Hurricanes Helene and Milton left a trail of devastation across much of the southeastern U.S. this fall. Some people’s homes are still uninhabitable, and Northern Illinois is sending a team to help residents clean up from this disaster.  They are looking for volunteers.

Trip information:

• Dates of trip: Nov. 12-21.
  • Travel to Valdosta, Ga.: Nov. 12-13.
  • Work days: Nov. 14-19.
  • Return trip: Nov 20-21. 
  

  photo by Mike DuBose/UMNS

• The work will probably involve cleanup of damaged homes and assisting chainsaw crews with tree removal and cleanup. 
• Trained early-response team volunteers and non-trained helpers can take part. There will be no more than two non-trained helpers for every trained ERT member. NIC’s disaster response ministry hopes to have a team of 10 to 15 people. 
• The team will stay at a United Methodist camp north of Valdosta (approximately 950 miles from Chicago). Housing consists of cabins with bunk beds, showers, and kitchen facilities.   
• Because of the distance, the team will take two days to travel each way. Team members will need to stay in a hotel one night each on the trip to Valdosta and on the return home.  
• There will be some financial assistance available for volunteers.
• If you would like to learn more about joining this trip, contact Colin Monk, chair of NIC’s Disaster Response Committee, at (815) 603-9253.