emeregencygroup

UWSM Establishes Long-Term Recovery Group in Aftermath of SWM Flood Waters

emeregencygroup

With St. Joseph River levels far less menacing, most of us are fortunate to have few reminders of the late winter flooding that caused considerable headache, heartache, and serious damage and destruction across Michigan’s Great Southwest. Nevertheless, there are many in our community whose lives continue to be upside down due to the impact of that flooding.

Fortunately, the team at United Way of Southwest Michigan hasn’t forgotten for a minute that there are many residents and families still reeling from the floods of 2018. In fact, they have assembled a Long-Term Recovery Group to provide recovery services to those residents and families affected by the flooding in Southwest Michigan.

United Way conveners are hosting bi-monthly meetings with many state and local organizations focused on uniting resources with community needs in order to ensure that everyone impacted recovers from this disaster.

United Way of Southwest Michigan President Anna Murphy tells us, “There are many families still displaced from their homes. Some have homes that can’t be repaired. These families are having to live with other family members or stay in hotels.” As hosts of the sessions, Murphy says, “The organizations from this recovery group are fighting for those people who need our help. We want to see everyone recover from this disaster.”

ADVERTISEMENT
Your content continues below

This collaborative effort includes the following organizations:

  • Berrien Community Foundation
  • United Way of Southwest Michigan
  • The American Red Cross of Southwest Michigan
  • The Salvation Army, Niles Corps
  • City of Niles
  • Michigan State Police Office of Emergency Management
  • Berrien County Office of Emergency Management
  • Southwest Michigan Community Action Agency
  • Emergency Shelter Services
  • United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR)
  • 1st Presbyterian Church of Niles
  • Neighbor to Neighbor
  • Berrien County Community Development
  • Andrews University.

Those organizations represent various functions of the recovery effort from funding, case management, volunteer coordination, construction coordination, community communications to emotional and spiritual care. A big first step for the group is bringing on a Disaster Case Manager that can coordinate necessary services and resources to address the needs of those still impacted.

United Way’s Murphy says, “On behalf of the Long-Term Recovery Group, we’d like to express our thanks to all of the volunteers and donors who have helped out so much this spring. The money raised, items collected, and the volunteers mobilized have made a big impact in Southwest Michigan.”

If you are someone still in need of recovery assistance, you are encouraged to contact Jan Radde, Project Coordinator of Impact at United Way of Southwest Michigan: janet.radde@uwsm.org or 269-982-4029.

Meanwhile, United Way and the Berrien Community Foundation are still encouraging people to donate to the Disaster Relief Fund, which was setup in February. To give to the Fund, visit www.uwsm.org/relief. (You can do so by clicking the link below.) Or text UWSMRELIEF to 51555.  If you’d like to make a donation via cash or check, please send them to the following address (checks can be made payable to BCF/Disaster Relief Fund):

Disaster Relief Fund c/o Berrien Community Foundation 2900 South State Street, Suite 2E St Joseph, MI 49085

Here’s the online link for the Fund: http://www.uwsm.org/relief

United Way of Southwest Michigan fights for the health, education and financial stability of every person in every community. They do this by Living United. By forging unlikely partnerships. By finding new solutions to old problems. And by mobilizing the best resources. To join the fight, visit www.uwsm.org.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

You may use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <s> <strike> <strong>

*