Mississippi Conference Disaster Response

07/01/2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 1, 2026

Register now for early response team (ERT) training on July 18.

Certified ERTs respond to disasters in the days after they happen.

Court Street United Methodist Church is hosting an ERT training on Saturday, July 18 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The church is located at 2180 Oak Grove Road in Hattiesburg.

Register Now →

https://mississippi-email.brtapp.com/!Igv5uWGlmKyzncwduluhiPmEUBue92ydMTJuza8RrQFXuhNI2nbDRpz4Np9sdQjzM

The mission of an early response team is to provide a caring Christian presence in the aftermath of a disaster.

This team is neither a first response group of emergency workers nor a recovery rebuild or repair team; rather it fills a specific need in the early days after a disaster to establish the presence of the church.

What do Early Response Teams do?

Provide a Christian presence. This does not sound like a task and is NOT, however it can be the MOST important thing a team can do.
Take steps to prevent further damage to a family’s personal property (i.e. tarping, debris removal, chainsaw work and cleaning out of flooded homes).
Teams may be asked to manage donated materials, gather information or other things as deemed necessary by the community.
Observe survivor’s needs and report these to the local operations.
Be a part of the caring ministry of “listeners” who will help the survivors begin to heal.
The registration fee is $40 and includes a manual, lunch, t-shirt, background check and leader expenses. Clergy who participate can receive .7 CEUs.

For more details, contact Willie Morris at 601.695.0880 or [email protected].

from the desk of
Rev. Mitch Cochran
Director of Connectional Ministries and Spiritual Leadership
Mississippi United Methodist Conference
601.354.0515 |[email protected]

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07/01/2026

This is one of the properties impacted by the May 6 tornado in Brookhaven. It’s the family property of one of our students at Southern Miss Wesley. We thank God for Willie Morris and his dedicated ERT’s for helping them to get it cleared up! There’s still a little left to do on Monday. Reach out to Willie if you have a few hours to help!

06/22/2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 22, 2026

Grace and peace to each of you,

Over these past few days, Mississippi has experienced continuous heavy rainfall, strong winds and widespread flooding associated with Tropical Storm Arthur. According to the Mississippi Emergency Management Association at least 10 counties have been affected. Mississippi governor, Tate Reeves, has declared a state of emergency for those areas. Emergency personnel are conducting damage assessments and working to restore critical services in affected areas. Clergy in the affected areas can help tremendously by reporting specific needs directly to your district office or to me at [email protected].

As a friendly reminder, please do not self-deploy into damaged communities. In trying to help, we inadvertently can cause harm. More storms and rain are in the forecast this week. Please continue to avoid flooded roadways, monitor emergency alerts and stay safe.

The Mississippi Conference Disaster Response Team is working to determine how the Mississippi Conference can be most effective in helping the impacted communities. Members of the Church at the Barn, in conjunction with the Gulf Pines District Disaster Response Team, distributed cleaning buckets and other needed supplies in Wiggins over the weekend. There will be other distributions of needed supplies across the coast this week. Watch the Mississippi Conference Disaster response page for specific information on distribution times and sites. Remember, together we are all the United Methodist Committee on Relief, UMCOR.


In the meantime, here are three important ways you can help:

Pray for disaster survivors, first-responders and those coordinating local responses. Also pray that basic needs will be met and that communities will experience resilience.
Serve others by making a relief supply kit or giving to the purchasing of kit supplies for disaster affected communities. Click here for information on how your local church can assemble kits. These will be needed to replenish the supplies now being distributed. Consider serving as an early response team (ERT) member. Special invitations will be going out to ERTs to assist in the relief phase. ERT training for groups is available upon request.
Give donations that enable UMCOR to respond quickly and effectively to disasters as they arise. You can help support the Mississippi Annual Conference Disaster Response by clicking here to donate online or by mailing your donations to:
MS Conference of The United Methodist Church
P.O. Box 1603
Jackson, MS 39215-1603

If the donation is designated for this event, write “June 2026 TS Arthur” in the memo line.

Please prayerfully consider the options above and respond accordingly. Thanks for being the Church!

from the desk of
Rev. Dayna Goff
Director of Connectional Ministries and Spiritual Leadership
Mississippi United Methodist Conference
601.354.0515 |[email protected]

06/20/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/193beSeWqs/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Tomorrow starting at 9:00am we will be distributing FREE UMCOR - United Methodist Committee On Relief flood buckets and hygiene kits at Alexander Hardware & Supply for our community and anyone affected by Tropical Storm Arthur. Please help spread the word!

06/17/2026

On top of all the rain we have already had, we have the first named storm of the season heading toward our already saturated ground - Tropical Storm Arthur.

We are already planning to deliver cleaning buckets to Trinity Church in Picayune on Monday, June 22nd (hopefully it will have quit raining). If you need help, or you become aware of any of you neighbors who need help, please let us know.

Also, our next Gulf Pines District Disaster Response Team meeting is next Thursday, June 25, at Camp Faith. We'll gather at 4 p.m. and share a meal around 6 p.m. Please let us know if you are coming so that we can plan for food.

Camp Faith is located at 22378 Turan Road, Saucier, MS 39574.

David Huffman
Gulf Pines District Disaster Response Coordinator
662-416-5948

05/07/2026

Disaster Response Update | May 2026 Storms

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 7, 2026

Grace and peace to each of you,

On May 6, 2026, a significant severe weather outbreak impacted communities across Mississippi, producing multiple tornado warnings, damaging winds, large hail and periods of heavy rainfall. According to the Mississippi Emergency Management Association (MEMA), several counties have reported structural damage to homes, businesses, utility infrastructure and transportation routes as fast-moving storms tracked across the region. Emergency personnel are working to conduct damage assessments and restore critical services in affected areas. Clergy in the affected areas can help tremendously by reporting specific needs directly to your district office or to my office at [email protected].

Do not self-deploy into damaged communities. In trying to help, we inadvertently can cause harm.

The Mississippi Conference Disaster Response Team is monitoring this situation to see how the Mississippi Conference can be most effective in helping the impacted communities. We will share this information through multiple sources so that everyone will be informed. Remember, together we are all United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR).

In the meantime, here are three important ways you can help:

Pray for disaster survivors, first-responders and those coordinating local responses. Also pray that basic needs will be met and that communities will experience resilience.
Serve others by making a relief supply kit or giving to the purchasing of kit supplies for disaster affected communities. Click here for information on how your local church can assemble kits. Consider serving as an early response team (ERT) member. Special invitations will be going out to ERTs to assist in the relief phase. ERT training for groups is available upon request.
Give donations that enable UMCOR to respond quickly and effectively to disasters as they arise. You can help support the Mississippi Annual Conference Disaster Response by clicking here to donate online or by mailing your donations to:
Miss. Conference of The United Methodist Church
P.O. Box 1603 | Jackson, MS 39215-1603
*If the donation is designated for this event, write “May 2026 Storms” in the memo line.

Please prayerfully consider the options above and respond accordingly. Many thanks for being the Church in ways that matter!

from the desk of
Rev. Dayna Goff
Director of Connectional Ministries and Spiritual Leadership
Mississippi United Methodist Conference
601.354.0515 |[email protected]