FRANKLIN — Wes Jones, disaster relief specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, has announced that “all (DR) units are being placed on alert for possible deployment” to the Gulf Coast Region.
In an email sent on on Monday, Sept. 9, Jones wrote, “With tropical storm Francine developing in the Gulf, we are asking volunteers to begin to plan for possible response as requested. As it looks now, the storm is predicted to develop into at least a Category 1 hurricane before making landfall Wednesday along the Louisiana, Texas Gulf Coast and then come northward through Mississippi, Arkansas and Tennessee.”
Jones noted in the email that a Category 1 hurricane may not sound as dangerous as other storms, but “they can cause a lot of trouble.” He cited Hurricane Beryl as a recent example.
Jones said DR leaders and volunteers have not yet been asked to respond. However, Jones said, “We are just pre-planning to be ready if needed.”
In the email, Jones provided the following reminders for team leaders and volunteers:
1. Team leaders: Please look at your schedule as to when you and/or your team might respond.
2. Check out your equipment to make sure it is ready to go.
3. If you have trailers you might take, please check the tires for wear and cracks. Check the manufacture date to make sure they are not too old.
4. DO NOT respond; just let us know of your availability.
5. As we wait, pray for those affected and the State Directors of the affected state.
Teams available to respond should contact Tennessee DR at wjones@tnbaptist.org; eholmes@tnbaptist.org and gmaddox@tnbaptist.org.
Donations to Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief can be made at tndisasterrelief.org/contributions. Click on either the “Hurricane” or “Floods” option. B&R
