Disaster Relief Update - September 6, 2008

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight”. (Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV)

With thankful praise for a weakened Tropical Storm Hanna, and a wary eye toward Hurricane Ike, thousands of Southern Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers are on the ground serving in the wake of Hurricane Gustav. Feeding kitchens cooked at 23 locations in five states Saturday, September 6. Those units, along with others that had served evacuees, provided more than 252,000 meals through Friday. A total of 3,808 showers had been provided and child care had been administered to 52 children. As clean up efforts intensify in Louisiana, 23 chainsaw jobs had already been completed. And the “reward” for the tireless hours and faithful efforts has also begun. The first two professions of faith have been reported as a result of Southern Baptist Disaster Relief efforts in the Gustav response.

As of Saturday afternoon a total of 67 units from 16 state conventions were serving in Louisiana. Another 12 units from four states were serving evacuees who were still seeking temporary shelter in Mississippi (six units), Oklahoma (three units), Kentucky (two units) and Texas (SBTC, one unit). The state conventions and the number of units responding in the affected area in Louisiana include:

Additionally, efforts were closed out in Alabama and Mississippi where more than 118,000 meals were served to evacuees. Texas Baptist Men operated four kitchens for evacuees in four locations in the state. Units also closed in Arkansas and Tennessee. Thankfully those evacuees were able to return home.

Also Saturday, units from Missouri and the Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia were returning home. Units were en route Saturday to continue disaster relief efforts in Louisiana from Arkansas, Kansas/Nebraska, Louisiana, Missouri, New Mexico, North Carolina and Tennessee. Many of the affected areas continue to struggle with damage from the storm which caused major interruptions in power supply and transportation.

NAMB Adult Volunteer Mobilization Team Leader Mickey Caison said that coordination and daily communication continues with state Baptist Disaster Relief directors as ministry in Gustav’s affected area multiplies. Initial planning has also begun among state DR directors, emergency management officials, The Salvation Army and American Red Cross representatives in the projected areas of Ike’s potential landfall, Caison said.