Johnny and Sharon Hill heard neighbors shouting and looked outside to see what the commotion was about. It was water rising — and quickly — from the Pigeon River overflowing its banks more than 200 yards away and charging toward the Hills’ neighborhood.
“We’ve lived here 29 years and I’ve never seen it like that,” Johnny said. “Nowhere close. By the time we grabbed a few things, the water was gushing in.”
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The Hills made it to safety, but just barely. The water level inside their house was about five feet by the time the river finally crested. Neighbors between them and the river had to be rescued from the roofs of their houses. One was airlifted by helicopter from the roof of a wooden shed that lodged itself against a power pole.
“This neighborhood was hard hit,” said Tony Ellis, team leader for the Knox County Association of Baptists disaster relief team. “Every house along here took water damage, and we’re taking everything out so they can dry before we treat them for mold.”
Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief teams from across the state were clearing out mud, stripping away saturated sheetrock and insulation, ripping up flooring, and gutting houses of damaged cabinetry. These teams represented just a few of the hundreds of Disaster Relief volunteers from Tennessee, Texas and other states serving people from the Newport area to as far northeast as the Mountain City area. Reportedly, as much as 30 inches of rain caused widespread devastation when the remnant of Hurricane Helene hit Appalachia on Friday, Sept. 27.
Helene caused more than 230 deaths in its wake, and many more people are still listed as missing. One news outlet reported that Helene is now the second-deadliest hurricane to strike the mainland U.S. in the last 55 years, topped only by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
“Helping alleviate suffering and helping these people recover as quickly as possible is why we are here,” said Chuck Crabb, Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief leader for a team that came across the state from the Jackson area. “People are still in shock. Many of them have lost everything — literally. This water rose so quickly. It’s such a tragedy. We just wanted to come serve and help show them there is light at the end of the tunnel.”
Spiritual impact
Beyond the physical help, Disaster Relief teams are seeing the spiritual impact of their presence in helping people. Several salvations have been reported, but teams are also encountering people who have had little contact with Christians in the past.
“We’ve been able to minister to people who very proudly proclaimed that they don’t know God,” said Karen Wilson, a DR volunteer staffing a shower unit in Hartford, just south of Newport. “And we’ve had the opportunity to minister to them several times because they came back four times over two days just to talk. A lot of seeds were planted. They didn’t accept Christ, but the seeds have been planted, and they’re thinking about it.”
Wes Jones, Tennessee Baptist disaster relief specialist, said that the recovery process will continue for the foreseeable future, with Tennessee Baptist Mission Board President/Executive Director Randy C. Davis adding he anticipates TNDR will be helping people in East Tennessee recover from Helene “for the next five years, possibly the next decade.”
The initial response to calls for financial support has been generous, Jones indicated, adding that financial support is what’s currently needed most.
“We appreciate all contributions, but there are immediate and long-term needs for financial gifts,” Jones said. “Initially, there are expenses related to food served through our mobile kitchens and for the cleanup, like bleach and other chemicals to eradicate mold, but there will be longer-term expenses such as materials to help in reconstruction.”
Ways to help
For more information on how you can help, check with your church, association or state Baptist convention to find out how they are contributing to this and other ongoing relief efforts in neighboring states, your state and beyond.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Chris Turner and originally published by Baptist and Reflector.
