A map in the temporary state Disaster Relief headquarters shows towns circled in red that form a nearly perfect line from Greenwood to Dillon. The lower two thirds of the state was wrecked by twelve confirmed tornados and countless other damage from strong storms that blew through South Carolina on March 15.

Over 20 Disaster Relief units were deployed after storm damaged areas including, Florence, Allendale, Greeleyville, Elgin, Prosperity and Aiken among others.

Cliff Satterwhite, director of the SC Baptist Convention Disaster Relief, said the units deployed around the state were mostly chainsaw teams working to get trees off of houses, cars and businesses. Assessment and roof patching units were also sent to the storm-torn areas. 

Satterwhite said this is the first time in several years Disaster Relief teams have been mobilized en mass to damaged areas in state. South Carolina units have been mobilized to other areas such as Kansas, Missouri and overseas to Peru and Sri Lanka but this is the first time in some time South Carolinians have the opportunity to take care of their own.

“The media focused a lot on Elgin and Prosperity, but we found that some of the heavily damaged areas were in Aiken and Allendale,” Satterwhite said.

Most units working in rural areas found a large number of mobile homes severely damaged and, in comparison, larger amounts of destruction.

Disaster Relief units were onsite for most of the damaged areas by the Sunday following the tornados. Working with the Red Cross, Salvation Army, Emergency Preparedness and the Governor’s Office, Disaster Relief units were able to offer coordinated efforts to best assist victims.

Satterwhite stressed the coordination, highlighting the work of the United Methodist Church and the efforts of all the South Carolina Baptist family.

“I have been real impressed with the efforts of the local Directors of Missions. They have really jumped on board with assisting our units,” Satterwhite said.

After most units completed their work in just over a week, Satterwhite emphasized the importance of continual Disaster Relief training for all volunteers to be ready to serve.

“The nature of disasters change, and it is important to stay up to date. We have a spring and fall trainings each year and all current volunteers, in addition to new trainees, are certainly encouraged to attend.”

For more information on Disaster Relief, log on to www.scbaptist.org/dr or call (800) 723-7242 ext. 5500.