On August 5, 2016 a three person United Methodist Volunteers In Mission Early Response Team (UMVIM-ERT) responded to Rocky Swamp UMC – American Indian Ministries located at 7387 Neeses Highway out of Springfield, SC. A strong thunderstorm blew the top out of a huge oak tree, which severely damaged the high pitched roof on one end and completely destroyed a front porch leaving a huge debris pile blocking the front doors. Rain water had begun coming in through the damaged roof and big hole created where the porch was torn from the church. The electrical wiring was also pulled from the church and several windows cracked.
James (JD) Fish, who is considered a “Medicine Man” and spiritual leader of the church states he and his family had just finished cutting up one big limb from the massive oak when a storm blew out the entire top onto the top of the church and porch, which it demolished.
ERT members George Branham and Billy Robinson had helped fix the church up several years back as part of an Older Adult Mission that lasted a week. Branham states, “I remember spending a week here helping repair the church and paint it. I used 22 can of caulking and helped with a variety of needed repairs.” states Branham. “I remember patching squirrel holes at the roofline, painting the interior and repairing a back door ramp. I also remember Junior Jackson helping head up some of the various repairs while working out of his work trailer that he pulled to most projects he worked on,” states Robinson.
August 5th found Branham, Robinson & Felix Vazquez responding as and ERT Team, which using big chainsaws were able to cut up the huge oak debris. They cleared away the huge debris pile of tin and lumber from the porch and made access to the church front doors. They then made access to the attic and placed a 20’x30’ tarp in the attic to divert rain water from the severely damaged high pitched roof to the outside of the church.
The church is still in critical need of roof repairs, which will probably call for scaffolding due to the steep pitch of the roof at approximately 30’ high along with some structural damage. A front porch will need to be rebuilt, several glass windows replaced and the electrical connection repaired and placed back onto the building before power can be restored. They also need the rest of the huge oak limbed or preferably taken down near the front entrance. Another one is leaning towards the church towards the rear that is just as big.
Billy Robinson – SC UMVIM Disaster / ERT Coordinator
