Services, Disaster Relief available at Christian Appalachian Project (CAP) - Operation Sharing

Anyone is welcome to volunteer for the Disaster Relief program; there is no need to be a current CAP volunteer or have had previous volunteering experience. If time is not available, donations are always gladly received.

For more information about the program, volunteering or donations, contact Sherry Buresh, Disaster Relief Program Director, at 606-308-9234 or sburesh@chrisapp.org.

Weather is unpredictable and, as a result, storms can paralyze a geographic region in a matter of minutes. CAP’s Disaster Relief program organizes volunteers to aid residents who have been unfortunate victims of a natural disaster. Disaster Relief is able to secure supplies including food, water, bedding and other essentials that will be distributed by the volunteers.

The Disaster Relief program works to network resources with other community agencies to best meet the needs of those affected. Oftentimes, communities come to CAP for help but program director Sherry Buresh is always alert to weather conditions when she suspects CAP can be of assistance. Once involved in a relief effort, CAP coordinates with state emergency management and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to most efficiently respond to the disaster. The objective is always to get help to those who need it as quickly and as efficiently as possible. To learn about more than 1,000 official government benefit and assistance programs, visit www.GovBenefits.gov.

History

In 2004, CAP employees began discussing ways to help people who had been affected by a natural disaster. In May of that year, eastern Kentucky was impacted by flash flooding. CAP did what they could to help, even without preparation. While FEMA was in the area and saw CAP’s interest in helping, they trained CAP caseworkers and long-term volunteers in recovery techniques for future missions.

With the newfound information, CAP resumed the planning of a disaster relief program. Then hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast. CAP went to the Gulf Coast with 257 volunteers, spending nearly five months doing whatever was needed – cleaning, distributing items, setting up shelters and more.

These two events allowed Disaster Relief to become a reality by giving CAP volunteers and employees the experience to develop an organized and operational program that continues to assist more and more people each year.

Previous Efforts

Tennessee (Tornados February 2008)
During two weeks nearly 60 responders and nearly 3,000 hours of work were expended
Provided , clean-up and repairs to several houses and farm properties, including roofing, siding, fencing, and acres of farm property clean-up.
Emergency disaster relief supplies were provided to the TennVOAD warehouse for distribution to the affected counties.
During two weeks 32 responders and 2,500 hours of work were expended
Provided clean-up and repairs to 42 houses
Distributed water, cleaning supplies and other essentials

Florida (Tornados February 2007)
During one week 25 responders and 1,000 hours of work were expended
Provided neighborhood clean-up and three semi-loads of supplies

New York (Flash Floods)
During one week 12 responders, 706 hours of work and 372 travel hours were expended
Provided clean-up and repairs to 7 houses
Pennsylvania (Flash Floods)
During one week 17 responders, 661 hours of work and 365 travel hours were expended
Provided clean-up and repairs to 10 houses
Distributed a semi-load of disaster relief supplies
Also distributed to three townships outside the immediate area

Mississippi (Hurricane Katrina)
During four and a half months 147 responders, 20,181 hours of work and 6,195 travel hours were used
14,460 cars arrived loaded with needed supplies
30,750 people were fed/served meals
70 houses were cleaned out, gutted and/or repaired
80 trips made taking supplies to neighborhoods
Door-to-door assessments made to 50 FEMA trailers to assess the families’ needs and attend to them
Transported evacuees for the Red Cross Shelter
Assisted a family to reunite with their children from Lexington, Ky. back to

Houston, Texas
Helped set up distribution center along the Mississippi Gulf Coast and acted as a “staging area” to direct supplies and deliver them to various centers
18 semi loads of supplies (more than $3 million worth of in-kind donations) delivered to the Gulf Coast area for Hurricane Katrina

Kentucky (Flash Floods)
27 homes repaired within eight days
More than $1 million worth of supplies delivered to affected counties
Disaster Relief supplies sent to: Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, West Virginia

program also offers a variety of skills and services to help the communities.

Volunteer relief teams
Portable shower trailers
Short-term shelters
Loading and unloading trucks
Collection sites for donated supplies
Warehousing, donation sorting and kit assembly
Supply distribution and delivery
“House muck-out, clean up, tear-out and repair”
Soup kitchen experience
Community outreach and caseworkers
Evacuation transportation
Large vehicle fleet
Leading and coordinating volunteers

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