Valley Churches United Missions is a group of volunteers coming together to perform humanitarian acts. Our Disaster Relief Center is one of our many programs. Activating our Disaster Center when floods, mud slides, earthquakes or fires occur. We respond with immediate direct aid assistance and information and referral during times of disaster. We are in our 23rd year of operation.
The Disaster Relief Center originated at St-Andrews Episcal Church BL under the direction of Rev Kennedy and Chairman Annette Marcum.

1982 Storms and Love Creek Slide
The most disastrous storm in history hit the valleys in 1982, taking 22 lives and bringing down a mountain burying 11 homes in Ben Lomond. St-Andrew's Outreach, now known as the Valley Churches United Missions, provided an impromptu refugee center where 125 people, babies, cats and dogs left homeless by the storm came for assistance. Before any other agencies could respond we distributed 1000 cooked meals. The Disaster Relief was established and $109,426.55 in donations were collected and distributed to 597 families. This terrible tragedy gave people a chance to practice what they preach, thus the outreach was established. Since then VCUM volunteers have put together a disaster plan that would meet the needs of our geographical area.

1983 Storms - St. Andrew's Relief
The storms of 1983 activated our center and victims came to VCUM in need of assistance.

1984 Storms - St. Andrew's Relief
We activated our disaster center and provided assistance. Twelve homes were lost during this storm.

1986 Storms - St. Andrew's Relief
February 14th storms again activated our center.

1989 October 17th Loma Prieta Earthquake
VCUM was again the first agency to respond to earthquake victims needs. Without any administrative expenses we distributed carefully, but immediately donations received in the amount of $580,303.99 to 982 families comprised of 3042 people. VCUM received the National FEMA award for our response.

1990 December Freeze
On December 24th an unusual freeze in our area affected many low income people and migrant farmers. VCUM responded over night providing truck loads of food, warm clothes, and 600 blankets. VCUM received an award from the San Lorenzo Valley Water District for our assistance to them.

1994 February Storm
In February another winter storm threatened the valley and VCUM activated the Disaster Center. We received the California Emergency Service Award for our Disaster plan.

1995 January Floods and Power Outages
On January 6th the rain began and fell for 21 days straight. We activated and immediately distributed food, food vouchers, bottled water, blankets, flash lights, radios and candies to residents who had been without power for as long as 6 days. We became the place where not only direct aid assistance was provided but information, sandbags, referrals, and road conditions were provided. Volunteers staffed our office and recorded calls from scanners giving us the information on trouble spots. We tracked road closures and provided preparedness information regarding slides and floods. We provided a 24 hour hot line to ensure people could talk to a real person about their needs.

1995 March Storms
On March 9th the storms began again and we activated our center. This time the river rose rapidly and more roads were blocked by slides and trees. Our Disaster supplies, consisting of 900 sandbags, 500 blankets, 600 radios, 300 batteries were depleted. In spite of this we put out an appeal to assist our South County neighbors, where floods devastated homes of the mostly needy farm workers in the Pajaro and Watsonville area. We collected and distributed 6 truckloads of blankets, clothing, and food to local agencies responding to their areas disaster victims needs. We collected and distributed $6,535.00 in cash donations ear marked for the Pajaro flood victims to Loaves and Fishes Pantry in Watsonville, Salvation Army in Watsonville, Pajaro Rescue Mission in Pajaro, and the 2nd Harvest Food Bank in Watsonville.

1996 December Storm
VCUM activated the Disaster Center at 7 AM on December 10th. 297 phone calls were received that day. We provided road information, sand bags and provided emergency assistance to a family of five who had to evacuate their home due to a slide.

1998 El-Nino Storms
See Story and Provided Assistance

Sincerely,

Annette Marcum

Volunteer Director and Staff