June News and Updates
Community Emergency Response Team Training
THis month, United Rescue Alliance successfully hosted another Community Emergency Response Team training! A group of amazing Texans participated in classroom and physical activities to prepare them to assist first responders in times of crisis and disaster. Students learned about topics like fire suppression, emergency first aid, disaster psychology, and search and rescue.
CERT teams are an invaluable resource in communities when disasters strike. Because CERT members are trained in so many useful subjects, they are able to assist first responders in a variety of ways. This diversity and skill expedites the jobs of first responders and saves lives.
URA’s next CERT training will be here before you know it! Click the link below to learn more about how you can become an official Community Emergency Response Team member in December of 2023.
Texas Department of Emergency Management Conference
This month, URA board member, Dawn Skaggs, URA President and CEO, Angel Poorman, and Managing Operations Director, Lauren Ramelot presented at the Texas Department of Emergency Management Conference in Fort Worth, Texas.
They presented on URa’s MESSH framework, a tool for first responders and response organizations to consider the Mental, Emotional, Social and spiritual Health of first responders and disaster survivors. The MESSH framework shapes the way that first responders approach, treat and interact with disaster survivors.
Without considering the MESSH of disaster survivors and first responders, the consequences can be dire. The MESSH framework provides a systematic approach to mental, emotional, social, and spiritual health that can be an effective avenue to whole community inclusive preparedness, response, and recovery action
Tel Aviv Internship Poster Presentation
In late June, URa board member, Dawn Skaggs, will be traveling to Tel Aviv, ISrael to watch URA’s intern, Hannah Salamon do the poster presentation for her final project. Her project included research into Mental, Emotional, Social, and SPiritual Health of disaster survivors and best practice ways to support them. While there, Dawn will also be supporting Hannah in the facilitation of a simulation her class.
URA is eager to share more about this trip and Hannah’s presentation!
Meet the Team
URA is proud to announce Molly Johnson to the team as our new Media PRoducer! Molly graduated in 2020 from ABilene CHristian University with a Bachelor of Arts in Ministry and Vocation with a minor in Sociology. From early childhood she has always enjoyed photography and has been part of the Beltway Park Church photography team for three years. Before URA, Molly was the social media producer for a small business in Abilene. Molly loves media production and prayed for an opportunity where she could use her passion for the world of media to show the world who God is.
Outside of work, Molly loves exploring new palces, spending time with her friends, and adding to her ever growing plant collection. We are so excited for Molly to be the newest addition to the URA team!
URA Guatemala
During the month of June, United Rescue Alliance Guatemala had the opportunity to talk with local municipalities about proposed Community Mentorship Programs. These programs would offer communities many new opportunities so please be in prayer that they will be approved and check back next month for updates.
URA Guatemala visited the community of El Jocotillo, Villa Canales and distributed 400lbs worth of food to community members in need. While there, the team visited several families that they have developed relationships with and checked in on how children were doing in school, and Dr. Brenda de Zamora distributed medicine to those in need.
Praying for Texas
Perryton, Texas
Both Perryton and Matador, Texas were hit by destructive tornados in June. These tornados took the lives of several and caused dozens of injuries.
United Rescue Alliance will continue to monitor both situations but in the meantime, please join us in praying for those affected!
Matador, Texas
Join Us for Worship!
Every Tuesday night at 6:30pm, URA hosts a night of worship and prayer at the Camp Barkeley Worship Center. All are welcome and invited!
