All current and future volunteer opportunities with BDM require new safety protocol and consent forms beyond what was previously in place as we strive to provide safe volunteer opportunities in this COVID-19 environment.
The Covid-19 Informed Consent Agreement must be signed and returned with the Volunteer Registration form at least 2 weeks before arriving at the project location. The Covid-19 Informed Consent Agreement can be found on the relevant project page or under “Forms & Guidelines“.
“Every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.” Heb. 3:4
A disaster can destroy not only homes, but also the sense of well-being for survivors. Brethren Disaster Ministries recruits volunteers, led by faith, to use their skills to promote recovery.
Trained, skilled project leaders supervise volunteers as they extend a helping hand to clean up debris and restore the homes of disaster survivors in need. The presence of these volunteer work teams helps to ease trauma and promote recovery.
Dayton OH, Spring 2019 Tornadoes
In the state of Ohio, Memorial Day weekend 2019 brought record breaking tornado activity. The National Weather Service recorded 19 tornadoes on May 27-28. Three of tornados were EF-3 with windspeeds between 136-165 mph and one EF-4 tornado carried winds up to 170 mph, spanned over a ½ mile wide, and traveled over 20 miles. The twisters affected 10 counties across the state damaging over 7,000 homes with over 1,500 of these destroyed. Most of the property damage occurred in the Miami Valley areas of Harrison Township, Trotwood, Northridge, Old North Dayton, Brookville, Beavercreek, and Celina. More than 1,400 trees were toppled blocking roadway access.
A BDM project located in Dayton, Ohio helps with the rebuilding efforts in the Miami Valley area. This site reopened in April 2021 as the only BDM site open and will close at the end of September 2021. See project details
Coastal NC Hurricane Florence
Hurricane Florence made landfall in North Carolina on Sept. 14, 2018, bringing a record-breaking storm surge of 9 to 13 feet and devastating rainfall of 20 to 30 inches in some areas along the coast of the Carolinas. The slow-moving storm proved to be the wettest tropical cyclone in Carolinas history. Thirty-four counties in North Carolina received a FEMA declaration for Individual Assistance, with a total of 34,713 people applying for assistance with FEMA.
A BDM site in Bayboro, NC opened in Sept 2020 to continue Hurricane Florence rebuilding and paused at the end of April 2021. This site is scheduled to reopen at the beginning of October 2021 through April 2022. See project details
Celebrating An Answered Call: Puerto Rico Hurricane Maria Recovery Reporting
Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico on September 20, 2017 as a Category 4 storm with 155-mph winds, causing an estimated $100 billion in damage to infrastructure, services, agriculture and structures, and leaving Puerto Ricans with little or no consistent access to power, safe water, and resources.
All seven of Church of the Brethren congregations in Puerto Rico, and their communities, were among those affected by the hurricanes. BDM partnered with the Church of the Brethren Puerto Rico district immediately following the hurricane by providing emergency funding and materials. The partnership continued with BDM working with the district Recovery Committee on a home repair and construction program to benefit church members and their communities from September 2018 through June 2020. Read more about this completed project here.
Local Response and Short-term Response
There are currently no short-term response opportunities available with the BDM National Office. Please reach out to your District Disaster Coordinator to inquire about local responses in your area.
