During a ceremony at the Nebraska State Capitol on Sept. 30, the Nebraska Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster received a Local Hero Award for their relief efforts following devastating storms that impacted several Nebraska communities in June.
Some of the damage in Pilger caused by an EF4 tornado on June 16
“The Nebraska VOAD played a significant role in providing much needed services to citizens impacted by the disasters in Sutton, Beaver Crossing, Pilger and Lakeville,” said Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman. “They met frequently to discuss the needs of the impacted communities and to develop solutions for those needs.”
Gov. Heineman also praised the organization for a new system of rapid notification that allows Nebraska VOAD members to communicate immediately following severe weather. “This notification system enabled volunteer agencies to have better situational awareness and therefore be better prepared to respond,” Heineman said. “Thanks to the coordination efforts of the Nebraska VOAD, volunteer agencies from across the state and nation were able to provide services and supply much needed resources to residents impacted by the disasters that affected our state over this past spring and summer.”
John Treolo and Teri Roberts
John Treolo, communication director for the Kansas-Nebraska Conference, was one of two people accepting the award on behalf of the Nebraska VOAD. The other was Teri Roberts, with Volunteer Partners in Lincoln. Treolo, who has also served as the conference’s Community Services/Disaster Response director since 1990, believes the award reveals a collaborative effort between the approximately 30 agencies involved.
“I was honored the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency and Nebraska VOAD requested Adventist Disaster Response to manage the distribution center in Wisner,” Treolo said. “It is always rewarding to serve those in need.”
Wisner distribution center
Wisner is located about eight miles from Pilger, one of the most impacted communities. During the week they were there, the Adventist Disaster Response team managed, organized and distributed donated goods to approximately 270 impacted residents, many of whom had never heard of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
The KS-NE Adventist Disaster Response Team
“My favorite aspect of disaster response is to share the love of Jesus through needed supplies, encouraging words, smiles, hugs and prayers,” Treolo said. “It’s an opportunity for us to share our faith through friendship evangelism.” While it may not be an appropriate time to offer Bible studies, Treolo believes it’s a perfect time to share our community spirit with those in need. “We are the hands and feet of Jesus during disasters,” he said. “To see the smiles and tears from those served is reward enough for me.”
