Disaster Relief Archives - Baptist & Reflector

DISASTER RELIEF VOLUNTEERS RESPOND TO REAL-TIME DISASTER

January 20, 2020

By Tess Schoonhoven
Baptist Press

Arkansas Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers were repairing a roof damaged by recent tornadoes when they saw smoke rising from a house nearby. When a neighbor told them two elderly women were likely inside, the volunteers entered the house to find and remove the victims. — Submitted photo

MONTROSE, Ark. — On the morning of Jan. 16, two Arkansas Baptist Disaster Relief (ABDR) volunteers found themselves responding to a present emergency — a real-time disaster.

ABDR, a subsidiary of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention (ABSC) primarily focuses on giving aid to communities where natural disasters have struck.

While volunteers were working on repairing a roof damaged from recent tornados in the southeast Arkansas region, they noticed smoke billowing up just a few houses down the street. [Read more…]

TENNESSEE BAPTIST DISASTER RELIEF RESPONDS TO 18 EVENTS

December 27, 2019

Baptist and Reflector

MOUNT JULIET — Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers responded to 18 events in Tennessee, throughout the United States and in different locations outside the U.S. in 2019, according to Wes Jones, disaster relief specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board.

Those responses do not include a number of responses done locally by DR volunteers, he added. [Read more…]

WATSON RECOGNIZED FOR TENNESSEE BAPTIST DR WORK

December 13, 2019

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector
lwilkey@tnbaptist.org

Carolyn Watson holds the award presented to her recently by News 2 in Nashville and Hyundai of Cool Springs, but she is quick to point out “it is a team award.”

CLARKSVILLE — The tornadoes that swept through Clarksville in late October were not even over before Carolyn Watson’s phone was ringing.

Not only in Middle Tennessee, but throughout the state, Carolyn Watson and the disaster relief team from Cumberland Baptist Association are known for their quick response to disasters where chain saw and flood/fire recovery are needed.

Her involvement in disaster relief has kept her close to home as evidenced by two responses in Clarksville just this year as well as sending her all over the United States and literally around the world, including a trip to Japan after a major tsunami caused mass destruction eight years ago.

Watson was honored by WKRN-TV (News 2) in Nashville in November as a “Hyundai of Cool Springs Hero.” Once a month, News 2 and Hyundai honor a public servant “who goes above and beyond the call of duty.” [Read more…]

CLEAN UP CONTINUES IN TENNESSEE

November 12, 2019

Disaster relief teams from Tennessee, as well as Alabama, Kentucky and Missouri, are continuing to clean up trees and debris following straight-line winds that caused extensive damage across the state in late October. Teams are still at work in Clarksville, Waverly, Decatur and Adamsville, according to Wes Jones, disaster relief specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board. He estimated more than 225 jobs have been completed but many more are still to be done. For more information, and to find out if teams are still needed, contact Jones at 615-371-7927.

BREAKING NEWS: TENNESSEE DR RESPONDS, MORE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

October 28, 2019

Baptist and Reflector

MOUNT JULIET — Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief teams are needed in the aftermath of weekend storms that left major damage throughout West and Middle Tennessee.

“We have a lot of damage across the state from the Alabama-Mississippi lines all the way through Clarksville and surrounding counties,” said Wes Jones, disaster relief specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Convention. He added that at least 14 counties reported damage.

Most of the damage was done by straight line winds of up to 70-75 miles per hour, Jones reported. [Read more…]

TENNESSEE BAPTIST DR TEAMS STILL IN TEXAS

October 8, 2019

Baptist and Reflector

MOUNT JULIET — Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief flood recovery teams are still serving at First Baptist Church, Huffman, Texas, in the aftermath of tropical storm Imelda. Volunteers have seen six professions of faith since their work began.

Imelda dumped about 40 inches of rain on southeast Texas (from Beaumont to Houston) last month. An estimated 4,000 homes were flooded, said Wes Jones, disaster relief specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board.

Jones said volunteers will be needed at least through the end of October. Volunteers interested in serving can contact him at wjones@tnbaptist.org.

TENNESSEE DR ASSIGNED TO HUFFMAN

September 24, 2019

By Lonnie Wilkey
lwilkey@tnbaptist.org

MOUNT JULIET — Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief has been asked to send flood recovery teams to First Baptist Church, Huffman, Texas, located on the north side of Houston, in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Imelda.

Imelda dumped about 40 inches of rain on southeast Texas last week. An estimated 4,000 homes were flooded, said Wes Jones, disaster relief specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board. [Read more…]

TENNESSEE BAPTIST DISASTER RELIEF: ON AGAIN, OFF AGAIN

September 6, 2019

Baptist and Reflector

MOUNT JULIET — After several days of wondering if and when Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief would be called on to respond to Hurricane Dorian, Wes Jones made it official on Sept. 6 when he notified leaders across the state that all units are “standing down.”

A feeding unit from Sullivan County had been deployed to New Bern, N.C., but was recalled before they had traveled very far. [Read more…]

BAPTISTS PLAN RESPONSE TO HURRICANE DORIAN

September 3, 2019

Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief units asked to ‘stand by’ for now

Editor’s Note: Continue to monitor baptistandreflector.org for the latest updates on Hurricane Dorian and Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief.

Baptist Press

Tropical Cyclone Track Forecast Cone and Watches/Warnings and Initial Wind Field — Graphic from www.nhc.noaa.gov

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Hurricane Dorian finally completed its pounding of the Bahamas on Sept. 3. After intensifying to a Category 5 before devastating the islands, Dorian weakened to a Category 3 as it continued its slow trek toward Florida. Early reports describe the damage as historic, and five deaths had been reported in the Bahamas.

Baptist Global Response (BGR) has purview over the Bahamas and will be assisting with disaster relief efforts once the storm passes and damage assessments have been completed. Jeff Palmer, executive director of BGR, said he is in contact with the Bahama Baptist Convention and the Caribbean Baptist Fellowship. [Read more…]

TENNESSEE DR PLACED ON ALERT FOR HURRICANE DORIAN

August 30, 2019

Baptist and Reflector

MOUNT JULIET — Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers have been placed on alert status for possible deployment to Florida in response to Hurricane Dorian.

As of Aug. 29, Hurricane Dorian was a Category 1 storm but is on course to be an “extremely dangerous” Category 4 storm if it makes landfall on the eastern coast of Florida early next week, according to the National Hurricane Center. [Read more…]

Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief units asked to ‘stand by’ for now

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