NOTE: This training was rescheduled from Feb. 10, 2018

The close of every winter storm season brings snow-melt from higher elevations and spring storms, increasing the chances of flooding – are you ready to help your community or others in the event of a disaster? Active, badged ERTs with United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) are a valuable community resource and you could be one of them! 

Registration fee is $30 for lunch, course materials, and an ERT T-shirt. 

After taking the training, you will also complete a background check authorization online for UMCOR.

Register and pay online by using the link above or send a check made out to "NEAC" and send it to New England Conference, UMC, P.O. Box 249, Lawrence, MA 01842-0449 Attention: Barbara Burnside.
​Registration deadline is May 1.

Who Should Take This Training: Those who have a passion for coming alongside survivors of a disaster and giving them hope, letting them know the church cares and helping them begin their recovery.  Being ERT trained and background checked with badges that have photos (that are updated every 3 years) will prepare you to respond when disaster strikes – in your own community or elsewhere, although you don’t need a badge to respond in your own backyard.

Course Description: Early Response Team (ERT) training includes an in depth look at the basics of disaster response, including what typically happens in the aftermath of a disaster, survivors reactions, how we respond as ERTs, what work we do and don’t do, how teams are developed and equipped, etc.

Early Response Teams provide a caring, Christian presence and bring hope through your actions in the aftermath of a disaster. These teams are neither a first response group of emergency workers nor a recovery rebuild or repair team; rather they fill a specific need in the early days after a disaster to establish the presence of the church and remove debris, tarp roofs to prevent further damage, muck out basements, remove wet wallboard, clean up mold, etc.

During the class, participants will also review important aspects of disaster spiritual and emotional care, organizational structure for the relief stage, team safety, ERT protocols and safe sanctuaries.

UMCOR ERT Trainer:
Tim McCleary has served in Missions and Outreach service projects within Carter Memorial United Methodist Church as a layperson and has been a leader or participant in many trips over the past 15 years in both early response and rebuild operations. Service opportunities have been both locally and nationally focused. Tim led a group to Manos Juntas in Rio Bravo, Mexico in July 2017. He has served on early response teams in both Biloxi (Hurricane Katrina) and New Jersey (Superstorm Sandy). Tim also founded the Needham Interfaith Habitat, an organization that raised the funding for a Habitat home ($250,000). Working with town officials, this group identified and acquired land for a home for a qualifying low-income family.  Needham House was built and dedicated in 2008.