The news is filled recently with concerns and rumors regarding what health officials are beginning to label an influenza pandemic.  Many of us are asking, what do I need to do to protect myself and my family, as well as asking what can I and my Church do to help alleviate suffering and hardship if and when this rises to epidemic proportions in our corner of the world.
 
Charles Montgomery and Fritz Schilling, who have been active in disaster relief on behalf of the Presbytery of East Tennessee for several years, have an answer to that helping part.  We can be a part of the action to support the management of disaster relief in the face of a possible epidemic.
 
During one of the last hurricane evacuations scheduled to come our way, the American Red Cross asked the Presbyterians to be responsible for setting up volunteer processing centers.  These centers, managed by Presbyterians, were the first step in preparing volunteers to work with the Red Cross in staffing shelters.  This work was invaluable for the Red Cross professionals who then could spend their valuable time and energy in training and organizing those who had volunteered to serve.
 
This service proved so valuable that the Knox County Health Department has asked that Presbyterians assume that same role in the event of health related disasters such as epidemics.  Charles and Fritz have enlisted Erin and Fountain City Presbyterian Churches to be prepared to be volunteer processing centers, and they are working on others.  Westminster, Second and Sequoyah Hills in Knoxville, as well as First in Lenoir City and New Providence in Maryville, are in the process of joining in that effort.
 
Charles writes, "The Knox County Health Department response to a swine flu epidemic will be to have some 400-500 volunteers be processed by us and then they will disperse these individuals to 8 or more schools in Knox County to administer vaccine, etc.  Other denominations are responsible for recruiting the 400-500 individuals; we Presbyterians will be responsible for processing them much as we did the shelter workers last year.   The Health Department's response will be quick and intense with the points of dispersing (PODS) operating for a short time, such as 48 hours, to administer vaccines and perform other functions as directed by the Health Department.  So pray that we can be ready, and we really need your help!  For your information, those of us who work in volunteer processing and our families would get vaccine on a priority basis, just as would the 400-500 volunteers we would be processing."
 
To volunteer to be a member of our volunteer processing staff, please contact Charles Montgomery, montymontgomery@comcast.net / cell phone (865) 805-2829, or Laura Tappan at the Presbytery office, Laura@presbyteryeasttn.org / 865-688-5581 / 800-542-4246.