Special offering already yielded over $183,000 to help churches, and families devastated by summer fires.

More than $5.8 million in state and federal grants is on its way to eligible Texans, just two weeks since the state requested, and received, a federal disaster declaration for the historic wildfires.

Wildfire survivors in Gregg County can meet with state and federal specialists at a recovery center Longview.

Early Responder Teams are now needed and welcome in the Bastrop region. Gene Hileman, the SW Tx Disaster Response Coordinator, sent the following out yesterday afternoon...

Volunteer Updates

“You are an answer to prayer!” These words have been voiced over and over again in various forms during the past weeks as United Methodist churches...

Austin Disaster Relief Network (ADRN), asked by the Commissioner in Bastrop to deploy hundreds of ADRN trained volunteers and pastors, have debriefed and determined the needs of over 1,500 victims of the Greater Austin/Bastrop fires. These are the needs as of Sunday night 9/11/2011.

From Rev. Allison Byerley, FUMC Jefferson: This area is now being referred to as the ALJ triangle - Avinger, Linden, Jefferson. The fire in that triangle is only about 40% contained, and weather conditions are deteriorating. It could flare up again next week. The President has declared us a federal disaster area and more resources are coming in.

See the latest updates on how to help.

At the moment (Saturday) things are petty well contained in the Gladewater area.

“We may need a new church van by the time this is over,” said Laura Young of Linden United Methodist Church’s efforts to help Texas fire fighters battle nearly a dozen fires in Cass County, Texas.

Your donations will aid those affected by wildfires.  

Over the last week, our community has been battling a large fire that has already burned around two thousand acres, and is still not contained.  Yesterday, a copper thief inadvertently started another fire while stripping wiring from a home that still had electricity.

Pattison UMC has become one of the designated drop point for supplies, water, donations for Waller, Grimes and surrounding counties

Over 30,000 acres are on fire in Bastrop County alone and hundreds are homeless.

United Methodist Church members at Douglass, Faith Bridge UMC are helping to feed firefighters, police, sheriff’s dept, highway patrol and other governmental agencies that are assisting in the fire fight.

As record breaking drought conditions turn the parched Texas landscape into a series of wildfires across the state,  Methodist churches and denominational leaders report the following developments and opportunities to help firefighters, displaced families and churches that have watched their places of worship turn to ashes.