one-piece body suits
  • 2 baby washcloths
  • 2 gowns or sleepers
  • 2 diaper pins
  • 1 sweater open in the front
  • 2 receiving blankets
Bundle the items inside one of the receiving blankets and secure with diaper pins.

Value: $35 per kit.
 

Email links:

Western North Carolina Annual Conference  (this site has a number of Katrina links and updates)         www.wnccumc.org

The United Methodist Committee on Relief     www.umcor.org

NC Disasater aid (information on relocation of victims to the triad area).  This site also is a link for persons to volunteer to serve in the local community.  Use the community volunteer tab to register your interest and your information will be routed to the appropriate agency.      www.ncdisasteraid.org

 

Place these items inside a sealed one-gallon plastic bag.
 
Value: $12 per kit.
 

 
Layette kits     Many women do not have swaddling clothes with which to welcome their child into the world. Layette kits provide basic supplies for their baby's needs.