Brentwood, TN – Today, the Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief Laundry Team from First Baptist Church, Hendersonville, is in Vidor, TX, in response to the fury of Hurricane Ike, which hit the Longhorn State on Saturday, September 13. The Sullivan Baptist Association Feeding Unit is currently serving meals at First Baptist Church, Buna, TX.

Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers who have been trained in Flood Recovery are receiving their call to duty to assist the residents of Texas whose properties were hit hard by Hurricane Ike.

In Houma, Louisiana, the Tennessee Baptist State Disaster Relief Feeding Unit continues to serve meals to residents who were affected by Tropical Storm Gustav.

The Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief Disaster Operations Center is housed in the Tennessee Baptist Convention Building located in Brentwood, Tennessee.

TN Baptist Disaster Relief Preparing for Hurricane Ike Response, Continue to Serve Gustav Victims
September 11, 2008

BRENTWOOD, TN – Today, Sullivan Baptist Association’s Feeding Unit received marching orders to an unknown destination in Texas to prepare for response to Hurricane Ike.  As many as 50 volunteers from the Sullivan Baptist Association are expected to begin their journey on Saturday morning.  Officials expect feeding operations to begin at lunch on Tuesday.

Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief Units have suspended feeding operations in Houma until Saturday because of high winds and rain related to Ike.  Accommodations are being arranged for chainsaw teams in the area.

At the close of day 10 in Houma, LA, Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers have provided a total of 57,440 meals , completed 94 chainsaw/recovery jobs, and washed 121 loads of laundry for victims of Hurricane Gustav.  More than 1,000 people have received counseling from our trained volunteers, while 12 have professed faith in Jesus Christ.  Volunteers have provided a total of 893 work days in response to Hurricane Gustav.

Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief works through the North American Mission Board along with the American Red Cross in relief efforts.  The Tennessee Baptist Disaster Operations center is located at the Tennessee Baptist Center in Brentwood, Tennessee.  Individuals interested in making donations to the 2008 Hurricane Response fund, may do so online at www.tndisasterrelief.org, or by mailing a check made payable to Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief to Tennessee Baptist Convention, P.O. Box 728, Brentwood, TN 37024-0728.  Please note “2008 Hurricane Season” on the memo line of the check.

Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief Serves Evacuees, Prepares for Ike
September 5, 2008

BRENTWOOD, TN – Today, only one Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief Feeding Unit, based at First Baptist Church, Goodlettsville, continues to prepare meals in Tennessee for Gustav evacuees.  Units from Johnson City, Cumberland Gap from Harrogate serving in Knoxville, and Hardeman County Baptist Association at Lavinia in West Tennessee, have shut down their operations which had been in service since last Saturday.  More than 5,000 residents found refuge across the State of Tennessee through American Red Cross Shelters.  Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief Feeding Units were cooking meals and trucking them to the different shelters. 

Over 12,650 meals have been prepared on Shiloh’s feeding unit which is in Shreveport, Louisiana.  Over 19,784 meals were served in our Tennessee shelters where three of our feeding units are located. 246 laundry loads have been done and 51 showers have been taken in two of our shelters in Tennessee.  Approximately 450 showers were taken on a unit that was in Huntsville, Alabama.

The Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief State Feeding Unit is serving meals today in Houma, LA, along with a Chainsaw Unit out of Cumberland Baptist Association and the State Communications Unit.  The State Feeding Unit is teaming with Arkansas and North Carolina Units to serve 110,000 meals daily. 

While Gustav response is taking place, many states are preparing their teams for possible response to Tropical Storm Hanna and Ike.  Hanna is expected to hit this weekend possibly affecting the Carolinas and Virginia.  The Virginia Baptist State Feeding Unit is serving in Baton Rouge at this time.  However, 15 Tennessee Baptist Feeding Unit volunteers are leaving for Baton Rouge to provide assistance so Virginia Baptist Disaster Relief can respond to Hanna if necessary.

Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief Feeding and Chainsaw Unit Moving into Louisiana
September 3, 2008

BRENTWOOD, TN – Today, by the request of the American Red Cross the Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief State Feeding Unit and the Cumberland Baptist Association Chainsaw Unit were activated in response to Hurricane Gustav.  These units are en route to Houma, Louisiana, just Southwest of New Orleans.  North Carolina and Arkansas will join with Tennessee to prepare 110,000 meals beginning tomorrow.  The city of Houma and surrounding areas are currently without power, as could be the case for 3 more weeks. The State Feeding Unit has been staged in West, MS, at Central Hills RA Camp, since Monday afternoon. 

The Cumberland Baptist Chainsaw Team will begin their assessment process upon arrival in Houma.   Volunteers from Cleveland, Tennessee are leaving today to assist in preparing meals.  Volunteers from Memphis are on alert for response in Shreveport, LA, to relieve volunteers preparing meals at a FEMA Evacuation Center where evacuees have taken refuge since the onset of Gustav.

Gustav is the first storm of the hurricane season to reach land.  Hanna is posing a threat to the Carolinas, while Ike is drawing eyes from Florida and Texas.  Those Southern Baptist Disaster Relief Units not activated for Gustav are being asked to stay on standby, as Hanna is scheduled for landfall sometime this weekend.

Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief will continue to prepare meals for evacuee shelters across the state of Tennessee.

Donations can be made and updated information is available on the Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief website, www.tndisasterrelief.org.  Checks are accepted made payable to the Tennessee Baptist Convention.  Please write “2008 Hurricane Season” on the memo line and mail your donation to TN Disaster Operations Center, P.O. Box 728, Brentwood, TN  37024-0728.   

The Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief Disaster Operations Center is housed in the Tennessee Baptist Convention Building located in Brentwood, Tennessee. 

Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief Gustav Update
September 1, 2008

Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief is in full swing both preparing for the arrival and aftermath of Hurricane Gustav and serving evacuees from Louisiana and other parts of the Gulf Coast.  Following is a status report of TBDR efforts as of Monday morning, September 1, 2008:

• Knoxville, TN – The state feeding and associated units will move out Monday morning to be staged at the Central Hills Royal Ambassador Camp in West, MS.  The equipment will remain there until Gustav makes landfall and a final destination (most likely in Louisiana) is determined.

• Shreveport, LA - Shiloh Baptist Association moved in Saturday to begin feeding guests at the FEMA evacuee center.

• Johnson City, TN – Volunteers from the Sullivan association in cooperation with Virginia Baptists are setting up a feeding location for evacuees in the northeast corner of TN.

• Knoxville, TN – Cumberland Gap Association feeding unit is preparing meals for evacuees located in Knox and surrounding counties.  They are being supported by a shower trailer from Wallace Memorial Baptist Church.

• Nashville, TN – A mass feeding team from several middle TN churches is using the kitchen facilities at First Baptist Church of Goodlettsville and a new concession trailer from First Baptist Church of Concord (Knoxville), to prepare more 1,600 meals daily for evacuees in Red Cross shelters across middle Tennessee.

• Chattanooga – Brainerd Baptist Church disaster relief volunteers are using the church’s kitchen to prepare almost 1,000 meals daily.

• Memphis – Hardeman County feeding unit is moving into place today to begin serving the large number of evacuees pouring into the Memphis area. 

• Johnson City, TN – The Sullivan Association feeding unit is on alert to possibly respond to Tropical Storm Hannah should it make land fall and cause damage on the eastern seaboard.

• Several shower units have been placed on alert and will be activated during the day Monday to support various feeding centers across Tennessee.

• One laundry unit will be activated Monday to serve in middle Tennessee.

Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief Begins Work Before Gustav Arrives
August 30, 2008

Brentwood – Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief (TBDR) is in place and beginning to serve meals for evacuees making their way to Tennessee.  Two mobile units have been assigned to evacuee shelters in Shreveport, Louisiana and Knoxville, Tennessee, while TBDR volunteers will man two other feeding sites in middle and upper east Tennessee.  In addition three more mobile feeding units with a combined capacity of preparing more than 100,000 meals per day, have been placed on alert in anticipation of serving victims of Hurricane Gustav in the Gulf Coast area.  Two other feeding units are on alert to serve meals in Chattanooga and Memphis, Tennessee if evacuee shelters are established.  All units will be cooking meals in cooperation with relief partners, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA), the American Red Cross (ARC) and The Salvation Army (TSA).

The Shiloh Baptist Association unit is on the road today to Shreveport, Louisiana to support a FEMA evacuation shelter.  They are expected to serve approximately 4,500 meals per day for at least one week.  The Cumberland Association unit is headed to Knoxville to serve evacuees expected to arrive there this afternoon.  TBDR will use the commercial grade kitchen facilities at First Baptist Church of Goodlettsville to prepare 1,200 to 1,800  meals per day for multiple Red Cross evacuee shelters in middle Tennessee. Volunteers will also man a feeding unit being established in Johnson City, Tennessee for evacuees who are already on site.

David Acres, State Baptist Disaster Relief Coordinator, has been busy this week meeting with Red Cross, Tennessee Emergency Management Agency and North American Mission Board officials in anticipation of the first major storm to hit American soil this year.  “We prepare all year long for events such as this, but pray that it never happens.  Because of our preparation and the relationships with our partners, we are ready to serve when needed.”

In addition to the feeding units, Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief has units prepared for recovery work (chainsaws and mudout), chaplaincy, mobile showers, counseling services, water purification, laundry, childcare, security, incident command, transportation and communications.  In addition, there are 10,000 trained volunteers ready to man these units.  At this time, only the feeding units have been placed on alert.
 
The primary state feeding unit, with a capacity of 60,000 meals per day, will be headed to the Gulf Coast, most likely Louisiana, following the storm’s landfall.  The unit is actually a convoy of a dozen trucks and trailers, including a wash unit, kitchen support, dry boxes, refrigerated trailers, generators, security trailer and skid loader.

The other feeding units vary in capacity from 5,000 to 20,000 meals per day, but are all self-contained with electricity and water.  These units are operated by local Baptist associations (geographically located groups of churches).

TBDR is celebrating its 30th year of ministry in 2008.  It has responded to more than 100 disasters during this time, most recently the flooding throughout the Midwest.  The ministry is manned completely by volunteers, except for the state coordinator and assistant, employees of the TN Baptist Convention.  The volunteers sacrifice their vacation and retirement years to serve those who have been impacted by a disaster.

For more information on the Gustav response, or to give to relief efforts, visit the website.
 

TN Baptist Disaster Relief Responds to Midwest Flooding Despite High Gas Prices
June 27, 2008

As of today, both of our feeding units are back home in Tennessee.  Our Disaster Relief volunteers prepared more than 64,590 meals.  We activated two shower trailers; one is still in Des Moines, IA.  We activated three flood recovery units for clean up and recovery. Over 812 volunteer days have been served.

We still need flood recovery units beginning the weekend of June 28, 2008 for two to three weeks.

Teams began moving out in the days just following the Memorial Day tornadoes that hit in Iowa.  Following a conference call with many Southern Baptist Convention Disaster Relief representatives present, David Acres, Tennessee State Disaster Relief Director, announced that a fund has been created to offset gas prices for trained teams to participate in the response. 

Donations can be made by logging onto www.tndisasterrelief.org, or by mailing a check, made payable to TN Baptist Disaster Relief, to P.O. Box 728, Brentwood, TN  37024-0728.  Please note in the memo that your donation is for the “Midwest Storm Damage Response.” Click here to make an online contribution.

TN Baptist Disaster Relief Responds to Midwest Flooding Despite High Gas Prices
June 17, 2008

Brentwood, TN – Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief Volunteers are leaving their slowly drying lawns to respond to flooding waters in Iowa and Wisconsin despite rising prices at the pumps.  Feeding units are in place, and have served more than 27,000 meals to date.  Shower trailers have set up and flood recovery units are active with 118 work orders for clean up and recovery submitted this morning in Wisconsin.  Teams have set up in Cedar Falls and Des Moines, IA, and Muscoda, WI. 

Teams began moving out in the days just following the Memorial Day tornadoes that hit in Iowa.  Following a conference call with many Southern Baptist Convention Disaster Relief representatives present, David Acres, Tennessee State Disaster Relief Director, announced that a fund has been created to offset gas prices for trained teams to participate in the response. 

Donations can be made by logging onto www.tndisasterrelief.org, or by mailing a check, made payable to TN Baptist Disaster Relief, to P.O. Box 728, Brentwood, TN  37024-0728.  Please note in the memo that your donation is for the “Midwest Storm Damage Response.”

The Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief Disaster Operations Center is housed in the Tennessee Baptist Convention Building located in Brentwood, Tennessee.

We have a replacement team that arrived this weekend to serve on Sullivan Baptist Association’s feeding unit.  As of yesterday, a total of 23,770 meals has been prepared and a total of 143 volunteer days has been served.

Hardeman County Baptist Association’s feeding unit started serving lunch today in Muscoda, Wisconsin.  We also have Bradley County Baptist Association’s shower unit activated.  Three chaplains are on site with two more coming later this week.  Beech River Baptist Association’s flood recovery team of 13 people are arriving today to serve in the area.

We will update our web site as we have further news.

Much-needed contributions are being accepted to respond to recent flooding in the Midwest. Click here to make an online contribution.

Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief Responds to Midwest Flooding
June 13, 2008

June 7, Sullivan Baptist Association’s feeding unit was deployed to Cedar Falls, Iowa. A team of 13 served the week of June 8. A replacement team of people from Middle and East Tennessee will be arriving on Sunday, June 15. A total of 16,000 meals have been prepared and 113 volunteer days have been served.

As of this writing, Hardeman County Baptist Association’s feeding unit is deploying to Muscoda, Wisconsin, on Saturday, June 14. Bradley County Baptist Association’s shower unit is deploying. Chaplains are being sent also.

A flood recovery team from Beech River Baptist Association is deploying Monday, June 16 for West Terre Haute, IN.

It has been stated that this has potential of a mini-Katrina.

Much-needed contributions are being accepted to respond to recent flooding in the Midwest. Click here to make an online contribution.

We are expecting this to be a long-term response.

We will update our web site as we have further news.

General Clean Up Wrapping Up while Chaplains Prepare for Service
February 15, 2008

Brentwood, TN – Thirteen Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief/CISM-Trained Chaplains will be available on the campus of Union University beginning Monday, February 18, 2008, to meet with students returning to campus after the destructive tornados raged through the campus and state on Tuesday, February 5, 2008.

Two Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief Laundry Units are working today, headquartered at First Baptist Church, Jackson, to assist the Union University students. Clothes will be laundered and returned to a central pickup location. All students’ personal belongings have been removed from campus.

The Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief Feeding Unit has been released from response by the American Red Cross in Macon County and will be completing work today. However, this feeding unit will remain operational at least until Monday in order to provide meals for volunteers performing general clean up and heavy equipment clean up in the area. Two Shower Units remain in operation in Macon County as well.

According to David Acres, Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief Coordinator, “Disaster Relief Volunteers have been hard at work in the affected areas across the State. Some areas have been slow to call upon volunteers due to tremendous devastation. Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers have been patient and made themselves available to help. It is a blessing to have so many, wonderful, trained volunteers that are willing and able to help when response is needed.”

Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief has completed its work in Hardin County, Tennessee, as efforts for general cleanup were successful.

The State VOAD has opened a Donations Warehouse in Portland,TN, located off I-65 at Hwy 52. They are accepting all kinds of donations. To contact the warehouse, please call 615-323-1741.

The Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief Disaster Operations Center is housed in the Tennessee Baptist Convention Building located in Brentwood, Tennessee.

Local Group Helps With Storm Clean Up in Hardin County
February 15, 2008

Members of the Maury Baptist Disaster Relief Team traveled to Savannah, Tennessee last week, spending two days clearing fallen trees from roofs, driveways, power lines and outbuildings. “We’ll help anyone but primarily, we try to target people who cannot help themselves”, reports Dale Ledbetter, Director of Missions for the Maury Baptist Association. Unlike most years in the past, two pieces of heavy equipment were attached to the team on this occasion, greatly speeding the work and providing safer techniques for the tricky removal of trees or branches under pressure.

While the group’s accommodations are usually rather primitive, the rewards of enabling people to get power restored or to regain access to their vehicles always outshines such small inconveniences. These missions are not just about trees; they are about people. While the chain saws buzz and the Bobcat rumbles, others are interacting with the residents (usually elderly or disabled), comforting them, praying with them or helping arrange for other kinds of needed relief. It is a “people to people” ministry.

Since its inception in 2000, Maury Baptist Disaster Relief workers have responded to tornadoes, floods, ice storms and hurricanes in nine states. In addition to cleaning up after storms, the team is also involved in the reconstruction phase of disaster relief including the Katrina area and internationally. A team is headed this summer to Nicaragua, for example, to rebuild homes devastated by Hurricane Felix. Noel Willems, who went to Thailand to help after the tsunamis, summarizes the driving force behind the group: “We don’t mind getting our hands dirty. It’s a joy to give folks relief, encouragement and hope in Jesus’ name.”

Tornado Clean-Up Information
February 12, 2008

Many of you have expressed an interest in helping with tornado relief efforts, so here is an update.

The Gallatin Area Chamber of Commerce will continue to register and dispatch volunteers. We are trying to get more specific addresses and descriptions of the work needed. Volunteers should come to the Chamber office at 118 West Main Street after 8:30am and they will be registered and directed to appropriate locations.

Cragfont Baptist Church is in need of volunteer help and donations to support meal distribution to volunteers and emergency workers. This is the church at the corner of Harsh Lane and Highway 25 that has acted as the Emergency Operations Center, has received and distributed donations for victims, AND fed thousands of volunteers, emergency workers and victims. They need some support. If you can help there, please call 615.451.9673 (leave a message and they will return your call). The church has been open 24 hours for many days, so help at any time of the day or night will be appreciated.

Plans are also being made to organize another volunteer weekend. We will forward that information on as soon as details are available.

The latest information on donations is that there is still a need for shoes(please bind together), socks, coats, diapers, baby wipes, non-perishable food, water and paper products. Locations where items are being accepted include Gallatin City Hall, Gallatin Cares, Cragfont Baptist Church, Bethpage First United Methodist Church and West Eastland Church of Christ. Please advise of any other locations of which we may not be aware.

Donations needed to support clean-up/volunteer efforts include gloves, garbage bags (large contractor bags are best), rakes, lunch supplies and drinks. We can accept all these donations at our office.

Thank you all for your generosity and spirit. The work this weekend was amazing and it was greatly appreciated!

Please call the chamber at (615) 452-4000 if you have any questions.

Brentwood, TN – Today, Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief Chainsaw Teams from Beech River, Hardeman County and Duck River Baptist Associations are responding to a pocket of people in Shiloh Baptist Association cleaning up after the devastating tornado that hit the area on Tuesday evening.

The Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief Feeding Unit from Hardeman County Baptist Association will be serving meals in the Lafayette Community beginning with lunch on Saturday, February 9, 2008.

Nolachucky Baptist Association transported a 60KW generator to Hartsville, Tennessee on Wednesday evening providing power for City Hall. While there, Hartsville TEMA called upon the Association asking them to transport a 230KW generator from the hospital to the EMS dispatch center.

Many volunteers have been eagerly awaiting an opportunity to serve those in need. David Acres, State Disaster Relief Coordinator, released an announcement to all volunteers today, saying general clean-up is needed in Sumner County. The Gallatin Area Chamber of Commerce is organizing tornado clean-up this weekend. E-mail the Gallatin Area Chamber of Commerce at info@gallatintn.org or call (615) 452-4000, to get more information. In Williamson County, volunteers have also been asked to meet at Fairview High School tomorrow (Saturday), 2595 Fairview Blvd, between 8 - 8:30 a.m. Buses will transport volunteers to the affected families to help them clean up their yards. You can stay 1/2 day or all day.

Please check our web site, www.tnbaptist.org, for additional information. Updates will be made as additional information becomes available.

At this time, no other special task teams have been requested. In addition to Chainsaw Teams. Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief has many services available in the event disaster strikes. The Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief Disaster Operations Center is housed in the Tennessee Baptist Convention Building located in Brentwood, Tennessee.

Much of the clean-up is being conducted close-to-home by various Disaster Relief Teams working in their own associations and cities. Chainsaw Teams from Cumberland Baptist Association, Maury Baptist Association and Tusculum Hills Baptist Church have been assigned to work in the Houston and Hardin County areas. A feeding unit from Hardeman County will begin serving meals at lunchtime on Saturday, at First Baptist Church Lafayette.

Many volunteers have also offered to assist in the clean-up efforts at Union University. David Acres, state Disaster Relief Coordinator, met with University officials on Thursday. There are sufficient volunteers for the weekend since the campus is still under tight security and assessments are on-going.

In addition to credentialed Disaster Relief Teams, many churches across the state have opened their doors to assist in relief ministry. Among them, Cragfont Baptist Church in Castillian Springs which began serving meals to relief workers and others immediately after the storms on Tuesday night; New Life Baptist Church, Lafayette, Tennessee, is accepting the following items for victims in Macon County: clothing (in good condition), bedding, and non-perishable items.

Please check our web site, www.tnbaptist.org, for additional information. Updates will be made when news is available.

Several assessment teams in the impacted area discovered that many of those impacted by the storms were self-sufficient and declined assistance in clearing their yards of debris and storm damage.

At this time, no other special task teams have received orders. In addition to Chainsaw Teams. Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief has many services available in the event disaster strikes. The Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief Disaster Operations Center is housed in the Tennessee Baptist Convention Building located in Brentwood, Tennessee.

Tennessee DR Teams Responds to Feb. 5 Storms
February 7, 2008

February 6, Judson Baptist Association requested a chain saw team to help in their community. Cumberland Baptist Association responded with 12 Disaster Relief trained volunteers.

Shiloh BaptistAssociation was hit hard with damage in Hardin County. We had damage assessorsin the area on Thursday. Security is extremely tight at this time in the area.We have two chain saw teams in the area, one from Maury Baptist Association andone from Tusculum Hills Baptist Church, Nashville. No further teams are neededat this time.

We are not able to enter the Jackson area until Emergency Management clears the way for us to enter. Local chain saw teams took care of the immediate needs. Union University has asked that no volunteers help at this time.

Macon County is still doing damage assessment, body search, and dealing with utility issues before we are allowed in the area.

We will update our web site as we have further news.

Tennessee DR teams sent to Oklahoma
December 18, 2007

BRENTWOOD — Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief has 13 chain saw teams with more than 100 volunteers serving this week in Oklahoma helping victims of recent dual ice storms in the midwest, according to David Acres, Tennessee Baptist Convention state disaster relief director.

“The timing is never right for a disaster to take place, but when it happens this close to the Christmas holidays you wonder just where your volunteers will come from,” said Acres.

“When we sent out the call for volunteers to go to Oklahoma to help out after the ice storm, we where overwhelmed by the number that responded. By the middle of this week, we will have 13 teams and well over 100 people serving in Oklahoma.

“God has blessed us with so many wonderful volunteers, and we are truly grateful for all of them. There may be work to do after the holidays. If there are others who are willing to go, please let us know in the disaster relief office of the TBC.”

All Tennessee teams are working in Tulsa, Okla., or the surrounding areas. Teams that left Dec. 14 for Oklahoma were Maury Baptist Association, Columbia; and Giles County Baptist Association, Pulaski.

Teams that left Dec. 15 were William Carey Baptist Association, Fayetteville; Truett Baptist Association, McEwen; and Bellevue Baptist Church, Cordova.

Teams that left Dec. 16 were First Baptist Church, White House; Grace Baptist Church, Knoxville; Cumberland Baptist Association, Clarksville; Bradley County Baptist Association, Cleveland; First Baptist Church, Jackson; Nashville Baptist Association, Nashville; and Hermitage Hills Baptist Church, Hermitage.

Teams that left Dec. 17 were Central Baptist Association, Sparta; Duck River Baptist Association, Tullahoma; Shiloh Baptist Association, Adamsville; Madison-Chester Baptist Association, Jackson; and Beech River Baptist Association, Lexington.

Leaving Dec. 18 was a team from First Baptist Church, Millington.

Currently, no more Tennessee teams are needed to respond to Oklahoma before the holiday season, and teams are scheduled to return back to Tennessee by Dec. 22, Acres added.

— Marcia Knox

Tennessee DR teams serve in Ohio, Minnesota
August 28, 2007

BRENTWOOD — Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief has activated flood recovery teams to serve in Minnesota and Ohio, according to David Acres, state disaster relief director.

A 17-member flood recovery team left Aug. 26 from Beech River Association, Lexington, along with five chaplains from other associations to serve in Winona, Minn., where they will assist victims of severe flooding.

The team from Beech River Association is expected to work through Sept. 1.

In addition, a five-member flood recovery team, made up of volunteers from both the William Carey Baptist Association, Fayetteville, and the Duck River Baptist Association, Tullahoma, left Aug. 28 for Mansfield, Ohio.

More flood recovery teams are needed, said Acres. To volunteer, contact Elizabeth Holmes, disaster relief off-site coordinator, at 1-800-558-2090, ext. 7926 or e-mail her at eholmes@tnbaptist.org.

Disaster Relief teams sent to Kansas
July 18, 2007

BRENTWOOD — Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief has sent a laundry unit, mud-out teams, and other volunteers to help victims of recent floods in Kansas.

A laundry unit from First Baptist Church, Hendersonville, with four volunteers was activated July 8 to work at First Southern Baptist Church, Coffeyville, Kan., to assist flood victims and emergency responders. The laundry unit which went into operation July 10 is located in the parking lot of the Kansas church where it is used by the National Guard and other responders, and disaster relief volunteers. It is expected to be in operation for several weeks.

A 10-member mud-out team, composed of four from Cumberland Baptist Association, Clarksville; three from William Carey Baptist Association, Fayetteville; and three from Duck River Baptist Association, Tullahoma, left July 12 for Coffeyville to be stationed out of First Southern Baptist. A nine-member mud-out team from Beech River Baptist Association, Lexington, also left July 15 for Coffeyville.

In addition, Mike Stricklin, disaster relief director for Shiloh Baptist Association, Adamsville, was activated July 13 to work for the disaster relief incident command system operations center, based in Osawatomie, Kan. Stricklin will serve as the NAMB incident commander.

Tennessee Baptist disaster relief director, David Acres, has also requested additional mud-out team volunteers for this response and for a flood cleanup response for Terrrace, British Columbia. To volunteer, contact Elizabeth Holmes, off-site administration officer, at 1-800-558-2090, ext. 7926, or e-mail her at eholmes@tnbaptist.org.

— Marcia Knox

Response to flooding in northeast, other news
May 10, 2007

Response to recent flooding in the northeastern United States included Incident Command management by Mike Stricklin and cooking support for the Salvation Army by Tennessee DR Volunteers in New Jersey. In New Hampshire, flood recovery teams from Beech River, Bradley, and Chilhowee Associations assisted with recovery and clean-up of flood ravaged homes in the Londonderry area. Remember them in your prayers as they work and travel. Further assistance may be needed in Missouri and Okalahoma as flood waters from the swollen Missouri River have yet to crest. In the coastal area from south Georgia to northeast Florida, no significant flooding is expected from the season’s first storm, Andrea.

Predictions are for above average hurricane activity this year and, if early spring weather across the nation is any indication, the forecast may be correct this year. Pray constantly, be ready.

The SBC Disaster Relief Round Table, held this year at the Shooco Springs Center in Talladega, AL, celebrated 40 years of disaster relief work which began when Texas volunteers served meals to hurricane victims. Highlight of the Round Table was Jim Clark’s receipt of a Distinguished Service Award. Jim is a tireless worker and it was gratifying to see him recognized, not only for his work in equipment improvements, but for his field service as well. Congratulations, Jim.

Training continues with Blue Cap training in Nashville on May 12 and Introduction to Disaster Relief and Mass Feeding on May 18 and 19. See the training schedule for full details.

Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief Response Growing in Missouri
January 19, 2007

Nashville, Tennessee - Today, nine Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief Chainsaw Teams consisting of more than 50 volunteers are serving in Missouri, stationed at Tri-County Baptist Association, Nixa, Missouri and Pulaski County Baptist Association Church Camp, Waynesville, Missouri, in response to the devastating winter storm that began on Monday, January 15 and continues to wreak havoc in the state.

Four additional teams will leave Monday morning despite their original plan to leave on Sunday. “The North American Mission Board has asked teams to wait until Monday morning to travel due to the anticipation of 5-8 additional inches of snow expected on Saturday night and Sunday morning,” stated David Acres, Tennessee Baptist State Disaster Relief Director.

Teams currently in Missouri are Morristown First Baptist Church, Rockwood First Baptist Church, and Beech River Association, stationed in Waynesville; Jackson First Baptist Church, Smyrna First Baptist Church, Central Baptist Association, Truett Baptist Association, Bradley County Baptist Association and Maury Baptist Association, stationed in Nixa.

Robertson County and Western District Baptist Associations, along with Bellevue Baptist, Cordova and South Fulton Baptist Church will leave Monday. Other teams will follow as the North American Mission Board expects the relief response to continue for the next month.

Family Ties Initiate Winter Storm Disaster Response by Local Church Chainsaw Team
January 18, 2007

Nashville, Tennessee –– Paul Brady, Church Disaster Relief Director, Hermitage Hills Baptist Church, and almost ten other church members will leave early Monday morning for Eufaula, located in Southeastern Oklahoma in response to the call for Disaster Relief from the North American Mission Board.

“When the call came from the North American Mission Board for relief in Missouri, there was also a need for assistance in Oklahoma. I knew my father-in-law, Billy Hickman, Director of Missions for the Sans Bois Association in Oklahoma, would be eager to find a host for our team, since the storm had wreaked havoc in their state as well,” commented Brady.

Oak Ridge Baptist Church in Eufaula, Oklahoma, will serve as host for the Hermitage Hills Team.

The Hermitage Hills Baptist Church Disaster Relief Team will leave Monday morning, January 22, at 5:00 a.m., driving to Oklahoma and will return on Friday evening, January 26. Space for several additional Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief trained chain saw team volunteers is available. If interested, please contact Paul Brady by calling the church office at (615) 883-5034 or by e-mail at pbrady@hermitagehillsbaptist.com.

Chainsaw Teams Activated in Response to Missouri Winter Blast
January 17, 2007

Brentwood - Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief Chainsaw Teams are leaving today for Springfield and Waynesville, Missouri in response to the heavy Winter Storm that swept through the state Monday and Tuesday. Teams were activated yesterday by the North American Mission Board.

“We have been told there will be a great need for our clean up crews for as long as five weeks,” according to David Acres, Tennessee Baptist State Disaster Relief Director.

First response teams will be Jackson First Baptist Church, Smyrna First Baptist Church, Truett Baptist Association and Central Baptist Association who will be stationed at Second Baptist Church, Springfield, MO. Maury Baptist Association and Morristown First Baptist Church will be stationed at the Pulaski County Associational Church Camp, Waynesville, MO.

Additional teams are enlisted to respond as needed. There have been reports of another major winter storm headed for the state.

At this time, no other special task teams have received orders. Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief Chainsaw Teams are among the seven different special task teams available when a disaster strikes. Feeding Unit, Shower Trailer, Childcare, Laundry, Water Purification and Special Needs Teams stand ready and available to answer the call when necessary.

The Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief Disaster Operations Center is housed in the Tennessee Baptist Convention Building located in Brentwood, Tennessee.