The record-setting 2.25 mile-wide EF-4 tornado of Easter Sunday with approximately 190 mph winds will forever be etched in the memories of Jones Countians and others in south Mississippi. The landscape of Jones County has once again been changed for years to come. Thousands of trees were snapped off midway up, and others were uprooted, revealing their massive root system that now stands several feet high over a gaping hole in the ground. Bare lumber is showing where shingles and siding once were, and timbers are stacked like toothpicks in massive piles of debris blocking roadways and trapping people in their homes.
But once the wind stopped blowing, Jones Countians were doing what they do best, and the true spirit of our community was revealed. First responders and friends from all over the county flocked to the disaster areas, and neighbors began helping neighbors – Jones County Strong!
Immediately after the storms passed, Rena Register, who is the mission mobilization coordinator with the Jones County Baptist Association, started activating the Southern Baptist Disaster Relief teams for Jones County. According to Register, the Southern Baptist Disaster Relief is the third-largest disaster relief organization in the nation.
By Monday morning Register was set up at First Baptist Church of Soso with Pastor PJ Weeks, and trained disaster relief team members began showing up. The main camp for the Southern Baptist Disaster Relief was set up at Collins, where they will be able to deploy major equipment and relief teams to the different disaster areas throughout the state.
“We have teams assessing the needs of tornado victims throughout this community,” said Register. “Whatever is needed, tractors, heavy equipment such as a Bobcat, chainsaws, and tarps, we’re able to send out trained teams to address those needs.”
By Wednesday she had sent out more than 250 volunteers into the community to assess needs, cut up trees, tarp roofs, and move piles of debris to the roadside.
“We’ve always said that we’re a loving, caring fellowship of churches on mission together, and I can tell you that truly is the case here today.”
Register and Weeks commented on how incredible it has been to see all the churches come together in a joint effort to clean up and take care of one another.
“Caleb Rawls at Pleasant Home is doing exactly what we’re doing, and we’re funneling things to him in the Matthews community,” said Weeks. "The same is happening in the Moss community."
Weeks added that pastors and churches from all over Jones County and the state have contacted them to offer assistance.
“We are doing our very best to have a plan in place to mobilize volunteers and to put people where we believe they can be best utilized,” stated Register.
“I have a number of friends that are teachers who are not working right now because of COVID-19 that have amazing organizational skills. I am very grateful that we have been able to utilize those teachers,” said Register.
Register expressed her thanks for the help with paperwork provided by Angela Golobay and Ashley Smith. Teams sent out to assess the needs of the tornado victims return to the church with a report, which is reviewed, and teams are deployed to the residence to address those needs. In addition to the cleanup efforts, they are providing over 200 hot lunches or sack lunches and more than 500 hot evening meals daily.
Regina Blankenship, whose husband, James Blankenship, is the pastor at Sandhill Baptist Church, has stepped in to help coordinate the food that is coming in from various places throughout Jones County.
“We have food coming from all over, and meals are scheduled through Saturday,” said Blankenship. She said they would evaluate the situation Saturday to see if the meals need to continue.
Blankenship said the lunches are being provided by churches across Jones County as well as The Glory House. The evening meals are coming from businesses and individuals from all over, including The Smokehouse of Laurel, Stringer’s Catfish, Gerald Pennington, Garcia’s Donuts, The Gables, Sanderson Farms, West Quality Food Service and K-Rocks.
“The damage you see here in Soso is repeated over and over again throughout Jones County,” exclaimed Weeks. “It’s unbelievable. It is going to take us all working together for weeks.”
A temporary disaster relief phone number has been established for the Jones County Baptist Association Disaster Relief. If you would like to volunteer or have questions or concerns, call 601-577-0680.
If you are a homeowner in Soso that needs assistance, Register said to come to First Baptist Church of Soso to the red tent beside the church and fill out a need assessment report. To make a monetary donation, a Jones County Baptist Association Fundraiser has been set up on Facebook by Joe Blackledge, JCBA secretary.