B.E.R.T. Natural Disaster Relief Trailer Supply

HOUSTON, Miss. (WCBI) – A natural disaster can leave a community devastated, often with the loss of homes and precious memories.

“It’s just my heart to be a volunteer anyway I can whether, it’s whatever,” said B.E.R.T. Vice President Frank Thompson.

In 2011 a tornado tore through Chickasaw and surrounding counties, leaving a path of destruction. For 1 group of men, the devastation they saw inspired them to find a way to help. That’s how B.E.R.T. was born. It stands for Brotherhood Emergency Response Team.

“We didn’t know where to start so we started getting disaster relief training through the Baptist Disaster Relief. Just for the training we got some more information about the need and the kinds of disasters that we could be looking at in our area,” said B.E.R.T. Volunteer Butch Mixon.

Through the training, the group learned the value of being proactive so they would be ready the next time.

The group raised $9,500 to fund the purchase of life saving materials through dinner plate sales and community donations.

“By raising that money we were able to go ahead and purchase a new trailer and got our lettering on it and now we have purchased the equipment to go in it. It will always be something that we will continue to add equipment to as we see a need for it but we basically got enough stuff now that if we have a disaster with a tree we can move the tree,” said Mixon.

Thompson says the group is getting ahead of the curve to make sure they’re always ready.

“There’s always going to be a need for preparedness and I think something preventive. If you can be preventive and when that time comes you don’t have to be scrambling around. Whatever’s going on may have already happened and you aren’t able to do anything. If you’re prepared before that time then you’re ready to go,” said Thompson.

Linda Griffin Chickasaw County EMA Director says the more help, the better.

“When you have nature disasters weather related that’s county wide it overwhelms our resources quickly and with a volunteer group like this it’s music to a emergency management directors ears to know you’ve got volunteers who are also trained and have the equipment to supplement your emergency response,” said Griffin.

All the supplies for the disaster relief trailer were purchased right in Houston.

If you are interested in making a donation or getting involved with the B.E.R.T. organization you are asked to contact the Parkway Baptist Church. The number is (662)-456-2745.