Be prepared to respond to the next disaster. Early response training covers the basics of early disaster response, including roof tarping, cleaning out damaged homes, spiritual and emotional care, team protocols, and more. The purpose of the training is to prepare our United Methodist Volunteers to do good and do no harm. Click here for a description of what well-trained ERT teams look like. Click here for "Seven Important things to know about Disaster Spiritual and Emotional Care."
Proper credentials are sometimes required for individuals and teams responding in the first few days after a disaster. Participants who successfully complete this training will receive those credentials, including an ERT badge.
Training sessions are open to all people ages 18+. All participants will complete a background check through UMCOR. All participants must also complete Safe Sanctuary training. Click here to watch the video, and click here to access the verification form.
To schedule a training for your church, contact Dan Kirk at dan@awfumc.org.
For certification, individuals must be 18 years of age or older, bring their driver's license (or I.D.) with them, and submit to an online background check (done at the training).
To schedule a training for your church, contact Dan Kirk at dan@awfumc.org.
Additional Training Sessions - 200-level courses
There are currently no training sessions scheduled at this time. To schedule a training for your church, contact Dan Kirk at dan@awfumc.org.
The following conference trainers are both early response trainers and UMCOR badged:
Amelia Fletcher, Southwest District*
251-968-2549
John Swanson, West-Central District
334-467-1130
Dan Kirk, Panhandle District
334-544-9134
Chris Ackerman
For information about United Methodist Volunteers in Mission (UMVIM) Team Leader Training sessions, click here. With this training, learn how leaders can effectively lead teams to areas near and far to be in mission to a hurting and broken world for Christ’s sake. This training is helpful for team leaders going to tornado disaster areas in Alabama (not early response), as well as mission teams traveling all across the world.