Category: Tennessee

Disaster Relief Responding in Wake of Tennessee Tornados

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First Baptist Church, Mt. Juliet

By Baptist and Reflector Staff

Even as damage is being assessed, Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief (TBDR) teams are responding in the wake of a devastating tornado that ripped through Nashville and traveled across Middle Tennessee as far as Cookeville today in the early morning hours, killing at least 19.

“We have local teams that have already gotten out and are trying to help people in Nashville and the surrounding area,” said Wes Jones, “Meanwhile we are working with emergency management services to better understand where we can deploy resources.”

Jones said that several people have contacted the TBDR offices asking how they can help. He said team callouts will be coming soon, but right now the best way to help in the effort is financially. Giving can be made directly to TBDR through tndisasterrelief/contributions. Any gifts given today will go directly to “Tennessee Storms.” Continue reading

Clean-Up Continues in Tennessee

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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.

Evening Storm Update & Needs

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Wanted to give everyone an update on the storms that went through today and are still going through East TN.

There is significant damage from Adamsville through Clarksville.  Our folks have tried to go out and assess the damage but, in some areas, were turned back because of downed trees.  If you have seen the news, there were seven semis laid over partially or totally on their side on the bridge across the TN river.

Many of the teams in the area have started to respond as best they can.  If your unit is located in the area of the storm, please gather your folks, contact your local Emergency Manager and go to work.  If you need assistance, let me know. Continue reading

Dorian Update and More Places to Serve

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DOMs, Team Leaders, and Secretaries,

Just wanted to give everyone and update on where things are at with different needs and things coming up in the future. There is a place for you to serve.

Dorian:

North Carolina:

  • They are looking for Flood Recovery teams that may also be able to do roof tarping.  While there will probably not be a lot of chainsaw work, it would be good for any teams that go to carry at least 1 with you in case you have to remove any when doing the other part of the work.  If you have a recovery team that would like to go there in the next couple of weeks, let me know as soon as possible so that I can get your group on their schedule.  Where they are working are Atlantic, NC, Hatteras Island and Ocracoke Island.  Look at your map before deciding.  Unless the Cedar Island ferry gets up and running again, you will probably need to go on I-64 over to Chesapeake, VA and then down to Nags Head and down the Island chain.  Housing is in Hatteras at this time with groups working in Ocracoke going over by ferry until they can find suitable housing on the Island.  Contact Elizabeth and me if you have a team that can go and also your preferred dates and number of team members.

Continue reading

Baptists Plan Response to Hurricane Dorian

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

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. Continue reading

TN Flooding Update and Beyond March 28

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The work to clean up after February’s flooding around TN continues to progress.  Here are some of the work hours that have been put in as of yesterday.

Affected CountyVolunteer HoursEquipment Hours
Hamblen County 712Pump 276
Cheatham County308147.28
Hardin County2824172.5
Rhea Co-Spring City27760
Hamilton County11929
Decatur County24
Knox County1351604
Totals as of 3/27/195615 Hrs.1288.78 Hrs.

I am so grateful for the work of our TBDR volunteers and those who have worked alongside of them and those who have come in from other states to assist.

There are still two main areas that need more work…

Knox County can still use some short-term help.  We thought we were about done and closed-down the IC and Glenwood and moved it back to the Knox County Associational office.  However, when they went back through the master list and the ones on Crisis Clean-up; they have encountered a number that can still use our assistance.  If you have a team in the area that can assist Knox County for a day or a couple of days at a time to get this wrapped up, please contact Lou Mulsand at mulsand@gmail.com . Continue reading

March 7 Flood Update

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DOMs, Team Leaders and Secretaries,

A map of call reports for flood damaged homes in Knox County.

Many different teams have either been out working or trying to survey different areas of the state where the flooding is taking place.  Thank you to all of you who are working so hard.

We need Flood Recovery teams to assist with the work in Knoxville, TN.  We have set up an IC in Glenwood BC in Powell.  If you can put together a team ASAP let either Elizabeth or I know, and we will get you scheduled in.  We have housing and food set up.

We have had teams working from Chattanooga, to Hamblen County, over the hills and to Middle/West TN at numerous places along the TN River and its tributaries.  There are still many locations where the water has still not gone down enough to get into, especially in Decatur County and the Savannah area.  We have had volunteers visit these areas many times and they still could not get into the hardest hit areas. Continue reading

Tennessee Flood Update

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DOMs, Team Leaders and Secretaries,

Let me bring you up to date on what is happening around the state.  We are soggy and last month was the wettest February on record in the Nashville area and other parts of the state had more than we did.  We have had and still have flooding going on throughout the state from North to South and East to West and we are only now beginning to get a picture of how devastating it has been.  If you live anywhere near a body of water, you know this all too well.  While some areas fared okay, considering many are still under water today, almost a week later. Continue reading

Tennessee DR and the Needs Ahead of Us

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DOMs and DR Team Leaders,

My apologies for not have updated everyone on what was going on for a while.  As many of you know, it has been very busy in the DR world since Florence struck, followed closely by Michael.

TN units have continued to respond to both North Carolina and Florida along with some having responded to Georgia and South Carolina.  I cannot thank you all enough for the Help, Hope and Healing that you have brought to so many in these devastated areas.  You have been faithful witnesses and God has opened the heart of the people you have served, and we have seen at least 4 come to know Christ as their Savior. Continue reading

Please Pray for Those Affected by Hurricane Florence

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Randy C. Davis

Dear Tennessee Baptists,

As I write this letter, Hurricane Florence is making landfall along the East Coast. The satellite images of this storm have been awesome. The breadth and intensity currently reported promise a sizeable impact and catastrophic damage for some areas. Please pray for God’s intervention, for those affected and for the Disaster Relief volunteers preparing to respond.

I am always burdened for those in harm’s way when I see natural disasters wreak havoc in people’s lives, displacing thousands, destroying their homes and in many cases taking the lives of their loved ones. Continue reading