October 2, 2024
By: Bill Conger
People in DeKalb County are looking for ways to help their neighbors to the east after the flooding devastation from Hurricane Helena’s destructive path.
“We are working on getting at least one group of 15-20 people from local Baptist churches to send to East TN later this month, maybe even multiple groups,” says Aaron Young, Salem Baptist Association Disaster Relief Director.
“In a large disaster like what has happened in East TN, the TN Baptist Disaster Relief leadership coordinates with Federal, State, and local authorities on where the greatest needs are and setting up Incident Command Centers. Once that is done, groups of trained Disaster Relief volunteers, will coordinate with the TN Baptist DR leadership on when and where to deploy. DR volunteers will continue to come until there are no more people asking for help.”
Young says some good-intentioned people show up to help after disaster situations, but that desire to assist can actually back fire.
“As we saw when the tornado went through Cookeville a few years ago, when people show up to help but there is no coordination, it is actually a detriment,” Young says.
“Rogue groups would move piles of rubble from one side of the road to another, and another group would come the next day just to move it back to the spot it was before.”
Young says the best and most efficient way to help with donating items is to give directly to Baptist Disaster Relief. He says in that way it can be used on what is needed. You can go to tndisasterrelief.org.
“Anyone wanting to volunteer their time can go to the same website and get set up to be trained to be able to go on Disaster Relief callouts,” Young says. “If you are a member of a Baptist church within the Salem Baptist Association, you can email me at aaronyoung6565@gmail.com and there is a volunteer waiver form that you can fill out to be able to go with other DR trained volunteers.”