Community Organizations Active in Disaster bustling with activity following Hurricane Michael

ALBANY — After learning from the severe storms that hit Albany last year, Community Organizations Active in Disaster (COAD) knew what to do after Hurricane Michael hit.

Many in the community are responding to the organization’s call for volunteers, just as they did before, but tremendous need still remains in the community, according to officials with the relief collective.

“We are crawling with volunteers,” Sherrell Byrd, the spokeswoman for COAD, said. “COAD is what is bringing everyone together.

“This a huge undertaking this time.”

Byrd said COAD’s efforts, via Albany Relief and Recovery, never really stopped following the January 2017 storms. Active efforts ceased in August, giving the agency a two-month break before the hurricane. The Salvation Army, alongside other faith-based organizations, have jumped on board — and the chainsaw groups hit the ground running immediately.

“The response has been a lot swifter this time,” she said.

Initially focused on getting trees off of roads, the chainsaw groups are now focused on houses, provided homeowners have been in touch with their insurance companies to file a claim and talk to an adjuster first.

“We are flooded with calls all day,” Byrd said.

The undertaking is even bigger than in 2017 because those storms impacted specific areas, while Hurricane Michael had some level of impact on everyone in the southwest Georgia region. The focus of COAD has primarily been on Dougherty County, but the intention is to collect enough resources to expand into other areas.

“We are getting calls from everywhere, from Dawson and Camilla,” Byrd said.

COAD is in touch with the Salvation Army, which has operations in nine counties. Samaritan’s Purse and Billy Graham Ministries are set up at COAD’s headquarters, which is at the former Coke plant at 925 Pine Ave.

Samaritan’s Purse has 30-minute training sessions for first-day volunteers at 7:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. before going out into the community to remove fallen trees from properties and houses. The humanitarian organization is taking work orders and coordinating volunteer efforts.

“We are staying busy,” Samaritan’s Purse Program Manager Shannon Daley said. “We need volunteers.

“Everyone has been super welcoming, and we have made a very smooth transition.”

As is the case at any disaster site, residents of Albany are hurting. That fact has been evident to Daley, who said Samaritan’s Purse will remain in the area as long as work orders are coming in.

“If it is you, it is big,” she said. “(The people in Albany) are resilient, but they still need help.

“(The public and Albany area government) are very welcoming and very eager to have us here.”

Cathy Nordgaarden, chaplain coordinator for Billy Graham Ministries, is part of a 10-person chaplain response team to support emotional and spiritual needs as the owner of the impacted property has to be there while Samaritan’s Purse does its job.

In Albany, she said, the need and response to their services have been astounding.

“Sometimes they have had other disasters in their lives, and this is just the icing on the cake,” she said. “Chaplains will also, if they are willing, pray for them. There are chaplains at the (Albany) Civic Center, and people come up and just want to start talking.”

Nordgaarden said having someone available to listen can be valuable to storm victims and that the chaplains on the ground have noticed a difference.

“We can tell that the demeanor has changed,” she said. “They know they have hope again. If people don’t know if there are others who care, they are overwhelmed with every detail.

“People know they can trust us (following the 2017 storms), and that is huge.”

COAD officials are notifying the public of the following resources:

— Free tree removal is available through Samaritan’s Purse by calling (229) 733-4423.

— A disaster relief team is at First Baptist Church of Albany at 145 Oakland Parkway

— Shelters are available at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, 2106 Radium Springs Road, and the Civic Center. There are free showers at Planet Fitness, 1016 N. Westover Blvd., from 7 a.m.-7 p.m.

— Disaster aid is available at 2424 Sylvester Road (ice, tarps, disaster supplies) from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., and Cutliff Grove Family Resource Center has nonperishable items and disaster supplies at 841 W. Broad Ave.

— Free meals, (lunch from 11 a.m.-2 p.m., dinner 3-5 p.m.) at Gordon Sports Complex and Tallulah Massey Park. Food is also available at the Civic Center, the downtown Albany Fire Department station, Mike’s Country Store in Putney and the Sand Dunes

— Spiritual counseling through Billy Graham Ministries at COAD headquarters, and Sherwood Baptist Church by calling (229) 886-4045

— Medical aid for non-emergencies available at Civic Center. Elderly in need of transport can call (229) 483-6226 and (229) 483-6227

Byrd said COAD is expecting to be involved in relief efforts for the short-term and long-term. A need still remains for volunteers.

The number of people giving their time is less than last year, largely due to the widespread impact. Food and shelter are currently the most critical needs, with several grocery stores and restaurants still unable to open.

“If they can even take half-days off (that would be helpful),” she said.

COAD is working to print flyers and distribute them for the benefit of those without access to their cellphones or power. To contact COAD, call (229) 288-2669, email [email protected], visit www.arrcoad.com or stop by 925 Pine Ave.

To access the disaster assistance and community resource hotline, dial 211. FEMA can be reached concerning assistance at 1-800-621-3362 or by visiting www.disasterrecovery.org.