cookeville, tn Tornado March 3, 2020

Heritage  Academy  was  threatened  by  the  tornado  and  took  full  measures  to  protect students  and  staff  alike.  All  were  in  safe  places  at  the  time  the  tornado  was  coming  toward  them.  As  it  approached  the  campus  the  tornado  rose  up  over  the  school  and  descended  again  a  1/2 mile  beyond  sparing  it  and  everyone  there  from  harm.  God  literally  had  His  hand  of  protection  over  them!  Since  the  school  was  not  impacted  by  the  storm  administration  went  to  the  county  Emergency  Operations  Center  to  offer  the  help  of  the  school.  It  was  readily  accepted  because  of  the  incredible  leadership  and  manpower  Heritage  Academy  provided  in the  disaster  recovery  efforts  for  the ice  storm  that  occurred  on  February  20-21,  2015.  This  time  they  were  asked  to set  up,  organize  and operate  a  POD  (Point  of  Distribution)  by handing  out  food,  water  and  other  necessities  to  survivors.

The  POD  was  set  up  and  after  two  days  their  students  were  sent  home  for  Spring  Break utimately  remaining there  for  the  rest  of  the  school  year  because  of  COVID-19.  As  a  result   Heritage  Academy  administration  and  some  staff  had  to  run  the  POD  using  volunteers  from  Tennessee  Tech  University  and church  groups.  Survivor  needs caused  the  POD to  run  for  six  weeks when normally most  disaster  POD  operations  end  after  two.  This  was  much  more  challenging  when  their  students  with  POD  experience were  not  available.  Another  2Serve  partner,  Gideon  Rescue  Company,  gathered  six  volunteers  and  assisted  for  six  days.  Operating  a  POD  gave  many  opportunities  to  listen  to  stories of  survivors  and  to  pray  with  and  encourage  them.  God  has used Heritage  Academy to  respond  to  more  than  50  disasters  since  their  journey  began  in  2005  blessing  the  lives  of  many  thousands  of  survivors  while   changing  the  lives  of  their students  as  they were  the  hands  and  feet  of  Jesus.