Florida Conference of the United Methodisits team with CREW

The Florida Conference of the United Methodists teamed with CREW for Wilma recovery (2005) as preparations for new season (2007) begin. The executive director of CREW, Trish Adams, LCSW is not only a member of the First United Methodist Church in Clewiston Florida, but is also a member of the missions committee and is Social Action Chair of the Church's chapter of the United Methodist Women. Pastor John Hicks of this same church, was instrumental in helping to get CREW started, along with members of the Clewiston Ministerial Church. UMCOR currently funds four case managers and one Construction Coordiator. The Church loaned CREW office space until they out grew it to help them get started in assisting Hurricane Wilma victims. Pastor Thom Street of the First United Methodist Church in Moorehaven has also been instrumental in helping CREW and along with Pastor John has served on the Board of Directors since its inception. CREW has office space which they use once a week at the Moorehaven Church. Pastor Thom and Trish Adams have worked closely with Emergency Mangers in Glades county and will assist with Radio communications, managing donations and volunteers and planning for sheltering if necessary, should another disaster strike.

Trish Adams, also is the long term recovery coordinator for United Way of Lee Hendry and Glades counties. Most recently she was appointed as a member at large for the Florida VOAD. She was also recognized by Volunteer Florida Foundation for excellence at the Governor's Hurricane Conference in Ft. Lauderdale earlier this month. According to an article on FLUMC website, "In April she traveled to New Mexico to receive a National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD) award on behalf of CREW for excellence in long-term recovery partnerships. 'The reason we got the award was because we partner with so many people and because we come from such a small town that has few resources,' Adams said. ' … We’ve pulled in national, local and state organizations — faith-based and otherwise — different people have pitched in and helped us.'

Both the Florida Conference and CREW continue to need volunteers for storm recovery. “We’re hoping that within the next 12 months we can finalize all of the Wilma victims,” Adams said. “The main reason it’s taking so long in our community is a lack of resources and a lack of funding.” Other factors affecting the length of the recovery time include dealing with undocumented workers who are afraid to ask for assistance and language barriers, Adams said. ...Gricell Hernandez noted, the entire process of applying for assistance and verifying actual needs takes time.'"

CREW has a long history of working with numerous Methodist Churches, as described here. The First United Methodist Churches of Moorehaven and Clewiston donated space for our volunteer to sleep when they visit gave them use of kitchen facilities, provided goods from their thrift store and food pantry to clients and volunteers as needed, and along with local restaurants and some local church members, have all donated or home cooked meals and/or given discounted prices to volunteer CREWs. Grace United Methodist Church donated Cash, as well as sending out repeated groups, almost monthly to help Hendry and County residents. Grace has also participated in CREW fundraisers and worked side by side with CREW in public awareness campaigns at local fairs throughout both counties. East Lake United Methodist has also come many times, sleeping overnight on the floors of First United Methodist before getting to work, repairing roofs and hanging drywall.

Volunteers came from Methodist Churches from Boca, Plantation, Cape Coral, and Palm Harbor in Florida, Tanjier and Manassas, VA as well as Maryland. We received actual cash as well as in-kind donations from various United Methodist Churches and over 40,000 volunteer hours. Volunteers from Grace United Methodist after repairing roofs one day, stopped by to help our executive director share the need at a Gospel Sing Fundraiser last year for CREW. A Methodist Church from Palm Harbour donated flood buckets to CREW for clients in Lake Port who were flooded out by Tropical Storm Ernesto. First Untied Methodist Church of Lakeland also sent volunteers on several locations. As you can see, CREW has had a multitude of Methodists helping them, as well as numerous groups and individuals from other faiths.

http://www.flumc.info/cgi-script/csArticles/articles/000036/003642.htm
Disaster ministry leaders say ‘time to prepare is now’:

God is Good!

Be not afraid of tomorrow - God is already there!

Hendry County fire threatens Felda homes | WINK-TV - Fort Myers, FL | Local & Florida

Hendry and Glades Counties are burning, disaster again strikes near Buckhead Ridge in Glades Counties and Felda in Hendry counties in areas still trying to recover from Hurricane Wilma! See the links below. Call CREW if you would like to help at 863-983-2390 or come visit them at their new office at Harlem Academy. You can also visit us on Tuesdays in Moorehaven at the Methodist Church.

Hendry County fire threatens Felda homes WINK-TV - Fort Myers, FL Local & Florida

Florida wildfire update http://www.wtsp.com/news/local/article.aspx?storyid=55821

2,500 acre brush fire burning near state forest http://www.abc-7.com/Articles/readnews.asp?articleid=12722&z=2&p=

Volunteer groups continue to help Wilma victims as new Storm Season begins!

United Church of Christ's First Congregational Church Senior Youth fellowship from Wolfeboro, New Hampshire came and repaired a roof in Harlem. This group of 11 youth and 3 adults worked so hard over their Spring Break Mission Trip, they were able to take Wednesday off and go to Lover’s Cay for the day.

This group of Lutherans traveled far giving up valuable vacation time and hard earned money on airfare and traveling expenses and just to come and work hard on rural South Florida residents who could not do it themselves! Praise God for these and all our volunteers! You can see more of these guys on our YouTube site as well! http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=CREWInc

Points of Light Foundation helps Hurricane Vicitms!

Visit this website to see what artists and friends are doing for Hurricane Relief with help from their partners at the Points of Light and Volunteer Center Network and the Volunteer Florida Foundation! Check out the CD/DVD benefiting disaster relief and family strengthening efforts across America!
Welcome to We Are Family 2007

CREW recognized at Governor's Conference

Florida Disaster Recovery Fund Recognizes Nonprofit Leadership
– Awards Ceremony Held at Governor’s Hurricane Conference –

Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. – Volunteer Florida Foundation, managers of the Florida Disaster Recovery Fund, recognized exemplary nonprofit partners in recovery at the Governor’s Hurricane Conference here on May 16. The nonprofits were recognized at a private reception hosted by Bank of America, with free cruises given to the leaders by Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises.

“The heart of Florida lies in the dedicated leadership of our nonprofit partners,” said Liza McFadden, President of VFF. “The dedication of these organizations helped ensure our success in recovery from the devastating 2004 and 2005 seasons, including leading our long-term recovery in their prospective areas and securing housing for Floridians following FEMA’s closeout of temporary housing. Disaster recovery is a tedious process that takes great resolve. We applaud these nonprofit leaders and thank them for their tireless efforts in helping our neighbors in need.”

The following nonprofits were instrumental in long-term recovery, with grants and assistance from the Florida Disaster Recovery Fund. Honored were:
Trish Adams, Community Rebuilding Ecumenical Workforce (CREW)
Miles Anderson, Rebuild Northwest Florida
Stirling Boomhower, United Way of Santa Rosa County
Donna Carman, Indiantown Nonprofit Housing
Robert Hebert, Charlotte County
Mandy Hines, Desoto County
Andrea Johnson, Indian River Cares
Steve Mainster, Centro Campesino
Stefanie Myers, St. Lucie INTACT
Greg Strader, Be Ready Alliance Coordinating for Emergencies (BRACE)
Sheri Taylor, Palm Beach County Disaster Recovery Coalition
Craig Vanderlaan, Adopt-A-Hurricane Family
Audra Vaz, Volunteer Broward
Jim Vensel, Rebuilding Okeechobee After Disaster
Lisa Watson, Paradise Interfaith Network

About the Fund
The Florida Disaster Recovery Fund (formerly the Florida Hurricane Relief Fund) was founded in 2004 to provide assistance to hurricane survivors for losses not covered by immediate recovery groups, insurance or government funding. The Fund is managed by nonprofit Volunteer Florida Foundation, under the direction of Governor Charlie Crist. The Fund works with nonprofit organizations in affected communities. In the 2004 and 2005 seasons, the Fund raised nearly $24 million in private donations, granted to more than 300 nonprofits working in recovery. Volunteers provided 1,116,610 hours of service, which translates into an in-kind value of more than $20 million.

As Florida approaches the 2007 hurricane season, please refer often to http://www.fladisasterfund.org/ for news and information on disaster preparedness and recovery, and to discover how you can get involved! For more information on CREW visit, http://home.earthlink.net/~hurricanerecovery/.

Andrea/ Fires threaten as Wilma Recovery Continues!

As the volunteers continue to work on recovery efforts from Hurricane Wilma, these volunteers traveled from Washington State to come to rural South Florida and help as fires and subtropical storm Andrea threatens.

The Web site, titled "Florida Wild Fires and Climate Extremes," explains how Florida's unusual weather led to the fires.The unusually wet mild winter in Florida promoted abundant growth in the underbrush. This weather was immediately followed by a severe drought during April, May and June, which rapidly dried out the dense underbrush. This combination – wet and mild in the winter, dry and hot in the summer -- provided abundant fuel to the wildfires throughout Florida.Details on recent abnormal weather, including temperature and precipitation as well as drought indices, are available on the Web site. Links to related Web sites, such as NOAA satellite imagery of the fires and the fire forecast, are provided. The Web site can be reached at: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/ol/climate/research/1998/fla/florida.html


Subtropical Storm Andrea Forms off Florida/Georgia Coast…
Aircraft and satellite reconnaissance data from this morning indicate that the area of low pressure hovering off the Florida/Georgia coast has acquired subtropical characteristics, meaning that the system exhibits characteristics common to both tropical and non-tropical systems. At 11 AM EDT, the center of Subtropical Storm Andrea was located about 140 miles northeast of Daytona Beach, meandering west near 3 mph. Maximum sustained winds are near 45 mph. The official forecast calls for gradual weakening during the next 24 hours, with the center of Andrea remaining offshore. The strongest winds are well away from the center and should remain offshore, but there is the potential for tropical storm force winds to affect the immediate coastal areas of northeastern Florida; therefore a Tropical Storm Watch is in effect from Flagler Beach, FL northward to Altamaha Sound, GA. Impacts from Andrea will occur mainly over the marine areas, but gusty winds along with dangerous surf and some beach erosion will be possible along the northeastern Florida coast. Winds are forecast to decrease across the state by week’s end. Rainfall amounts will not be impressive since most of the rainfall will remain offshore, so the potential for a "drought-busting" rain event will be slim. As Andrea weakens and drifts closer to the state, however, moisture levels across Northeast and East-Central Florida will increase, bringing a slightly increased chance for isolated to scattered afternoon showers and thunderstorms this weekend.

CREW is hiring!

Contact us now about open positions! We need case managers, office managers, persons with construction experience and knowledge of mitigation, and we can always use volunteers, check out the picture below to see how much fun working with us can be!
South Florida LTRO Job Openings - FLVOADCommunicationsCentral Google Groups

Good News Network

Tired of hearing bad news, you can always look on our blog site and read about wonderful people doing wonderful things, or visit this site, just click on the link. It is a Network that CREW was proud to join!

Good News Network - Latest News

Fires ravage Pioneer Plantation

Fires are breaking out, more disaster hits Hendry County as Hurricane Season begins, and the local community is still recovering from Hurricane Wilma in 2005! See the link below to read more about the fires in Pioneer Plantation in Hendry County.
The News-Press: Local & State

April Showers (& volunteers) bring May flowers and more Volunteers!

April Volunteers included GRACE United Methodist Church who returned again, as they have done every month for quite some time. They worked on replacing Hurricane Wilma damaged walls and ceilings in a home.

First Congregational Church Youth Group came from New Hampshire, this incredible group has done many mission trips, many overseas in third world countries. They ate dinner with the local Methodist Church who fed them in return to hearing stories of their wonderful adventures. On their last night in town they went to Church with Anthony at True Vine in Harlem and were impressed with Pastor Fred Gamble's message and the enthusiasm of the congregation! During their Spring Break Field Trip they repaired roofs and demonstrated their incredible work ethic and spirit.

Our long term volunteer from Michigan Art, continues to help us out this month working on several small projects.

May blooms into a great start with bright volunteers that continue to travel to our rural little town to assist our Hurricane Wilma victims.

Grace United Methodist came again this month and continues to work tirelessly repairing remote location homes on the first Saturday of the month. They have been so regular that we can almost count that they will be here each first Saturday of each month.

Another group traveled quite a long way, all the way from Washington State, they arrived Saturday and will be here till the end of the week. Check back for pictures and updates of what they accomplish!

Please ignore the dates on the pictures, our volunteer photographer has not quite figured out how to work that particular setting!

My SAFE Florida Home Program News

CFO ALEX SINK CONGRATULATES LEGISLATURE FOR
IMPROVING MY SAFE FLORIDA HOME PROGRAM

TALLAHASSEE—Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink today applauded the Legislature’s passage of HB 7057, which makes improvements to the state’s My Safe Florida Home (MSFH) program. CFO Sink leads the department administering the program, the Department of Financial Services, and has been working with legislative leadership to make the program more efficient for Florida homeowners.

“The measures passed today by the Legislature will allow the My Safe Florida Home program to serve more Floridians and to boost our efforts to educate homeowners about the importance of mitigation,” said CFO Sink. “As Florida’s Chief Financial Officer, I look forward to increasing awareness about the financial and safety benefits available to Floridians who take steps to harden their homes.”

HB 7057 was sponsored by State Representatives Anthony Trey Traveisa (R-Tampa), Michael Grant (R-Port Charlotte), Robert “Rob” Schenck (R-Spring Hill) and James “Jim” Waldman (D-Coconut Creek) and now heads to Governor Charlie Crist for his signature. State Senator Bill Posey (R-Rockledge) sponsored SB 2596, the Senate companion.

After being streamlined to provide better service and expanded statewide, the MSFH program in April resumed offering eligible Floridians free wind inspections. More than 50,000 homeowners are on the program’s waiting list and these homeowners should expect to be served by the end of the summer. Any Floridians on the waiting list who have not heard from a participating wind inspection firm by June 30, 2007, should contact the MSFH program’s toll-free helpline at 1-866-513-MSFH (6734).

New applicants can apply over the MSFH program’s Web site at http://www.mysafefloridahome.com/ or over the program’s toll-free helpline at 1-866-513-MSFH (6734), but should not expect to receive a free wind inspection before August 2007, as the more than 50,000 pilot phase applicants have first priority. However, Floridians who are not interested in participating in the MSFH program and are willing to pay the $150 fee for a wind inspection, can visit the Web site to learn how they can contact one of the MSFH program’s 11 wind inspection firms directly.

To date, the MSFH program has awarded nearly $200,000 to 88 Florida homeowners who hardened their homes against hurricanes through the MSFH program. The homeowners, who received free wind inspections during the pilot phase of the program, are being reimbursed for half the cost of a variety of home improvements, including hurricane shutters, reinforced garage doors and roof enhancements. More than 5,100 Floridians are currently working on mitigation improvements through the MSFH program and will receive their matching grants once the work has been completed.

The MSFH program helps Floridians identify how they can strengthen their homes and reduces the overall potential for hurricane damage in our state. In addition to providing education about how to better mitigate Florida homes, the program offers eligible homeowners free wind inspections by trained wind inspectors. Homeowners who have received these inspections also have the opportunity to apply for a matching grant to make recommended improvements.

# # #

As a statewide elected officer of the Florida Cabinet, Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink oversees the Department of Financial Services, a multi-division state agency responsible for management of state funds and unclaimed property, assisting consumers who request information and help related to financial services, and investigating financial fraud. CFO Sink also serves as the State Fire Marshal.

CITY OF CLEWISTON helps Residents!

The City of Clewiston joins with CREW to help out local residents, according to minutes from City Council.

"FEMA Demobilization/Modified Sales Program.

Keith Denning, representing FEMA, said his agency will be ending its housing assistance program on April 24, 2007, although FEMA will continue to have a presence in the area.

City Manager Johnson said there were 29-occupied FEMA trailers left in the city limits. With the FEMA deadline approaching, Mr. Johnson asked the commission to consider options to provide housing for those families who cannot find housing accommodations by the deadline. FEMA’s modified sales program (MSP) provides three options: (1) sell the trailer to a disaster victim and end the responsibility for the trailer, (2) immediately donate the trailer to the disaster victim and end all responsibility for the unit, or (3) continue to house the hurricane victim in the trailer for an additional year; after that year, the City can use the unit for any purpose.

The City can use Disaster Relief Funds, estimated at $20,000 to $25,000, to buy the units. The concern is once the trailers are sold they must be moved since most of the remaining units are in nonconforming areas. Although FEMA will assist with moving the units to other locations, few conforming sites are available.

CREW, the organization established after Hurricane Wilma to help hurricane victims with the restoration and rebuilding of their homes, had Board approval to serve as a nonprofit agency for administering the MSP. CREW Director Trish Adams said they were willing to help the occupants find other housing or conforming lots for the trailers. Mr. Johnson said at the end of the 12 months, CREW would become the owners of the trailers and responsible for removing the nonconforming units. Purchasers must provide a certificate of zoning compliance. If not in compliance, the sale cannot be made.

Commissioner Pittman made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Richard Miller, to extend the emergency declaration for Hurricane Wilma to April 24, 2008, and to participate in FEMA’s Modified Sales Program by providing funds only, up to $30,000, to the CREW organization. The funds are to be disbursed by the city manager and the finance director on a case-by-case basis. The units may remain in the nonconforming areas; however, the nonconformity status still applies, but allows the units to legally remain until April 24, 2008. Motion passed unanimously on a voice vote.
City Attorney Schoech clarified that the Commission was not waiving the non conformance status, just providing an extension for that limited period of time. "

VFF and CREW

Milestone Reached in Hendry County's Long-Term Recovery Effort

By Liza McFadden
President, CEO
Volunteer Florida Foundation


Volunteer Florida Foundation joined with the Community Rebuilding Ecumenical Workforce (CREW) to assist in the process of assisting FEMA to find solutions for families impacted by Hurricane Wilma. The community as a whole has done a commendable job of taking over the mantle of responsibility for recovery efforts that will continue.

Even while the majority of FEMA’s work is completed, the nonprofit and faith-based groups serving Hendry County will continue to assist those who were hardest hit and those who are most vulnerable because, as everyone who lived through Wilma knows, every survivor has his or her individual circumstances to cope with while overcoming the challenges created by wind, rain and flood.

Dozens of people are still in temporary housing and will need additional help and guidance in finding long-term safe and secure shelter. This work is ahead of us and I believe the resources and the community’s caring spirit will prevail.

Yet, much has already been accomplished. Hundreds of FEMA trailers were brought in after the hurricane swept through. Just over 140 remained in FEMA trailers, as we embarked on this ambitious project in February, 2007 to find shelter for these families before FEMA’s April 24 deadline.

CREW did this work with funds made available by FEMA and the Florida Disaster Recovery Fund, managed by Volunteer Florida Foundation, along with the added resources and cooperation of City of Clewiston and other agencies. Of course, there have been numerous volunteers who have pitched in for months on end, not ending their efforts a few weeks after the hurricane.

FEMA was a responsive partner, bringing about $70,000 to assist with funding CREW’s staff for this project. Volunteer Florida Foundation also provided over $65,000 Disaster Recovery Fund private dollars to assist with unmet needs, covering such things as first and last month’s rent for many who had not been able to save for the day they would need to move from the trailers.

Other major partners that financially contributed to the success of this project include the American Red Cross and the American Association of Retired Persons.

Hendry County has risen to the challenge with tremendous commitment and compassion. It’s truly rewarding to work with groups such as the CREW, and I applaud them for taking on a task that, if it had been easy, would have already been accomplished. What's been done in Hendry County is what leadership is all about.

Affordable housing is a challenge all Florida communities face, even more so in the wake of the swarm of hurricanes of 2004 and 2005. It will take time to cobble together broad-based solutions, but in the meantime, Hendry County’s caring spirit has been a blessing to so many in the community in their time of need.

I thank all the groups that were part of this humanitarian project, particularly FEMA and CREW both of which did the heaviest lifting during the final two months.

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Liza McFadden is president and CEO of Volunteer Florida Foundation, a nonprofit foundation that manages the Florida Disaster Recovery Fund. She is based in Tallahassee.