Mesa Verde Baptist Association Launches Disaster Relief

La Plata Airport, Durango, CO- the air was broken by the sounds of a large explosion and gunfire as an attempted hijacking left several dead and nearly 50 injured.  “Operation Thunderbird,” a large mock disaster at Durango’s La Plata Airport was the scene of Mesa Verde Baptist Association’s first disaster relief response.  The drill staged a “shootout” with an attempted plane hijacker.  Over 200 responders - airport authorities, law enforcement agencies, fire, medical and other emergency services acted out their likely duties in the event of a genuine crisis. 

Fresh from Colorado Baptist Disaster Relief training in Cortez the previous weekend, the Mesa Verde Association’s Feeding Unit put their training into action.  In cooperation with the American Red Cross and the Department of Homeland Security, which provided food and refreshment, our disaster relief team manned the food line in support of all the responders and “victims.”   

This disaster drill gave our MVBA Disaster Relief an opportunity to serve the community in Southwestern Colorado, to practice and refine skills and to begin to build relationships with government and other disaster relief organizations in southwestern Colorado.  It was exciting to be recognized by many participants by the familiar “Yellow Hats” and Yellow Tee-shirt worn by Disaster Relief volunteers. 

Special thanks are expressed to our “first responders,” Associational Missionary James Vaughn, Team Leader Kathy Brush, Pastor Rick and Sandi Gregory of Mancos, and Steve Camiano of Rock Springs Church in Cortez.  Disaster Relief Chaplain James Newman served as chaplain-at-large “ministering” to victims and emergency personnel. 

  This is one of many opportunities that Colorado Baptists Disaster Relief volunteers have to serve their communities.  If you would like more information on Colorado Baptists Disaster Relief training, community involvement and deployments locally and across the country, please call 888.771.2480 ext. 228 or check this page often.

Colorado Baptists Disaster Relief is supported through gifts from local churches, individuals and by your gifts to the Sate Missions Offering.

You can now follow Colorado Baptists Disaster Relief on twitter!