Tom Clinch is West Ohio's new Conference Disaster Response Coordinator, effective March 1. Originally from Oneida, NY, Tom worked within the Department of the Air Force (enlisted, contractor, civilian) until his retirement in 2019. Tom became involved in disaster response in West Ohio when he was asked to help out an Early Response Team by moving its trailer - and his involvement grew from there.

Tom has been the Western Lakes (formerly Miami Valley) District Disaster Coordinator for about five years. Tom became trained as an Early Response Team member in 2018 and earned his ERT trainer certification last year from UMCOR. "Disaster Response ministry is an opportunity to show God's love to those that find themselves in a dire situation, in a time without hope," Tom says. He hopes to see an increase in the number of ERT volunteers in the coming years.

For more information on West Ohio Disaster Response, visit www.westohioumc.org/ministries/disaster-response.