By Brianna Stephens
There is power in partnerships. When organizations collaborate, their shared resources and expertise create an impact far greater than they could achieve alone. During the recent response to deadly tornados, partnerships were vital to enabling a quick response and mobilization of resources to support the immediate needs of disaster survivors.
Hours after an EF-4 tornado struck communities in three Southeastern Kentucky counties May 16, employees of Christian Appalachian Project’s (CAP) Operation Sharing program made local connections in the disaster areas and organized logistics to respond and help people in need. As with any natural disasters in the Appalachian region, CAP mobilizes Operation Sharing to deliver critical items to impacted areas as soon as possible, including food, water, generators, hygiene kits, and other supplies.
“Within 48 hours we were able to bring supplies and set up distribution locations around the impacted communities,” said Ben Ridner, manager of CAP’s Operation Sharing in Corbin. “From those locations, we partnered with local agencies, organizations, and volunteers to deliver supplies to people who could not come to the location because of debris on the roads or not having a vehicle.”
While semi tractor trailers filled with essential items were enroute to the impacted communities, Operation Sharing adapted to the challenging conditions by utilizing pickup trucks and smaller trailers to deliver items directly to small distribution centers and homes. This was necessary because of debris-strewn roads and closures that made it nearly impossible for larger vehicles to navigate.
Operation Sharing partnered with entities, like Mercy Chefs, a nonprofit organization that utilizes mobile kitchens to respond to disasters, to ensure that people affected by the tornado received the support they need during this challenging time.
“Oftentimes people are just so heart torn to come and help. From a volunteer perspective, they don’t think about meeting their own needs,” said Lisa Saylor, director of disaster relief and long-term recovery for Mercy Chefs. “When we run into these disaster zones, there’s no power, no water, so local restaurants aren’t open and they’re not able to provide food. We feel like it’s a vital goal in even being able to feed the volunteers and provide meals to disaster survivors who have lost everything.”
Mercy Chefs' mobile kitchens can prepare over 1,000 meals for disaster survivors, emergency responders, and volunteers. CAP employees also delivered these meals and critical supplies to families in the community.
“We bring a small team with us to respond and help train volunteers to prepare meals, so it’s very important that we have other organizations like CAP and other local people who are helping their neighbors and can come alongside us and make the overall relief impact so much bigger,” Saylor said.
Several communities across Appalachia have been impacted by natural disasters in recent months. Throughout the stages of recovery, Operation Sharing will continue to deliver essential items to meet the changing needs of families who are rebuilding.
“After a disaster strikes, CAP is there for the long haul. From the initial need and clean-up, to rebuilding the community, CAP will be there with essential supplies,” Ridner said. “We will continue to support these communities through Operation Sharing thanks to the generosity and dedication of our donors.”
