With warm words, warm smiles and warm food, Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers are aiding the recovery efforts in Hickman County in the aftermath of Friday’s deadly explosion at the Accurate Energetic Systems plant.
Volunteers from Englewood Baptist Church, Jackson, are operating a Disaster Relief mass feeding trailer on the AES campus, providing meals for first responders and investigators.
For more stories at your doorstep, subscribe to The Baptist Paper.
SIGN UP for our weekly Highlights emails.
The explosion resulted in at least 16 deaths, according to multiple news outlets, and left behind only remnants of the plant.
Blast under investigation
The cause of the blast is under investigation. The manufacturing plant sits on 1,300 acres in Bucksnort, just outside of McEwen. Various news outlets reported that the explosion could be felt several miles away.
Glynn Jones, chaplain for the Disaster Relief team from Englewood, said when he surveyed the damage, his immediate thought was: “It was a like a smaller version of 9-11. Just devastating.”
Family effort
Steve Proctor, a member of Englewood, is helping coordinate the Disaster Relief unit in Bucksnort. Proctor’s wife, Simone — along with their two daughters, Lily Mae and Amy (Kaina) and son, Hendrik — operated the feeding trailer on Sunday, cooking burgers and hot dogs to give to first responders. Disaster Relief volunteer Debbie Schictel also helped prepare the food.
“Having a good meal is one way to help a person feel appreciated,” said Steve Proctor. “Being able to talk to them, give them something to eat and a friendly smile — that goes a long way. This is our opportunity to be the hands and feet of Jesus.”
Jones, who has been with Disaster Relief since 2001 and has also served as chaplain for numerous law enforcement agencies, said he has experienced all kinds of tragedies, but nothing quite like this.
‘This one is different’
“I’ve been there after hurricanes, suicides, floods — you name it,” he said, “but this one is different. All I can do, really, is to be available to listen, hug someone and maybe cry with them.”
Wes Jones, Disaster Relief specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, said he expects the relief unit will remain on site for the next 2-3 weeks, continuing their role of providing meals for those working.
‘Main goal’
Proctor was on a camping trip with his son when he received news of the explosion. Although he is a long-time Disaster Relief volunteer, he said he was stunned by what happened. “We weren’t ready for this. I don’t think anyone is ever ready for something like this.”
But the volunteers quickly jumped into action — and they plan to remain involved for as long as it takes.
“The way I see DR work is that we come out on someone’s worst day and we try to be a light for them,” he said. “That is our main goal.”
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by David Dawson and originally published by the Baptist and Reflector.
