By Connie D. Bushey
News Editor, Baptist and Reflector
View from back of Roaring Fork Baptist Church in Gatlinburg. The church and vehicle were destroyed by wildfires which swept through Sevier County on Nov. 28.
GATLINBURG — On day nine following the horrific wildfires, residents are finally being allowed to visit their homes in damaged areas, reported Wes Jones, Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief specialist. They have to come back out every night.
Gatlinburg Mayor Mike Werner said that On Thursday, Dec. 8, residents who still have homes can return and the Downtown Parkway will reopen to the general public Friday at 7 a.m.
“As more people get back to their homes and see their needs” Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief (TBDR) will be able to help, said Jones. So most Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers will be needed in the days, weeks, and months to come, he predicted.
Tennessee Emergency Management Association (TEMA) and other officials report that 14 people died and 160 people were injured in the Nov. 28 wildfires that destroyed or damaged 1,754 structures in Sevier County. On Dec. 6, 1,845 people remained without power.
Currently it is hard to know how many people lost their homes, said Jones. Housing in Gatlinburg already was hard to find before the fires so the basic housing needs of displaced people may be a problem, he added.
Robert Nichols, director of missions, Sevier County Association of Baptist, agreed. “A lot of people here are the working poor” whose rented trailer, apartment, or house burned along with everything they owned, he said. “Many of those working poor are internationals who come to work here. I’m worried that they will fall through the cracks.”
Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief is meeting with the city and county officials, said Jones. These officials are planning guidelines for demolition that will require permits obtained by homeowners. DR volunteers often assist homeowners in “ash out” of burned houses, he noted. In this case, “ash out” may involve the sorting of wood, metal, and other items as well as looking for valuables of the homeowner. Protective gear is required. DR training for ash out is helpful, said Jones. Skilled equipment operators also will be required because of the hillside situations of homes.
City and county organizers have included TBDR on a list of groups offering assistance ,which will be given to fire victims.
Currently TBDR volunteers and other Baptists are preparing meals out of First Baptist Church, Sevierville; operating three shower trailers and one shower/laundry trailer, and serving as sorters of donated items at community centers, said Jones. The shower trailers are from Holston Baptist Association, based in Johnson City; First Baptist Church, Concord, Knoxville; and Wallace Memorial Baptist Church, Knoxville. The shower/laundry trailer is from First Baptist, Sevierville.
Nichols said Sevier County Association of Baptist is collecting items for local Baptist churches to help them “be a Christ-like witness” to their congregations, which include many families who lost homes, and to their communities. Also on Dec. 7, the association sent out a chain saw team to Wears Valley to remove damaged trees around several houses. The team is from Zion Hill Baptist Church, Sevierville, and was coordinated by John Thomas, a DR volunteer.
The association’s Camp Smoky is successfully hosting Roaring Fork Baptist Church, Gatlinburg, along with another church that meets there, said Nichols. Roaring Fork lost its entire facility in the fires.
To prepare to serve fire victims, volunteers may attend a TBDR ash out training course to be held Thursday, Dec. 8, during the evening at First Baptist, Sevierville. When volunteers are needed, they will be housed at First Baptist, Sevierville, other area Baptist churches and Camp Smoky.
“It’s going to be long haul here,” said Thomas, a veteran TBDR volunteer. He added that it is different responding to a disaster in his home of Sevier County.
“I’ve been telling people for years that our association needed a plan on what we would do the next day after a disaster.” People would respond that “disasters happen other places,” stated Thomas.
He and wife, Kaye, are members of First Baptist, Sevierville, and are proud of their church’s response. “It’s really stepping up,” said John. Right after the fires church members prepared a high of 4,500 meals a day for two days. Volunteers of First Baptist, Sevierville, also are answering the many phone calls coming in with offers to help, he said.
Nichols agreed that people from across the country are helping in sacrificial ways. Someone who called him was going to drive 800 miles to help and others were driving hundreds of miles.
The association is accepting canned food and new socks and underwear at a warehouse in Pigeon Forge to help the association’s churches, said Nichols. For more information, call Nichols at 865-603-0701.
Jones expressed thanks to all who have given to TBDR to help fire victims.
“We know the needs are going to be extensive and the greatest way people can help immediately is to contribute financially,” Jones said. “Every dollar given through Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief is used directly in the assistance of victims. We’ll be here helping until the end.”
To give, visit tndisasterrelief.org/contributions or send a gift to TN Baptist Disaster Relief, P.O. Box 728, Brentwood, TN 37024. Write on the check the nature of the designation, which to help these fire victims would be, East Tennessee Fires Relief Fund.
