NTC Disaster Response team hires caseworkers for Jack County recovery

Dixon and Coley 'will walk alongside the survivors as encouragers and facilitators' 

The NTC Disaster Response team has hired two case managers to aid Jack County in ongoing recovery efforts from the March 21 EF-3 tornado that tore through Jacksboro and Bowie.

Sandra Dixon and Susan Coley, both retired educators from the Jacksboro community, will work out of an office inside First UMC Jacksboro starting July 18.

“Susan and Sandra have extensive experience in education, especially accompanying students with special needs and their families," said Rev. Jeremy Basset, the NTC Disaster Response Coordinator. "This experience and awareness will equip them well for their work as case managers.”

Dixon and Coley will meet with tornado survivors to determine the scope of repairs needed to their homes (including possible replacement). They will also help with determining available funding or grants, finding contractors and/or volunteers and presenting cases to the Unmet Needs subcommittee of the Long-Term Recovery (LTR) committee.

"Sandra and Susan will walk alongside the survivors as encouragers and facilitators, realizing that most have never had to make these kinds of decisions before – and are trying to do so while still in shock following this traumatic event," Rev. Basset said.

The LTR committee includes Rev. Dr. Chad Johnson, senior pastor of First UMC Jacksboro; County Judge Brian Keith Umphress; City Manager Michael Smith and Frank Hefner, Jack County emergency management coordinator. The committee is hard at work giving shape to what will likely be a two-year recovery process.

The North Texas Conference is a lead partner in this initiative, helping with case management, project management and volunteer management. 

The road to recovery will be long, and financial and volunteer support is crucial as Jacksboro recovers from this devastating tornado. If you or your church would like to get involved, email Harva Kuykendall, NTCUMC Disaster Recovery Volunteer Coordinator

Published: Tuesday, July 12, 2022