ATLA partners with the Church of Christ Disaster Relief Team to help flood victims in Northeast Arkansas

On May 20, 2017, members of the Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association partnered with the Church of Christ Disaster Relief Team of Pocahontas to help a family in Success, Arkansas with cleaning out flood damaged parts of their home. Members traveled as far as Fayetteville, Fort Smith, Sheridan, Little Rock, Arkadelphia, and Jonesboro to assist the family after record flooding occurred during the week of May 8, 2017.

Seen above is the Haggard family home. The Current River is seen in the background, which rose to approximately the bottom of the open window on the left.

Pictured above from left to right, the Mike Haggard family (in front and back); in the front in the blue shirt, Sarah Jewell, Ryan Jewell, Shayne Dobson (kneeling), ATLA President Joey McCutchen, Margaret Dobson, and Becky Dent. In the back row beginning with the gray hat, Paul Ford, Mike Gaddy, Taylor Chaney, Lewis Strate, David Dobson, Joe Denton, and Joseph Gates.

From left to right, Joe Denton and Sarah Jewell are doing their best to rip up the floors of the Haggard home so the concrete slab underneath gets the opportunity to dry out. Other parts of the home had wet joist underneath the floors. Parts of the floor were more stubborn than others, which required more elbow grease from multiple people to remove them. Here are some other tips for cleaning up a home after a flood.

The Church of Christ Disaster Response Team is immediately available to the local congregation(s) in the disaster stricken area. The purpose of the Disaster Response Team is to aid the local congregation in recruiting and receiving volunteers to assist with the emotional and spiritual needs of the disaster victims and to assist them in the clean-up and rebuilding stage. They offer a mobile kitchen, mobile shower trailer, trained coordinators, completely stocked tool trailers, health kits, clean-up kits, baby kits, and school kits.

The efforts of the Disaster Response Team are possible through the financial donations from churches and individuals across the world, and by the volunteers who work with the Disaster Response Team. You can help by donating here.