OBI's Jody Herrington talks with a member of FEMA to help coordinate additional clean-up efforts.

SUMNER COUNTY, Tenn. - A team effort between the Federal Emergency Management Agency and Operation Blessing means a quick response for the people in need recovering from the deadly tornadoes that spanned the southern U.S. last week.

The storms, which had sustained winds between 125-150 mph, left a trail of destruction in their wake, killing 59 people.

Operation Blessing responded early, partnering with local churches to help supply aid that included portable heaters and food to people in need. Now, OBI is shifting their recovery efforts to assist FEMA by serving families whose homes were destroyed in Sumner and Macon Counties.

OBI will house, feed and supervise 5-10 person crews equipped with chain saws, loaders and bobcats. Crews will clear debris from lots where houses have been demolished in order to make room for FEMA trailers that will house victims.

"The terrible tornadoes of Super Tuesday are long gone, but a storm of confusion is still raging in the hills of Tennessee," said OBI President Bill Horan. "Our battle tested and dedicated OBI team has created an eye in the storm of confusion and chaos."

After President George Bush declared five counties as major disaster areas, OBI teams helped set up FEMA registration desks where victims could file for cash grants. In addition, OBI workers are facilitating a Red Cross missing person’s Web page where families can locate each other.

"Residents can check for loved ones or let others know they are okay," said Jody Herrington, OBI’s director of U.S. disaster relief. "This helps the residents in a huge way."

OBI teamed up with a local youth group to help distribute kerosene heaters to residents without power.

With the help of a local youth group, OBI distributed more kerosene heaters to residents without power, who are battling temperatures that have dropped in the low 30s.

OBI is partnering with Cragfont Baptist Church in Castalian Springs, which is about 45 minutes northeast of Nashville.

OBI gave the church a $10,000 donation to aid them in other relief efforts, including supplying meals to victims and volunteer workers. About 2,200 meals have already been distributed.

OBI’s Hunger Strike Force trucks have already delivered 118,000 pounds of relief supplies and food to disaster areas in Tennessee and Arkansas.

"Hot meals and kerosene heaters are blessings to be sure," Horan said. "But what OBI is doing is disaster relief at a much high level – we are leveraging our expertise and resources to help more people in a much larger way."

HOW YOU CAN HELP
You can help by making an online donation toward OBI's disaster relief efforts. With your support, we can continue to provide emergency relief and recovery. Please make an on-line donation today.

 

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