All current and future volunteer opportunities with BDM require new safety protocol and consent forms beyond what was previously in place as we strive to provide safe volunteer opportunities in this COVID-19 environment.
The Covid-19 Informed Consent Agreement must be signed and returned with the Volunteer Registration form at least 2 weeks before arriving at the project location. The Covid-19 Informed Consent Agreement can be found on the relevant project page or under “Forms & Guidelines“.
“Every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.” Heb. 3:4
A disaster can destroy not only homes, but also the sense of well-being for survivors. Brethren Disaster Ministries recruits volunteers, led by faith, to use their skills to promote recovery.
Trained, skilled project leaders supervise volunteers as they extend a helping hand to clean up debris and restore the homes of disaster survivors in need. The presence of these volunteer work teams helps to ease trauma and promote recovery.
Current Active BDM Rebuild Site
Waverly, Tenn August 2021 Flood Recovery
On August 21-23, 2021, a line of storms and rain moved through middle Tennessee causing catastrophic, flash flooding impacting the counties of Dickson, Hickman, Houston, and Humphreys. It is reported that over 17 inches of rain fell in 24 hours, sending large amounts of water rushing, including to areas that did not see the most rainfall.
About 60 miles west of Nashville, the city of Waverly (population 4,000), experienced the most impact of this rain as runoff from upstream on the Trace Creek headed west through this town. Local partners report that it only took about twelve minutes to wash away cars, cell towers, bridges, roads, and hundreds of homes. The rushing water caused the death of 20 community members, including four children under the age of seven. FEMA has approved 954 families for Individual Assistance funds. A BDM site opened in Waverly, TN at the end of April 2022. It is anticipated that this work will continue there at least through the end of the year. See project details
Local Response and Short-term Response
Current short-term opportunities available in Madisonville, KY from winter 2021 tornadoes.
Recently Closed and Past BDM Responses
Below is a list of our most recently closed rebuilding projects. For a full list of past BDM sites, visit our Past Projects page.
Coastal NC, 2018 Hurricane Florence
The Coastal NC BDM project was in response to Hurricane Florence which made landfall in North Carolina on Sept. 14, 2018. This slow-moving storm proved to be the wettest tropical cyclone in Carolina’s history. This site served communities in Pamlico CO from Sept 2020 to the end of April 2021 before pausing and then reopened at the end of October 2021 before closing permanently in the middle of April 2022.
Dayton OH, Spring 2019 Tornadoes
A BDM project located in Dayton, Ohio helped with the rebuilding efforts in the Miami Valley area. This site reopened in April 2021 as the only BDM site open and closed at the end of October 2021. This project was funded by grants from the Greater Dayton Disaster Relief Fund of The Dayton Foundation.
Celebrating An Answered Call: Puerto Rico Hurricane Maria Recovery Reporting
Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico on September 20, 2017 as a Category 4 storm with 155-mph winds, causing an estimated $100 billion in damage to infrastructure, services, agriculture and structures, and leaving Puerto Ricans with little or no consistent access to power, safe water, and resources.
All seven of Church of the Brethren congregations in Puerto Rico, and their communities, were among those affected by the hurricanes. BDM partnered with the Church of the Brethren Puerto Rico district immediately following the hurricane by providing emergency funding and materials. The partnership continued with BDM working with the district Recovery Committee on a home repair and construction program to benefit church members and their communities from September 2018 through June 2020. Read more about this completed project here.
