Bringing Hope and Help: The Hamilton County Baptist Disaster Relief Ministry

Welcome to the Disaster Relief Ministry page of the Hamilton County Baptist Association! Our network of one hundred Southern Baptist churches and missions are dedicated to serving those in need during times of disaster. From providing food and shelter to offering emotional support, our volunteers are committed to bringing hope and aid to communities in crisis. Join us in making a difference and being a beacon of compassion in times of need.

DR Training Upcoming

 Disaster Relief Training Opportunities!

Join us for one of these upcoming training sessions:

 Day: Saturday, March 21st, 2026.

Time: 7:45 am - 2:30 pm
 Location: Whitwell, First Baptist Church. 1970 N. Main Street
Whitwell, TN 37397 United States

 Pre-register today! : https://tndisasterrelief.org/event/introduction-to-disaster-relief-chainsaw-and-flood-recovery-whitwell-middle-tn/

Visit for the full schedule and available classes.

 Questions? Contact Doyle Pittman at dpittman12@epbfi.com.

Recent activities:

Response continues for victims of Hurricane Helene in Eastern Tennessee. A team of 6 volunteers from Dallas Bay Baptist and 15 students from the UTC Baptist Collegiate Ministry is planning to go to Elizabethton to do rebuild in March.

Any church or organization interested in sending a team of volunteers for a new construction project for those affected by Hurricane Helene can contact Garry Maddox, Arise & Build Coordinator, at gmaddox@tnbaptist.org or (615) 210-3215.

The DR Coordinator made a presentation on Associational disaster relief activities at the September 2025 Southeast Tennessee Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters (VOAD) meeting at the Hamilton County Emergency Operations Center. The Coordinator and Assistant Coordinator attended the January 2026 meeting of VOAD.

A meeting was held at the Associational office in December to discuss possible partnership with the CrossNet association for a Rapid Response Feeding trailer. A followup meeting is scheduled for February. This trailer would be used for feeding emergency responders after incidents.

Upcoming activities:

A Unit Director/Blue Hat training session is scheduled for February 10th at the Associational Office. A disaster relief training session is scheduled for Saturday, March 17th at First Baptist Whitwell. Classes include Introduction to Disaster Relief, Chainsaw Operation and Safety, and Flood Recovery. You can visit the training page at tndisasterrelief.org for more details.