By Stan Statham, Special to the Message
SHREVEPORT – More than 60 SBC-trained Disaster Relief volunteers from Region 3 gathered in Shreveport recently for Incident Command System/Incident Management training.
Region 3 includes Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Texas.
“As a group we need to continually improve our efforts through training, implementation, and evaluation of our response to disasters,” said Terry Henderson, State Disaster Relief Director for the Texas Baptist Men; he led the training session.
The incident command course prepares disaster relief volunteers to lead in small and large disasters following principles used by government agencies and other disaster relief organizations. Henderson told the group, “we must be able to speak the language of the “disaster world” if we are going to be taken seriously.”
Coordinating disaster relief efforts is still a challenge, said Gibbie McMillan, the Louisiana Baptist Convention’s Disaster Relief director.
“During Hurricane Isaac it became apparent we still do not have enough volunteers trained in the incident command system that allows for the coordination of volunteers responding to the area impacted by a disaster,” McMillan said.
Among the 60-plus volunteers present for the training, 24 were from Louisiana.
“Having a large number of leaders trained is important and hopefully allow for the development of Incident Command Teams in each of the three regions within our own state,” said Tom Long, Disaster Relief coordinator for the Southeast Region of Louisiana.
In hopes of better organizing disaster relief efforts in Louisiana, the LBC under the leadership of McMillan divided the state into three separate regions with Long coordinating the Southeast, Larry Cupper coordinating the Central part of the state, and David Abernathy coordinating the Northern part of the state.
“We are still looking for volunteers to participate in all areas of disaster relief ministry,” McMillan said.
A Disaster Relief Roundtable for the northern region is set for April 19-20 at Temple Baptist Church in Ruston.
“Volunteers must be at least 18 years old, male or female,” Abernathy said. “No special skills are needed, just a love for God and your fellow man, plus a willingness to serve as needed.”
Registration Deadline is April 14. The training is open for anyone statewide who meets the qualifications.
Training to be offered includes Chaplaincy and Operational Stress First Aid, which are two-day classes. Other classes are Saturday only:chainsaw/tree jack; laundry/shower; feeding; assessor; mud-out; Blue Hat; basic intro.
Contact Abernathy to register at 318.251.0065 or rollinghills33@bellsouth.net.
In the Southeast Region, a disaster Relief Reunion and Badge Renewal is to take place April 27 at Amite Baptist Church in Denham Springs.
All Disaster Relief volunteers are required to be recertified every three years. Any DR volunteer from anywhere in Louisiana is invited to participate in the three-hour event Saturday morning, April 27. A free breakfast will be provided at 8:30 a.m.
Whether or not they need to be recertified, all DR volunteers from the Eastern Louisiana Baptist Association are asked to attend, said Freddie Arnold of the ELBA staff.
“This is to identify those in ELBA who are certified for some area of Disaster Relief, to recertify and update identification badges, to collect information on those who are certified, and to build a data base in ELBA with the information,” Arnold said. “We’d also like to welcome any person who is interested in getting information about Disaster Relief.”
Those desiring to serve in disaster relief ministry or want to obtain more information can check outwww.lbc.org/DisasteRrelief or call McMillan’s office at 318.448.3402 ext. 276 or 280.