National Response Team members offer support to care givers following tragedies. Photo: Bobb Barnes, PDA National Response Team.
Within 23 hours after the shooting began, three members of the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance National Response Team (NRT) arrived in Blacksburg to express the care and concern of the church and to assist the presbytery and area congregations.
Anne Van Allen, Jim Kirk, and Bobb Barnes registered as care providers with the American Red Cross, as requested.
The team reports that the faith communities are doing quite well with regard to ecumenical cooperation, organization for crisis training, and providing opportunities for worship.
NRT members began with a visit to the Cooper House Presbyterian Campus Ministry Center. They participated in meetings with Catherine Snyder, Campus Chaplain, and Lynn Barber, Administrative Assistant. In the first day after the shootings it was obvious that lives were still in an emergency phase state of confusion and Anne Van Allen, in particular, was able to see the value in assisting the campus ministries in setting priorities and beginning the several tasks.
Anne accompanied Catherine and Lynn to the Virginia Tech convocation held Tuesday evening, April 17, 2007, while Jim and Bobb traveled to the location where families were gathering and being notified by local clergy, one of which is the Pastor of Blacksburg Presbyterian Church, Alex Evans. There Jim and Bobb made numerous contacts with law enforcement personnel, police chaplains, Red Cross and other caregivers.
The team learned that the Baptist Campus Center is a prominent gathering place for students. We also made contact with the Center directors and shared PDA's support of their ministry and our ecumenical style; this was appreciated by the Baptist Campus Center staff.
After conversation with Catherine Snyder and Alex Evans, and with appreciation for the role of the American Red Cross Spiritual Care Team, NRT members encouraged — for a later time — an interfaith and clearly inclusive worship event. This would involve the various faith communities of the university: Buddhists, Muslims, Jews, Christians and hopefully ethnic representations from the various countries represented at Virginia Tech. 
