Disaster Response & Rebuilding
The Horizon Texas Conference is committed to equipping churches and communities to respond faithfully and effectively to disasters—both natural and human-made.
Several severe weather events in recent years have affected people from The Valley on the southern border all the way to the panhandle. Fires, floods, winter ice and tornadoes have caused extensive damage and long-lasting effects.
Many agencies—including state and federal agencies and nonprofits that work in disaster response/recovery—are stretched to capacity in their response. Our own United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) is working in partnership with the three United Methodist annual conferences in the state (Horizon Texas, Rio Texas and Texas) to respond to both immediate and long-term recovery needs.
Donations
The Horizon Texas Conference currently has an open appeal for gifts to support immediate relief and long-term tornado recovery across Wise, Palo Pinto and Parker Counties. Once these needs are met, the funds will become available for future disasters.
Make a Gift
Active Response Sites
Because natural events often cross conference boundaries, each response to a widespread disaster needs coordination across conferences to be effective and to prevent unnecessary duplication. There are several ways that churches in our conference can offer support and engage our on-going work.
These are the areas where we are currently working and need volunteers, both skilled individuals and Early Response/UMVIM teams:
Valley View Tornado, May 2024
After 20 months of recovery work, the Horizon Texas Conference’s response in Valley View is winding down. In partnership with the Valley View Long-Term Recovery Committee, we continue to support remaining unmet needs for homes that were repaired or replaced. As part of the community’s long-term resilience efforts, 80 storm shelters were also installed with funding from UMCOR and The Salvation Army. This marked the first UMCOR grant awarded for storm shelters, creating a model that may be replicated in other communities across the country.
Gordon Tornado, May 2025
Since January, the Horizon Texas Conference has supported recovery efforts through dedicated case management and funding, serving alongside the local long-term recovery committee as one of the community’s primary recovery partners. A $353,500 UMCOR grant funded key recovery staff, including a full-time case manager, a part-time financial associate and an overall recovery director. The project is progressing well and is expected to conclude ahead of schedule, with the availability of qualified contractors being the only notable challenge.
Flooding Events in West Texas, July 2025
Widespread flooding has led to the formation of multiple long-term recovery committees across Central Texas, including one in Williamson County that serves communities in both the Horizon Texas and Rio Texas conferences. Horizon Texas is supporting recovery efforts through unmet-needs assistance in communities including San Angelo, Menard, San Saba, Burnet and Georgetown, in partnership with the Rio Texas Conference. Horizon Texas Early Response Teams have played an important role in recovery work and will continue supporting affected communities as rebuilding efforts move forward.
Parker County Tornadoes, April 2026
Two Horizon Texas Conference case managers, funded through a three-month grant from Texas Health, are assessing recovery needs in the Springtown area and parts of Wise County, including Runaway Bay. Their work will help determine the scope of a potential long-term recovery project. Based on the findings, a decision is expected in the coming months about whether to pursue a UMCOR grant to support ongoing recovery efforts.
Early Response Teams
After the rescue phase of a disaster, trained Early Response Teams provide immediate relief. They handle tasks such as tarping roofs, cleaning out flooded homes, removing damaged trees, and moving debris to the curb.
The basic certification course for ERTs lasts eight hours and is valid for three years. A four-hour course is available for recertification.
To request assistance during times of disaster for your church or your neighborhood, or to schedule a training in your local church by one of our UMCOR-certified trainers, contact HTC Disaster Response Coordinator Rev. Jeremy Basset.
United Methodist Volunteers in Mission
UMCOR partners with annual conferences to train and coordinate volunteers for disaster response. United Methodist Volunteers in Mission (UMVIM) play a vital role in these efforts.
UMVIM teams receive specialized training to ensure their work helps, rather than harms, and fosters respect and true partnership with the communities they serve. Online training is available here.
When it’s appropriate to deploy teams, UMCOR works with UMVIM to identify needed skills and locations. UMCOR also assists conferences and local sites in setting up volunteer call centers to connect people with opportunities to serve.
Resiliency Development
Recovery should not simply restore a community to its pre-disaster state. But too often, impacted communities remain as vulnerable and unprepared to face the next disaster as they were the last one. Resiliency development identifies systemic barriers that limit recovery and works with communities to build resilience. This approach helps communities prepare for future disasters and recover more effectively when they occur.
Blue Sky Efforts
Across the Horizon Texas Conference, we are identifying short-term, local projects that allow teams to use their skills in meaningful ways while building organization and camaraderie. These projects may include church updates and home repairs for those who need assistance restoring their property.
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