By: Lydia Crawley
The Parsons Advocate
A North Carolina based Christian non-profit organization used Davis as a staging area for disaster relief efforts in Weston, Buckhannon and Philippi following the area’s devastating flooding impacted the region July 21st and 22nd. Mission Mules of Harmony, N.C. headed to West Virginia following the storm and Governor Morrisey’s statewide disaster declaration.
The organization were in West Virginia from July 23rd to the 25th assisting in relief efforts.
“Over the past several days, our mules have had the privilege of delivering supplies to families, carrying with them not only essentials, but the love, prayers, and generosity of supporters from across the country, and the hope that comes from God,” the organization said.
The organization uses teams of volunteers and trained pack mules to carry relief supplies into places otherwise inaccessible due to where roadways are washed out, blocked or otherwise too damaged to pass by conventional means.
The organization’s rapid assessment team was in contact with emergency operations centers and incident command teams in the area to coordinate where its efforts would best be utilized while in the area.
“As floodwaters continue to recede, needs will become clearer. By already being nearby, we’ll be able to respond much more quickly when help is needed,” the organization said.
The organization said their goal was not just to deliver supplies to Tucker County’s neighbors impacted by nature’s fury, but hope, as well.
“As always, our goal isn’t just to deliver supplies. It’s to deliver hope, to remind people walking through incredibly difficult days that they have not been forgotten,” the organization said.
According to the organization’s website, the organization offers the following services to those impacted by tragedy:
Essential Supply Delivery: We coordinate and deliver vital supplies such as food, water, medicine, and hygiene kits to those in need, ensuring that affected populations receive the resources necessary for survival and basic well-being. This includes logistical planning and efficient distribution networks.
Long-Term Recovery Support: Our commitment extends beyond immediate response. We offer sustained support for community rebuilding, including assistance with housing repairs, infrastructure reconstruction, and economic recovery initiatives. We work closely with individuals and families to address their long-term needs.
Debris Management: We manage the safe and efficient removal of debris from disaster-stricken areas, facilitating the restoration of affected environments and enabling the rebuilding process to commence. This includes coordination with relevant authorities and adherence to all safety regulations.
Home Repair & Reconstruction: We provide skilled labor and resources to repair and rebuild damaged homes, enabling individuals and families to return to safe and stable housing. This includes damage assessments, project management, and material sourcing.
Volunteer Management: We effectively manage and deploy volunteers, ensuring their skills and efforts are utilized effectively and efficiently to maximize the impact of our relief efforts.
Incident Management: We employ proven incident management strategies to coordinate our response, ensuring effective resource allocation and communication among various stakeholders during and after a disaster. This includes detailed planning and ongoing evaluation of our operational effectiveness.
Providing Hope: Mission Mules not only focuses on providing relief to those in need, but also provides hope to those who may feel forgotten or alone, and shares the love of God as He has directed us all to do. Sometimes, the best answer for someone in distress can be a warm meal, a kind word, a reminder of God’s love, or a MULE HUG!
The organization brought with them on their mission mules Brisket, Samaritan, Andy, Unalii and OG. The organization said that Brisket and OG were their most experienced mules. The trip was the first disaster response for Samaritan, Andy and Unalii without the organization’s veteran lead mules alongside them.
“Months of miles, training, exposure, patience, and preparation have all led to this moment. Training can teach a mule a great deal, but there comes a time when every one of them has to take the test. This trip will show us what we’ve done well, where they have grown, and what we still need to improve when we return home. That’s how a stronger, more dependable response team is built,” the organization said.
The organization announced their departure on July 25th. The organization were returning to North Carolina to allow the mules some rest and to prepare for “what’s next.”
“We are incredibly grateful for the West Virginians who welcomed us, helped care for the mules, learned packing skills, and pointed us toward neighbors who needed a little extra help. Thank you to everyone who offered places for the mules to stay, shared kind words, and greeted us with smiles during some very long days,” the organization said.
For more information on Mission Mules, go to missionmules.org.
