Today we’d like to introduce you to Raymond Chambless.
Raymond, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I started out in January of 2017 collecting donations of much-needed supplies for the tornado survivors in Albany, GA. Albany GA was hit by an EF3 tornado on January 22, 2017. Many were left homeless and without food, water, and basic necessities to survive on. I put out a post on social media asking for donations to help those in need. I ended up making ten trips to Albany from Columbus delivering those supplies.
While making deliveries, I met Mr. Steve Owens. We talked and he advised me that he was going to start helping warn people of any severe weather that was coming their way in time enough to prepare for it. He and I joined up and started the Georgia Storm Troopers. We now have become a nonprofit organization with around 13 team members. Our goal is to save as many lives as we possibly can as well as educate people on how to take all measures of safety during severe weather. We always put God as our focal point in everything we do.
Has it been a smooth road?
Not smooth at all to be honest. We had to overcome, and still are overcoming, a lot of disdain from local meteorologists as well as the general public. We have more than proven ourselves to all that follow us and still face certain sarcasm from others daily. We never let that hinder our success as we go thru our journey to save lives as well as praise God in the process. Steve Owens has been a huge influence on myself as well as many others and everyone on our team has many certifications thru the National Weather Service as well as F. E. M. A.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Georgia Storm Troopers, Inc – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
My job is over marketing and logistics for the team as well a man the radar, our Zello channel and social media during severe weather events. Hurricane Michael proved us as a reliable source as well as a dependable source of vital life-saving information. Many were without cable, electricity and even cell phone service during that storm but were able to receive our text alerts as well as tune into our Zello channel for reliable updates. I’d say what sets us apart from any other storm team would be a program created by one of our members, Brandon Walls, named Dorothy. Dorothy is an automated program that monitors all NWS and NHS web sites as well as their social media sites and can send out as well as post alerts within seconds of being issued by the NWS.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
Atlanta is an awesome city and has many beautiful places to visit. I can’t think of anything I dislike about Atlanta other than the traffic.
Pricing:
- Donations only. We are all volunteers.
- All free
Contact Info:
- Address:6311 King William Drive
Columbus, GA 31909 - Website: gastormtroopers.com
- Phone:7065870586
- Email:staff@gastormtroopers.com
- Instagram:Georgia Storm Troopers
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GSTINC/
- Twitter:Georgia Storm Troopers
- Yelp:Georgia Storm Troopers
- Other:Georgia Storm Troopers
Image Credit:
Raymond Chambless
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