Kentucky-Tennessee Conference offers a disaster relief training course to better assist communities in need

The Kentucky-Tennessee Conference (KYTN) offered a five-day disaster relief training course from January 11 to January 15, 2023. The goal of the course was to equip church members to be ready to help communities in times of crisis. More than 30 people attended and were certified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as a Community Emergency Response (CERT) volunteer.

The course covered topics such as search and rescue, medical operations, psychological and spiritual first aid, tornado drills, and more. It was led by 2Serve – a Collegedale, Tenn., based disaster training and response team.

In the past, KYTN has been involved in helping at previous natural disaster relief efforts, including the December 2021 tornado in Mayfield, Ky., and the July 2022 flash flood in Eastern Kentucky. According to KYTN Vice President for Administration Mike Hewitt, the conference wants to have a team of trained and prepared individuals to better assist communities during these major incidents.

“When you see natural disasters and such happen, it seems inevitable that people step up to help,” Hewitt said. “The Church of all people ought to be on the forefront, showing love and compassion to our community. I'm hoping that people will be inspired, and really develop a passion for service.”

On the last day of the training, participants, some who were middle school and high school students, went through a tornado aftermath simulation to practice the skills learned. To conclude the program, all attendees took and passed the FEMA CERT test. 

Savanna Jackson, Highland Academy freshman, says her biggest takeaway was learning how to help others in manner that is safe for both the victims and the volunteers. She adds that these skills will be helpful when she goes on mission trips with her school.

“A lot of times, the mission trips I go to are to aid people who are in a disaster,” Jackson said. “So, I thought it would be good to have some sort of medical training. My goal is to make an impact in the community I am helping… I want to help them physically and at the same time let Jesus’ love shine through me.”