The Fall Branch Volunteer Fire Department has been heavily involved in the Washington County Storm Relief of 2011.

Here are some ways you can help your community in this effort:

Donating money:

Nearly 150 Washington County families lost their homes in the storms, and nearly 600 more homes suffered significant damage. Recovery will be an expensive process. Fortunately, two trustworthy, non-profit organizations with deep roots in the two communities most affected have established funds to help victims. They are the Nolichuckey Volunteer Fire Department and the Fall Branch Volunteer Fire Department. Each department now has a separate bank account dedicated to those funds, and donations are tax-deductible.

To donate by check, make payable to either department and write "Disaster Relief Fund" on the memo line. They can be mailed to Nolichuckey Volunteer Fire Department at 2634 Highway 107, Chuckey, TN 37641 or to Fall Branch Volunteer Fire Department at 106 Ruritan Road OR Post Office Box 84, Fall Branch, TN 37656. Representatives from both departments and the mayor's office will work together to see that the donations are disbursed equitably through the storm-affected areas.

Donating material:

People, churches and businesses are doing a wonderful job keeping relief workers supplied with enough food, drinks and clothing to keep people well-clothed and very well fed. This is a testament to the wonderful community spirit that has always existed in Washington County.

However, in the days to come, the mop-up and recovery effort will be intense and require important items that would be much appreciated from donors. These include the following:

Work gloves
Large trash bags
Tarps
Toilet paper and paper towels
Storage tubs/bins with lids
Paper plates and plastic utensils
Cleaning supplies (bleach, laundry detergent, etc.)
Coolers

Items can be delivered to the command post in South Central, at the South Central Ruritan/Nolichuckey Volunteer Fire Department at 2634 Tennessee Highway 107, Chuckey. A second distribution point is the Fall Branch Volunteer Fire Department. It is located at 106 Ruritan Road (corner of Highway 93 and Ruritan Road).

Thank you for your interest in helping others in your community to recover from
April 27-28's devastating storms.