Baptist and Reflector
FRANKLIN — Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief teams have been called into action and will be arriving in Louisiana to aid with recovery efforts following Hurricane Laura.
Teams from Knox County Association (bucket truck, skid steer and chainsaw units), Nolachucky Association (bucket truck, chainsaw and skid steer units), Jefferson County Association (bucket truck and chainsaw units) and Woodland Baptist Church (chainsaw and skid steer) began making their way to Winnfield, La., today (Sept. 3).
Wes Jones, disaster relief specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, said other teams remain on alert, and said “follow-up teams” are likely to be needed in the days ahead.
Jones said “feeding crews” will potentially be needed soon. Jones urged leaders of those to teams to contact him with information about the availabilities of their teams. Jones also said that he and his DR team leaders are also in the process of planning “follow-up chainsaw crews” and he urged leaders of those teams to contact him at wjones@tnbaptist.org or disaster relief administrative assistant Elizabeth Holmes at eholmes@tnbaptist.org.
Jones noted that one of the teams that left Tennessee early this morning (Sept. 3) was involved in a traffic accident. No one was injured in the accident, Jones said, and the team is continuing on to Louisiana. One the trucks involved in the accident, however, was no longer in working condition, and the truck’s owner returned home, Jones said.
“The accident can serve as reminder to us that we need to always pray for our teams as they travel,” Jones said. “You never know when you what is just around the curve.”
Jones has reminded volunteers that participants in DR response to Hurricane Laura must understand that “this response is being conducted in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. All volunteers by virtue of their agreement to participate are indicating that they understand the enhanced danger the pandemic brings to the normal risks and dangers inherent with disaster relief work.
“Volunteers are representing that they have been free from any symptoms of COVID-19 for at least the last 14 days and agree, if they become symptomatic, to immediately notify their team leader, avoid further contact with others on site, and leave as soon as possible to avoid jeopardizing others. Volunteers must practice CDC recommended guidelines whenever and wherever possible,” Jones said.
Those interested in contributing to DR for 2020 hurricane/tropical storms can visit the website at tndisasterrelief.org and click on contributions. Checks, designated for 2020 hurricane/tropical storms, can be mailed to Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief, P.O. Box 682789, Franklin, TN 37068.
Prior to Tuesday, Tennessee Baptist teams had been “on alert” and many team remain with that status now. See story, HERE.
Continue to check the Baptist and Reflector website for updates about DR teams. B&R
