Kimberly Goreham and No Town Left Behind work to help those affected with disaster support

The news about the global pandemic and its increasing spread across the U.S. has dominated the headlines and, yet, another more well-known foe was spreading danger to different parts of the lower 48; it made frightening news, at the same time. A devastating weather system that barreled through parts of the southeast recently claimed at least 30 lives, destroyed homes and knocked out power to thousands of people. This combination of calamities has been a growing fear for disaster expert Kimberly Goreham, as our country is largely quarantined and abiding by “shelter-in-place” orders, on the cusp of what is typically the hurricane and dangerous weather season.

The founder of No Town Left Behind (NTLB), Goreham has spent the past two and a half years developing a program with the resources to provide disaster support throughout the country; it’s not easy work responding to tornadoes, floods, fires, snow storms and other extreme weather events throughout the year. Now, added to that is the overlay of the COVID-19 and the risk and unknowns the virus presents for first-responders and hundreds of volunteers that work with Goreham, who started NTLB in 2017, after she helped to raise dollars and provided aid in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey.

“What’s disconcertingly clear about this pandemic is our supply chain was caught off guard,” she said during a recent interview.  “We are up against an invisible pathogen and, as a nation, people are fearing the unknown.” “Supplies are already a challenge for our entire nation and with the approaching storm season, I can’t even imagine how a major hurricane would strain and stress a community,” offered Goreham.

Born from the ruins of Hurricane Harvey, NTLB is a volunteer 501(c)3 charity that springs to action under the banner of Empowered and Ready. Hundreds of professional and grass-roots volunteers are mobilized to engage in a wide array of emergency support services. Goreham works with community players that include four-wheel-drive experts and clubs, off road associations, HAM radio operators, Disaster Aviation and Nautical Response Teams, and is a member of NORCAL Volunteers on Active Disasters. NTLB also has had backing and resources from FEMA, NOAA, the FAA, and State Chiropractic Associations, as well as the University of Oklahoma and other government and public/private non-profit organizations, and pastors and churches.

“This was a movement born out of one act of kindness,” explained the disaster specialist, whose faith is a beacon that lights and directs her pathway. “I saw a Facebook post from a friend who wanted to help out in Houston, during Hurricane Harvey and was looking for people to make donations. He didn’t have a webpage or way to collect, and I asked, ‘How can I help?” We set up a GoFundMe page and raised $2,000 dollars in the first day. By the end of the week, we had collected $22,000 and rallied lots of volunteers.”

Responding to ‘Harvey’, Goreham hopped on a plane and, when her boots hit the ground in Texas, she reached out to councilman Jack Christie in Houston. Councilman Christie agreed to provide supplies for the people Kimberly met on the ground who were in desperate need. “There were a thousand people of all ages who had been stuck for 24 hours with no supplies. I knew where our first loaded truck was going! Once we arrived with the truck, we started asking: who else is in need? Locals always know. Our mantra became, No Town Left Behind, as we pressed forward through the flooded backroads. “

Hurricane Harvey also demonstrated that disasters affect not only people but also our “furry friends”. Pets can often become lost after fleeing danger, and left without shelter, food, and security. Growing out of the same grassroots as NTLB, No Pet Left Behind (NPLB) deploys Emergency Response Teams comprised of veterinarians, technicians, local clubs, and volunteers. Goals include the rounding up of lost pets, evaluating their needs, and providing safe shelter and food until they can be reunited with their family.”

The foundation of NTLB’s success lies in its proactive approach to engagement and training, claims Goreham, who is the owner/ founder of Chiro Rock Star. Part of the “secret sauce” is that, despite the seriousness with which Goreham and her Board of Directors addresses its mission, it’s a bonus that their training events can be enlightening as well as lots of fun.

Like to drive in the great outdoors? NTLB partners with off-road product companies like WARN Industries who not only donated 17 Winches for the NTLB Landing Team, but also takes part in their “Driving In Disasters” certification courses. Topics vary but include situational awareness, how to get un-stuck, winch certification, roadway assessment, and tips on how to get around/over/through hazardous driving situations safely. Participants take part in their 4WD vehicle and come out of the course with confidence, new skills, a support network, and an understanding of just how capable even the family SUV might be.

Goreham’s experience in the natural medicine field, extensive traveling and owning a business, combined with her life-long outdoor and off-road lifestyle, have prepared her to lead this national organization. “In Hurricane Harvey it was the good ol’ guys and gals with 4×4’s and trailers who helped us to deliver supplies and evacuate people in the hardest hit areas. They know the back roads, how to get through and who needs help in their community most.” “I grew up with these people and they are capable, salt-of-the-earth types. Best of all, they have what I call Toys with Purpose,” Kimberly explained.

“There are different types of givers. For some, it’s time or money and, for others, it can be goods or services. Together, we enable the distribution of supplies for a community and its first responders. Many hands lighten the load, we always say.” The all-volunteer program has no salaried employees; a board of directors with pastors, chaplains, regional commanders, and incident commanders help run the organization.

“The original plan for our organization was to focus solely on providing assistance to communities on the United States mainland,” Goreham stated. “However, when Hurricane Maria and Hurricane Dorian struck, we couldn’t just sit by and watch people suffer.” NTLB provided boat loads of supplies and volunteers to support Puerto Rico and the Bahamas. “When people are struggling and isolated on islands right off our coasts, it’s important to reach out and help our neighbors. It’s so much harder to recover from a disaster when you live on an island,” Goreham said.

With 13 major disasters under their belt, NTLB is considering this latest pandemic to be their greatest challenge. “The coronavirus disaster is different because our normal supply chain is not available. Volunteers are nervous and not stepping up due to fear of catching the virus or being a carrier. It’s a global disaster unlike anything we’ve ever seen. We must get creative to help struggling communities.” Right now, NTLB is testing a plan in the Pacific Northwest to create barter exchange distribution sites, much like farmer’s markets, only free. Supplies are organized and decontaminated, so everyone is safe and can still get what they need. Additionally, NTLB is networking with volunteers who are HAM Radio Operators to connect signals across the country, just in case something happens to normal communications.

“We would typically be on scene with truckloads of supplies and reaching out in person to sheriff’s departments and churches to assess needs. Now we’re doing that through Zoom meetings and phone calls instead. We’re good at breaking down barriers and getting people to organize and work together on behalf of the entire community, it’s just a little different this time around.”

Fingers are crossed that this pandemic is over soon and our supply chains open back up before this upcoming hurricane season, or No Town Left Behind could face their hardest challenges to date. To volunteer or learn more about NTLB please visit www.NoTownLeftBehind.org.

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