Missouri Baptist Convention conducts simulated tornado disaster in Jeff City
Beginning at 6:45 a.m. Saturday, nearly 200 volunteers from across the state of Missouri gathered in Jefferson City.
“We did a mock simulation of a tornado coming through this area,” Missouri Baptist Convention Disaster Relief Specialist Dwain Carter told ABC 17 News.
Trailer units for communication, preparing meals and even for showers were used to provide relief to simulated victims in a crisis.
“We’ve sent chainsaw units out and they’ve cut trees down, we fed several meals, we cooked on our feeding units,” Carter said.
This disaster training was used to further equip the Missouri Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers to be ready at any time to provide help, should a real disaster strike.
Event supervisors told ABC 17 News they believe this training is important because you can never predict when exactly a disaster will strike and everyone has to be ready.
The Joplin and Sedalia tornado in 2011 are examples of the type of disaster this group trains and prepares for.
Carter said all of the volunteers work from the heart.
“We come out and we help people free of charge, all volunteering,” Carter said.
As the training came to an end Friday afternoon, the group met altogether one last time to reflect on everything that was accomplished and the importance of being prepared to help each other.
