Greeneville-Greene County Emergency Management Agency Director Heather Sipe was one of three area EMA Directors and two organizations from East Tennessee counties honored as Bristol Motor Speedway Neighborhood Heroes during pre-race ceremonies Saturday at Bristol Motor Speedway.
The recognitions were for their heroic efforts in responding to the devastating flooding left in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.
Greeneville, Sullivan and Washington County EMA Directors, the Appalachian Service Project in Piney Flats and Virginia State Police Aviation Division in Abingdon, Va., all received commemorative plaques and walked across the pre-race stage to be officially recognized during pre-race ceremonies for America’s Night Race.
The Appalachia Service Project has constructed 21 homes and they continue to increase that number for families who lost everything in Helene’s flooding. ASP has been constructing homes for those in need for more than 50 years. Their service and assistance in that area has proven invaluable, especially in the rise of natural disasters in recent years. Since its inception in 1969, ASP has provided critical repairs for more than 350 families and worked with more than 15,000 volunteers.
Those representing ASP during the pre-race ceremonies are the President and Chief Executive Officer Melisa Winburn, Matt Akins, the New Build and Natural Disaster Recovery Construction Coordinator and Tyler Rhodes, the Western North Carolina Disaster Recovery Coordinator.
From Abingdon in Southwest Virginia, the pilots for the Virginia State Police Aviation Department are also being honored as Neighborhood Heroes for the Tri-Cities region. This group of talented helicopter pilots planned and conducted a heroic rescue of more than 60 patients and employees from the rooftop of Ballad Unicoi Hospital after the hospital building became overtaken by rising flood waters. The VSP Aviation team members accepting the honor tonight include the team leader, Sgt. John Ratliff, and the two skilled +pilots who were flying the helicopters on that day, Jake Culp and Jeff Bush.
And finally, three individuals who were instrumental in directing all of the disaster relief operations in three of the Tennessee counties that were affected by Helene’s flood waters will also be recognized for their leadership and service in the aftermath of the disaster. From Sullivan County, the EMA Director, who also played a major role in the Northeast Tennessee Disaster Relief Center headquartered here at Bristol Motor Speedway’s South Building and also assisted as needed in neighboring counties, Mr. Jim Bean. Two others who went above and beyond the call of duty in their respective counties in Helene’s aftermath were Washington County’s Emergency Management Agency Director, Evan Clyburn, and also Greene County’s Emergency Management Agency Director, Ms. Heather Sipe.
“All of these groups and individuals made such an amazing impact one year ago when the stakes were high and our friends and family members across the region were in trouble and hurting following Hurricane Helene’s overwhelming flooding throughout Eastern Tennessee, Virginia, Kentucky and Western North Carolina,” said Jerry Caldwell, president and general manager of Bristol Motor Speedway. “We are so proud to recognize tonight’s BMS Neighborhood Heroes for the Tri-Cities region comprised of our friends at the Appalachian Service Project, the Aviation Division of the Virginia State Police and our dedicated emergency management agency directors from Sullivan, Washington and Greene counties. We will forever be indebted to these heroes for their leadership, commitment and undying dedication in a time of unprecedented crisis.”
Established in 2018, the BMS Neighborhood Heroes program recognizes individuals, groups, and organizations who have gone above and beyond in their service, actions and performances to better their communities. Past honorees have included first responders, military personnel, educators, athletes, healthcare workers and other community leaders who have made a lasting impact on the state of Tennessee and the expanded region around Bristol Motor Speedway.
