By Jim Truitt
The wildfires in eastern Washington are finally either out or fully contained. State and Federal assessors are in the field this week performing the Preliminary Damage Assessment (PDA) to determine the extent of the damage. The PDA report will be available in about 10 days. This information will be used to determine if the State can file for a Presidential declaration for Individual and/or Public Assistance. The Long Term Recovery Organizations will use the PDA to determine who needs their assistance to rebuild.
Work has restarted on the houses being built to replace those lost in the 2014 Carlton Complex Fire. Work had to be suspended for a time due to the poor air quality and the danger from the fires. There are currently seven houses in work with four more scheduled to begin in mid-October.
If you would like to volunteer your time and talents to the recovery, please contact Ronda Cordill, r_cordill@hotmail.com, or Jim Truitt, umvimdisasterresponse@comcast.net, and register on-line at carltoncomplexrecovery.com.
You can make a donation to our PNW Conference’s Disaster Fund (Advance #352) through your local church or by sending a check made out to the PNW Conference Treasurer with Conference Advance #352 on the memo line to:
Pacific Northwest Conference Office
℅ Conference Treasurer
P.O. Box 13650
Des Moines, WA 98198
You can also donate online by going to pnwumc.org/wildfires
PNW Disaster Response Learning Opportunities
Over the next months and maybe years, many volunteers will be needed to help our neighbors in north central Washington recover from devastating fires. As with anything else, there is a right way and a less that right way to provide our volunteer services.
The PNW Conference Disaster Response Team encourages you to attend one of the following courses to prepare you for your experience helping the survivors reach a new normal. The classes will be held on October 3rd at the Wenatchee First UMC in Wenatchee, WA.
