Standing watch through the storm
By Macee Swafford Staff Writer
When Winter Storm Fern swept through southeastern Kentucky in late January, icy roads, power outages, and dangerous conditions made even routine travel nearly impossible. But inside Baptist Health Corbin, patient care never stopped— and for dozens of employees, that was because someone showed up when they couldn’ t.
Jake Sulfridge, a security guard at Baptist Health Corbin, didn’ t hesitate.
Sulfridge grew up in Canada Town, a small rural community in Whitley County near Williamsburg, where helping one another was a way of life.“ Growing up my family had little income, to survive we had to help and look out for each other,” he said. Those early experiences left a lasting impression.
Today, Sulfridge lives in Jellico, Tennessee, just across the Kentucky-Tennessee border, and commutes daily to Corbin. With five children at home, long hours and long drives are already part of his routine— but when Winter Storm Fern hit Jan. 24 – 26, he volunteered for more.
“ I wanted work that involved protecting people and making a difference,” Sulfridge said.“ Security in healthcare fit perfectly.”
Sulfridge began working at
Baptist Health Corbin in Food Services before moving into security when an opening became available. Through onthe-job training, certifications in CPR / BLS, de-escalation, and hospital-based security programs, he found his place protecting the hospital and the people inside it.
As a security supervisor, Sulfridge’ s daily responsibilities include patrols, monitoring safety hazards, assisting staff and visitors, and responding to calls throughout the hospital and its grounds. During Winter Storm Fern, those duties expanded significantly.
“ With heavy snow, ice, slick roads, and widespread issues— our security team worked long hours night and day to keep the hospital secure and support the community,” Sulfridge said.“ We helped facilitate safe transportation for 81 employees overall.”
With many staff members unable to safely reach the hospital, Sulfridge and other security officers volunteered to drive through hazardous conditions to pick up essential employees so patient care could continue uninterrupted.
One moment from that weekend stands out.
Sulfridge had just returned from escorting an employee from London to Corbin and was preparing to head home after a long shift, thinking about his wife and five children. Then another call came in late that night.
“ I’ d just returned from a run to London to pick up an employee … and was about to head home to Jellico after a long day,” he said.“ But we got a call that a family needed help— no safe way in the conditions, and they had no food. No other options late at night(~ 11 PM).”
Instead of turning away, Sulfridge and fellow security officer Brayden Reynolds stepped in.
“ Brayden Reynolds and I decided to make sure they got home and fed,” he said.“ We navigated the treacherous roads, got them there safely, and I’ d coordinated with the house supervisor earlier for meal tickets so they could take warm food from the cafeteria home.”
The impact of that moment stayed with him.
“ Their gratitude— the relief of being safe, the little girl with food— showed me security goes beyond patrols; it’ s about protecting people in every sense,” Sulfridge said.
For Sulfridge, working at a regional hospital is deeply personal.“ It’ s close-knit— patients and staff are often neighbors from Jellico, Corbin, or surrounding areas,” he said.“ Security here isn’ t just about enforcement; it’ s personal— building trust, helping in real ways during tough times, and
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