100 hurricane victims being relocated to Tri-County area

Efforts in the Tri-County area to help victims of Hurricane Katrina have accelerated in recent days as at least two local organizations plan to house refugees from the storm while others are handling a flood of donations.
In a meeting Tuesday, the Greater Corbin Ministerial Association worked out an agreement to tentatively use the vacant Best Value Inn, off Cumberland Falls Hwy. in Corbin, as a standby facility for victims that have special needs or medical conditions and need a private room. Tom Allen, Pastor at First Baptist Church of Corbin and Secretary of the Ministerial Association, said there are 61 rooms at the hotel that can be used.
“We are really on standby at this point, but we are ready to help.” he said. “We’ve talked about how to best offer help to people and provide relief and we want to reserve that facility for those who may have medically sensitive situations.”
Allen said Ministerial leaders met with city officials, Corbin school officials, members of Kentucky Disaster and Emergency Management, Knox County Emergency Management and others.
First United Methodist Church of Corbin announced Sunday that it planned to house 30 people displaced by the hurricane. Busses from Bluegrass Charters left for the Houston Astrodome last week in order to bring back 100 people that need shelter. Seventy of them will stay at The Bennett Center in London, formerly Sue Bennett College, according to Susan Elkow, an Associate Pastor at the church.
“Our commitment is, at a minimum, through December,” Elkow said. “Our intention is to nurture them to do whatever it takes … we want to get them stabilized and back on their feet financially, spiritually, emotionally and physically.”
Elkow said the church has worked an arrangement with the Whitley County Health Department to screen refugees when they arrive and determine if there are any health problems that need treated. She said people should arrive from the damaged areas late Tuesday night or early this morning, but that times keep changing.
Dozens of church members worked Sunday and Monday to prepare the church. Elkow said Sunday school rooms located next to the walking track above the church gym will house those that accept the church’s offer of assistance.
“As we watched the tragedy unfold on TV, our hearts were just torn,” Elkow said. “We knew we had to do something more. I understand it’s just 30 people, but we feel like God has blessed us with incredible facilities and many resources and we just need to share those now.”
Elkow said donations of food, blankets and other necessities have poured in to the point that the church has had to decline some for lack of storage space.
Christina Bentley, Executive Director of Corbin United Effort, said everyone seeking refuge in the area from Louisiana, Mississippi and other hurricane-ravaged areas, will be processed at Faith Assembly of God in London before assignment to either The Bennett Center or First United Methodist Church. Volunteers will help any refugees obtain legal paperwork and other necessary documents for their stay.
Local schools have waived some identification requirements for children from the devastated areas who plan to attend.
Bentley said Corbin United Effort, an organization committed to preventing homelessness and the struggles of poverty, would help any refugees that want to relocate in Corbin find permanent housing and other assistance.
“We want to assist in anyway we can during that transition period should they decide to make this their home,” Bentley said.
Anyone wishing to donate durable goods or food is encouraged to contact the Christian Appalachian Project: Project Sharing and 523-5799. Donations of clothing can be taken to the Central Baptist Church Matthew Ministry on Fourth Street in Corbin, or call 528-6650. Financial donations, or donations of food and water are being accepted by the Corbin Ministerial Association, if interested call 526-7778 or contact president Jerry Combs at 528-1655. Donations can also be given to Corbin’s United Effort at 713 18th Street or call 528-7523. All donations to the CUE will be used locally.
Anyone wanting to volunteer goods or services to the First United Methodist Church is encouraged to call 528-6840 or the Bennett Center at 877-1964.