Psalm 27 The Lord is my light and salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
Two weeks ago today an EF4 tornado hit the county where ARM works. Multiple tornadoes ravaged Alabama and the southern part of Georgia. In the small community of Beauregard, known by three schools and a few shops, 23 people lost their lives and 203 homes were wiped off the grid. Nearly two hundred more had severe structural damage. Our lives and landscape are forever changed. Beauregard is less than 15 miles from my home in Opelika. We have served in the community for over 15 years. Beauregard and Smiths Station are our family and neighbors.
The day after the tornado hit, we repaired the roof of a small church so that it could serve as a supply center and continue worshiping. The following day, we began gathering teams, supplies, and materials to cut away trees and tarp homes. This has been our work the past two weeks while we still prepare for our summer mission teams. Allison and I took a day to revisit Marianna, FL. and the Pan Handle coast where the devastation from Hurricane Michael still looks like it hit only a few weeks ago.
We are now working from two angles. Working with our local churches and volunteer networks, we are going into Beauregard to serve and help lead volunteer teams. We are also engaged in the conversations and planning with our local Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) which has a state level structure and county level. Ours is coordinated by our Lee County United Way in coordination with our local Emergency Management Association (EMA). This organizes volunteer organizations, churches, and other entities to plan the long- term recovery with families who will have unmet needs.
ARM is in a unique position able to bring levels of experience and structure to the long- term recovery process. Our specialty is hosting volunteer groups around construction. With an Alabama Residential Builder’s License, we can ensure permits are pulled and work is done properly and warrantied while using volunteers. We have safety plans in place, systems like ProCorps for construction project management, and the Network for Good System to track our volunteers and the donations coming into our ministry. Our partnerships with Auburn University Building Science and Architecture will facilitate plans for rebuilding homes. Our models around BLESS (Be in Prayer, Listen, Eat, Share Your Story, and Serve) help volunteers know how to listen to survivor stories, offer compassion, and not get overly focused on the repairs at the expense of building a relationship with the family of whom they are serving. Furthermore, my work with the National Guard has allowed me to serve with FEMA and Alabama EMA before and I am familiar with the National Disaster Response Framework and Incident Management. I see all these synthesizing together.
Worlds have been turned upside down, but together, we can and will rebuild and restore and see transformation. How can you help?
1) We and our community do need your prayers for strength, perseverance, patience, and resources to continue flowing. Families who lost loves ones will grieve for some time and that will not go away soon.
2) Many supplies have been shipped here and our warehouses are full. But, if there is anything specific, we will post these on our Facebook page. Gift cards are still welcomed, and we can get those to the teams ensuring displaced families continue getting needed resources.
3) Talk with your church or business about bringing a small group this summer. We can take groups of 3 all the way to groups of 60. We host you in Tuskegee just outside of Beauregard.
4) Gift cards from Lowe’s or Home Depot will allow us to purchase construction materials for the repairs.
Finally, we still have positions for four construction coordinators, and we need them now more than ever. If you are a college student or know one looking for a meaningful place to serve and work this summer, please send them to this link: www.arm-al.org/summerstaff.
To give towards construction materials, go to this website, www.arm-al.org/tornado and if you would like to help us raise funds, we have set up a peer to peer crowd funding page at www.arm-al.org/rebuildleecounty
Thanks again and we will keep you posted on our efforts. God bless!
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