A good tired
So tired. But it's a good tired. Things are getting done. Trees are being cleared. Love is being shared. Community is coming together. And we'll get up tomorrow morning and do it all again. - Dietz Osborn, East Nashville resident and Mountain T.O.P. friend.
Right in the middle of the COVID-19 outbreak, middle Tennessee is hit with a weather disaster. If you aren’t located in the middle of a disaster zone, the images and stories coming out of these places are quite overwhelming and unbelievable. For friends of Mountain T.O.P. outside of Tennessee who have inquired about our status, we appreciate the concerns! Fortunately Grundy County and the rest of our service area was too far south to experience the destruction unleashed on our friends further north.
We have witnessed our middle Tennessee friends jump right into action, even those who have experienced great loss of home, school, work place, or income. I grew up in the hurricane zone of south Mississippi without experiencing great loss that comes with huge disasters like Hurricane Katrina. Following a call back to my home post-Katrina, I worked for a season in disaster recovery. It is a completely different world than what we are used to, even those of us who are seasoned volunteers. For most of the NVOAD, specialized training is required, because after the emergency phase things can get tricky recovering from a disaster.
Because this is a disaster that will take quite some time to recover from, it is important to pay attention to the recovery process. Just like we saw cities and counties enact emergency procedures in the hours leading up to the tornadoes, the same is already happening for the long term recovery efforts. I have always been amazed how, in the midst of chaos, things get done. But they do. Organizations, especially of the NVOAD, work together and provide necessary knowledge and experience that helps navigate the very confusing territory of recovery.
If you are considering travel to the disaster area to help out, I would offer these suggestions:
Affiliate, affiliate, affiliate. Check into groups who are already addressing the disaster, and ask how you can help. I am not saying we do not address unmet needs. Right now there are no shortages of agencies with calls to action. In the recovery phase it is more crucial to do our homework. I can tell countless stories of well-meaning volunteers who cause homeowners a lot of grief because the volunteers didn’t follow the (often frustrating and slow) process for recovery.
Carry into the disaster area everything that you will need. The last thing we want to do is make further stress for our middle Tennessee friends. Check suggested supply lists from organizations who are on the ground. Take your tools. Take food. Take fuel. Do not assume that regular resources are available.
Be flexible. If there was ever a time and place to be flexible, it is in response to a disaster. If we are intending to do the most good, we must make sure we listen to those who we are helping.
There are a wide variety of organizations to work with in the disaster area, too many to list here. If you need help in connecting, Mountain T.O.P. would be happy to assist. Though we are not responding directly to the disaster at this point, we have many friends who are in the disaster area or have mobilized for response.
Julie Keel is Program Director at Mountain T.O.P. Before moving to Grundy County, Julie gained experience in disasters as a Case Manager Supervisor with the Mississippi United Methodist Church in the Hurricane Katrina recovery efforts, representing UMCOR on the long-term recovery committee.