TENNESCENE: OCT. 23

Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief

— Photos by Lonnie Wilkey and Chris Turner unless otherwise noted.

Note: Those wishing to make financial contributions can visit TNDisasterRelief.org and click the “East Tennessee hurricane/flooding fund” button. For additional ways to support TBDR, visit the “Long-Term Needs List.”

Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief teams stripped to the wall studs a number of houses along a street in Newport, Tenn., adjacent to the Pigeon River. Some houses had water to the eaves and residents had to be rescued by boat or airlifted to safety. Teams will continue with mud outs and mold eradication in this neighborhood for the coming weeks.
The Cumberland Plateau Baptist Association disaster relief team served in Mountain City and were housed in the fellowship hall of Roan Creek Baptist Church. From left are Ricky Leonard, Kirk Casey (director of missions), Bob Dockery, Scott Monday, Bryan and Donna Cummings, Kay Lynn and Doug Elders and Bob Martin. Not pictured is Arlin Phillips.
Doug Elders, pastor of First Baptist Church, Fairfield Glade, cuts a tree while Ricky Leonard, also from First Baptist, clears away the debris.
DR volunteers Dick Rollins and Dan Slipkovich deliver a gift for Samuel, who is joined on the porch by his mom, Toye Miller. The TBDR team tarped the roof of this family's home as part of a recent response effort. — Submitted photo
David Hankal, center, pastor of Roan Creek Baptist Church, Mountain City, shares how the church has responded after Hurricane Helene with Gene Nelson, right, Harvest Field 6 team leader for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, and Dannie Bell, pastor of Bethel Baptist Church, Morristown, and second vice president of the Tennessee Baptist Convention.
Larry Sharp, left, Mike Price, center, and Dave Brooks of the Cumberland Gap Baptist Association DR team work on a chain saw at a house in Talbott.
Pastor Donnie Bannister, left, of New Beginning Baptist Church, Cumberland Gap, and members of the Cumberland Gap Baptist Association disaster relief team pray for homeowner Trevor Roberts in Talbott who the team assisted.