By Jeff Brumley
Cooperative Baptist Fellowship officials in Oklahoma say they are prepared to handle visiting, short-term volunteer groups to help with tornado cleanup and recovery.
Based at First Baptist Church in Norman, Oklahoma CBF Disaster Response has already hosted a few groups — from Arkansas and Mississippi – who have come and gone. Two more – from Georgia and Indiana – are scheduled for late June.
“We are scheduling them as soon as we hear from them,” said Jill Hatcher, the newly minted coordinator of Oklahoma CBF Disaster Response. “We are not behind (in scheduling) yet – but I would like that to change.”
Moore, Okla. was hit by an EF5 tornado May 20, killing at least 24 including several children. A twister hit Shawnee the night before, doing enough damage to warrant response from neighboring states. El Reno and other areas were hit May 31, killing 18.
CBF’s call for volunteers in Oklahoma came relatively quickly for an organization that often restrains its responders until well after early cleanup operations by other groups have been completed.
Unlike other faith-based groups equipped as first responders, CBF specializes in long-term cleanup and recovery operations, remaining in areas months and even years after a natural disaster. CBF is still hosting groups in LaPlace, La., to help with recovery from 2012’s Hurricane Isaac.
But Tommy Deal, CBF national disaster-response coordinator, said need assessments were completed unusually early in Oklahoma. “It turned around real quick, particularly in the realm of needing people,” Deal said. “There were people standing around wishing they had someone to help them.”
Hired by Deal because she’s local and experienced in project management, Hatcher blasted that need out through word of mouth, e-mail and social media. She also has the advantage of being a member at First Baptist in Norman, giving her network connections with other churches and professionals in the region.
Texas Baptists are also in the immediate area in an effort to cooperate with CBF recovery efforts, Hatcher said.
While the first two visiting groups were seasoned in debris removal, Hatcher said youth and other church groups are needed for tasks that include light debris removal and sorting and delivering donated supplies to disaster centers and homes.
Chris Ellis, minister of mission and outreach at Second Baptist Church in Little Rock, Ark., said volunteers won’t be disappointed if they come to Oklahoma. Ellis and seven members of the church brought their chainsaws and other equipment and worked mainly in Moore May 28-31.
“Everywhere we went people were just amazing,” Ellis said of tornado survivors in Moore. “There were people driving around asking relief workers if they needed anything – from food and water to gloves.”
The Second Baptist group stayed at First Baptist, Norman, which is prepared to host other visiting groups, Hatcher said.
Accommodations at the church include housing in the family life center, showers and meals. The cost is $10 a day per person.
To volunteer, groups must register online. Once they do, they’ll get a call within hours to work out the details, Hatcher said.
Because tornado season is ongoing and active, volunteers working through Oklahoma CBF are sent to sites that are near shelters. It’s a precaution that’s already come in handy, she said.
“Last Thursday afternoon we pulled them in and on Friday we pulled them in,” she said in reference to tornado activity.
But each system brings with it more victims — and work.
“The storms have not let us catch up,” Hatcher said. “Just as we catch up, another wave comes through.”