Disaster
Response
Phil Hinerman
Director of Emergency Services
Phil was born and raised in Weirton, West Virginia. He graduated from Mount Vernon Nazarene University with a Bachelor’s degree in Emergency Management and Homeland Security. Phil served as a summer intern with ARO in 2024 and 2025,and also served in Martin County following the February 2025 flood, before joining ARO's staff full time that year.
As a native West Virginian, Phil has always felt a deep connection to the people of Appalachia. He is grateful for the opportunity God has given him to continue serving with ARO and to help carry out our mission to be Christ’s Love in Action.
Between July 25 and July 30, 2022, Perry County and much of Eastern Kentucky were struck by severe thunderstorms that caused devastating flooding. Recognizing the urgent need for the church to mobilize, ARO Executive Director Dwayne Mills traveled to Perry County to partner with Greg Wells and lead disaster relief efforts in the wake of the flood. Dwayne and Greg remained in Perry County for seven consecutive weeks, hosting mission teams and coordinating the collection of donations. Through these teams, ARO was able to muck out numerous homes and begin rebuilding what had been lost. As the need for long-term recovery became clear, ARO officially established its Perry County site in June 2023. The site is currently led by Sam Stacy and continues to show Christ’s love in action by being the hands and feet of Jesus to bring hope in the aftermath of tragedy.
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33,537 Labor Hours
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80 Teams
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937 Volunteers
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Millions donated in resources through ARO/Love Your Neighbor/Church of the Nazarene for those impacted by the Eastern Kentucky floods.
Martin County Flood Relief
February 16, 2025 - Present
From Saturday, February 15th, through Sunday, February 16th, 2025, eastern Kentucky, particularly Martin County, experienced a devastating historic flood. The impact was traumatic, affecting countless homes, businesses, and lives.
Appalachia Reach Out (ARO) was at the forefront of the flood recovery efforts. The dedicated ARO staff worked tirelessly alongside other organizations/agencies and volunteers to serve those most affected by this disaster. It was truly inspiring to witness the commitment of ARO's staff and stakeholders. They played a crucial role in establishing the Point of Distribution (POD), partnering with the Kentucky State Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and the Martin County EOC.
ARO, in collaboration with Inez Free Will Baptist Church and Pastor Nathan Harless, led the POD operations from the IFWB gymnasium, working alongside the Kentucky National Guard. The outpouring of support from so many to help impacted families and friends was remarkable.
ARO remained deeply committed to long-term recovery efforts in Martin County, continuing to walk alongside affected families well after the initial response phase ended. Through strong partnerships with Meades Branch Freewill Baptist Church and Inez Freewill Baptist Church, ARO focused on helping families return safely to their new homes and begin rebuilding their lives.
Nazarene Disaster Response teams, as well as Work and Witness teams, played a vital role in these recovery efforts by providing skilled labor and compassionate service. These teams worked diligently on homes, addressing critical needs such as structural repairs, flooring, insulation, and essential systems. Through these coordinated efforts, seven families were able to return to safe, livable homes.
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16,384 Labor Hours
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24 Teams
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512 Volunteers
