Day 18: Hear from Disaster Volunteers on the Ground Now

Volunteers on the Ground in Tennessee

WHAT WE ARE DOING

Three weeks ago, Winter Storm Uri created widespread destruction in Overton County, Tennessee. Inspiritus disaster response teams have been on the ground since the storm, providing residents with free chainsaw services to their homes and property.

So far we've completed:

• 104+ hours of heavy equipment operation

• Over 140 project site assessments

• Over 111 jobs

• Over 1,700 volunteer hours

This rapid response effort would not be possible without the support from our partners: Airbnb, Airlink, Home Depot, Overton County, and Christian Emergency Network.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

VOLUNTEER WITH US!

If you would like to help empower disaster survivors on their journey from surviving to thriving, come volunteer with us.

We have 2 long-term recovery programs in progress in Southwest Georgia and Cookeville, Tennessee.

We invite you to join us as we help our neighbors recover from the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Michael and the 2020 Middle Tennessee Tornadoes.

• Due to a lack of volunteers in Southwest Georgia, Inspiritus is having to outsource work to contractors…which allows us to help fewer people.

• A lack of volunteers also means that it is taking longer to bring these people home!

If you'd like to volunteer in these recovery efforts in Southwest Georgia and Middle Tennessee, please contact Sabrina More, our Lead Disaster Case Manager / Disaster Relief Volunteer Manager at sabrina.more@weinspirit.org

We will continue to share updates from the ground as our teams assist those impacted by Winter Storm Uri. In the meantime, please follow our social media channels @weareinspiritus for the latest news.

Thank you for your donations. If you haven't given yet, please consider giving today by clicking on the button below. Through your generosity and support, we're bringing hope to the people who need it most.

Gratefully,

Virginia Spencer
Chief Development Officer
Inspiritus

Inspiritus is also partnering with Overton-Pickett Emergency Communications to host a Community Cleanup Day on Saturday, March 13th:

We will be checking in volunteers and handling the logistics to efficiently assign project site work orders. If you live in the Overton County surrounding area and would like to join us, please contact Sabrina More, our Lead Disaster Case Manager / Disaster Relief Volunteer Manager at sabrina.more@weinspirit.org

Day 8: TN Response Update

Day 8: TN Winter Response Going Strong

At least 12 people died after last week's winter storm in Middle Tennessee. Winter storm Uri plunged temperatures to below the freezing mark and left thousands of households without power.

Overton County was hit particularly hard. The Emergency Manager for Overton County and the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency called Inspiritus in to help. We rapidly deployed several of our volunteer chainsaw teams to begin clearing roadways to ensure the electric company could restore power to households.

We've had over 425 requests for help in Overton County. Now our disaster response teams are assisting homeowners and offering free chainsaw services to their homes and property.

Today, the team is setting up a new base at the Livingston Police Academy. The Heritage Academy (out of Cookeville, TN) is bringing in trained sawyers and swampers to join us daily. They will also be graciously cooking and providing all our dinner meals.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Inspiritus has received hundreds of requests asking for assistance and we are looking for volunteers! If you'd like to volunteer on this response, please sign up here.

AirLink is flying our teams in for this response, and as of now, our confirmed volunteers are from: Washington, Michigan, Oregon, and California. Some volunteers are driving in from Kentucky, Georgia, and Indiana. We are so grateful for these kind souls helping with our on the ground relief efforts!

Special thanks to these partners for making this effort possible: Airbnb, Airlink, Home Depot, Overton County, and Christian Emergency Network.

We are preparing for a multi-week response, so we can continue to empower Middle TN residents on their journey from surviving to thriving. We will continue to share updates from the ground as our teams assist those impacted by this deadly storm. Thank you for your donations. If you haven't given yet, please consider giving today by clicking on the button below. Through your generosity and support, we're bringing hope to the people who need it most.

Gratefully,

Virginia Spencer
Chief Development Officer
Inspiritus