A Shelter in the Storm: Church Becomes Safe Haven Amid Severe Weather

When severe storms swept through Cannon County on Saturday, March 15, one local church open its doors to offer shelter to the community. The Woodbury, Tenn., Church welcomed 10 adults, nine children, and two dogs during the storm, offering food, comfort, and safety.

The idea came together rapidly after residents on the local Facebook group, “Cannon County Chatter,” began asking about available shelters in the area. With no formal community shelter options in place, Perry Louden, a church member, took action.

“Some of the people seemed really frighten and desperate for a safe place,” Louden said. “After considering our church and fellowship hall, I realized [we were] in a good location near the center of town and have a strong concrete building. Before I responded, I reached out to a few members … and everyone thought this would be a great outreach to our community. After posting on social media about our fellowship hall being open during the storm, the word got out pretty fast.”

The church’s fellowship hall was transformed into a welcoming storm shelter complete with sleeping cots, games, music, children’s movies and even pizza and snacks. The church was also ready for any overnight guests with sleeping bags, lanterns, and emergency supplies, though all families left by 10 p.m.

“The atmosphere was just amazing,” said Amanda Diaz, one of the volunteers who helped organize the effort. “Some people were talking, some doing crafts and others were working on a puzzle. One woman, who’s usually very scared of storms, said she couldn’t even hear the wind or rain from inside.”

According to Diaz, the shelter not only offered protection but sparked new friendships with their community members.

“We made Facebook friends and shared flyers for upcoming events,” Diaz said. “[Christians] always talk about being a shelter in the storm spiritually — this time, we got to be that literally.”

On Sunday, March 30, 2025, the Woodbury Church once again opened its fellowship hall, welcoming seven adults, 10 children, and a pet. All guests returned home safely after 2:30 a.m. Looking ahead, the church plans to pursue certification as an official Red Cross shelter, which will require structural upgrades such as window shutters and on-site showers. 

“Our church is outreach oriented and we look for ways to meet needs in our community,” Louden said. “Having a storm shelter for the city fits in perfect with our church mission and is another avenue to help those in times of disaster. Not only do we want to provide physical shelter in the storms, but also to lead folks to the lasting shelter found in Jesus.”