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Responding to Hurricane Irene |
In the wake of Hurricane Irene, Southern Baptist Disaster Relief leaders and volunteers are mobilizing quickly to mount the largest response to a natural disaster in the United States since Gulf Coast Hurricanes Ike and Gustav three years ago.
Leaders have asked Southern Baptists to prepare and deliver 100,000 meals in North Carolina, 50,000 meals in Virginia, 15,000 meals in New England and 5,000 in New York.
To donate, go to www.namb.net/disaster-relief-donations and hit the "donate" button. Other ways to donate are to call 1-866-407-NAMB (6262) or mail checks to NAMB, P.O. Box 116543, Atlanta, GA 30368-6543. Donations can also be sent via texting "NAMBDR" to the number "40579." A one-time donation of $10 will be added to the caller's mobile phone bill or deducted from any prepaid balance
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Gaylon Moss, Disaster Relief director for North Carolina, reported Disaster Relief units have arrived, set up, and are now beginning to provide services to affected areas. In North Carolina, 5 mobile kitchens are now in place. Florida and Mississippi are both providing support in NC. In addition to feeding units each state also has recovery teams, assessors and chaplains on site. Arkansas and Kentucky will also be assisting with clean up and recovery. There are currently more than 400 requests for mud-out and chain saw assistance in NC. | | | | |
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 Photo right: A North Carolina Disaster Relief chainsaw team tackles a downed tree following Hurricane Irene.
Both the Southern Baptist Conservatives and the Baptist General Association of Virginia have their feeding units active. These units prepared about 14,000 meals on Tuesday. County and state government entities in Virginia have requested shower units to support electrical workers restoring power and emergency responders. In addition to Virginia shower units, South Carolina Disaster Relief shower units have responded to this need.
Tennessee is preparing chainsaw teams to respond to needs in the southwestern region of the Maryland Eastern Shore penninsula. Ellen Udovich, Disaster Relief director for the Maryland/Delaware convention, reported today that their assessors are finding numerous chainsaw needs with many trees on houses in that part of the state. In addition to chainsaw teams Udovich requested assistance from assessment teams.
New Jersey is experiencing significant flooding. Kenton Hunt, recovery coordinator for the Pennsylvania/South Jersey Baptist Convention is coordinating assessment and mud-out efforts for the southern part of the state and the NY Incident Command Team is coordinating recovery needs in northern New Jersey.
With roads blocked and access limited, the Mississippi recovery team had difficulty getting to their assigned site in Washingtonville, New York. Working with DR team members from NY they were able to work around the flooded roadways and washed out bridges in time to help the NY feeding team set up the feeding unit. Lunch Wednesday will be their first meal and they anticipate serving 5,000 meals their first day. An Incident Command team, requested by NY, has been activated by NAMB and will be on site Wednesday.
Bruce James, reporting for the New England Baptist Convention, indicated a need for assessment teams. In Vermont there is flooding in the northern and southern part of the state and Rhode Island experienced widespread flooding. One New England mud-out team has been activated to the Bennington, VT area to address needs. James reported that he is still waiting to receive reports from other areas hit by the storm to determine what assets are needed. An Incident Command team, led by Mark Madison of UT/ID, is enroute to Exeter, RI to coordinate SBDR ministry in the area.
 Photo left: Ron Early is coordinating the efforts at Liberty Baptist Church in Newport News, VA where Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia Disaster Relief have a feeding unit and recovery teams operating.
SBCV volunteers at Liberty Baptist Church in Newport News, VA - video
Baptists responding in 11 Irene-affected states
Vt. flooding: Baptists 'can't just sit & wait'
Baptist General Association of Virginia - Irene update
Hurricane Irene departed the US east coast as some were marking the 6th anniversary Hurricane Katrina and others are preparing to mark the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. One New Jersey pastor reflects on how his experiences in Louisiana following Katrina and in New York after 9/11 prepared him for Hurricane Irene. Read his story.
Baptist relief agencies begin Mid-Atlantic cleanup in wake of Irene
BCM/D DR Units Feed Evacuees, Now Assessing Damage
Richmond churches offer showers, laundry to neighbors still in dark
North Carolina Baptist Disaster Relief Photo Gallery
Smart giving tips from ARC
Donations to Southern Baptist Disaster Relief are always used to serve people suffering in the wake of disaster whether you donate through the North American Mission Board, a Baptist State Convention office, or a local Baptist Asociation or Southern Baptist Church. Find out more here. | | |
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Disaster Relief Update - May 2010 |
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Flooding
Arkansas : Bill Cantrell, DR Director, reports it will be at least 10 days before mud out work begins but three possible sites have been identified.
Illinois: Efforts are under way to begin mud out operations on May 23 in at least two locations in IL. | | | | |
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 Indiana : Reports indicate mud out teams are active in southern Indiana.
Kentucky: DR officials continue to monitor the situation as water levels drop. A meeting in Paducah was held to assess the situation and current needs. KY mud out units are being deployed to the Owensburg area.
Map right: Many areas across the US expect significant flood events May 17-22.
Louisiana : Gibbie McMillian, state DR coordinator, reports mandatory evacuations have begun for areas of Louisiana affected by flood waters. He reports he has received requests for shower/laundry units in support of the National Guard deployment. Three shelters and a shower unit are currently in operation supporting the National Guard and the Corps of Engineers.
Mississippi: Don Gann, DR associate, indicates new reports estimate flood waters may remain above flood levels in some parts of MS until the first week of June. Assessments continue throughout the state.
Missouri: Mud out work is already under way in areas of Missouri. Rick Seaton, DR coordinator, reports teams from OK and NM are on site in Popular Bluff to help address needs. Feeding and shower units are set up in Morehouse with the possibility of adding mud out in the future.
New England : Plans are underway to setup a command team later this week, according to John Scoggins, DR coordinator for New England. The 211 call center has recorded more than 120 calls for assistance with mud out and chain saw. Scoggins indicated it will be 4 weeks before water levels are down to normal levels. Recovery work will be coordinated out of Vermont in partnership with Mike Flannery, NY, to address flooding for the Lake Champlain area. Communication has also been initiated to address flooding in eastern Canada around Lake Champlain.
Ohio : DR officials report there is still flooding occurring and initial assessments are under way.
Tennessee: David Acres indicates they are working in Memphis to put a plan in place for recovery in that area. Work is also under way to determine locations for teams to stage in Dyersburg.
Wyoming : Dave Stillie, DR coordinator, reports American Red Cross has asked feeding units in WY to be on standby to respond to flooding on the North River.
Tornados
Although the nation's attention has shifted to other immediate crises, states are still responding to Tornado victims. Freddie Arnold, LA, white hat serving in AL reports operations will close Tuesday but a team will remain to finalize details. Gaylon Moss reports NC units continue to respond to April 16 storms. Cliff Satterwhite, says SC has four counties where units are still assisting with clean up. TN units continue to respond to tornado victims in Bradley County, TN. Officials have just learned about 400 homes that were destroyed in the Camp Creek, TN area alone. Donna Swarts, SBDR liaison for ARC in Birmingham, reports the kitchen in Rainsville, AL will be closing after the evening meal on May 17. One kitchen will remain open at North River Baptist Church in Tuscaloosa, AL with no projected close date at this time. | | |
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 We
are one month out from the initial earthquake,
tsunami and resulting
fallout from the nuclear power
plants in Japan. Many things have
happened in the
course of the past four weeks. The government of
Japan
maintains that it is the responsibility of the
Japanese people and their
government to handle the
needs within their own country.
However, avenues of assistance have opened up to allow private
volunteer organizations (domestic and international) to help in the
response. The key is that international organization must respond
through local partners. This is what Southern Baptists have done from
the beginning, working with the Tokyo Baptist Church and Japanese
Baptist Churches.
Baptist Global Response (BGR) and Southern Baptist Disaster Relief
(SBDR) in partnership together are working with several key partners in
Japan on this response. Japan Baptist Mission (JBM) missionaries have
been very proactive in wanting to take a significant lead in the
response. They see this as a unique opportunity in the life of the work
there to show compassion in a critical time. Led by a veteran,
elder-statesman missionary, the JBM has helped lead a significant
portion of our response to date.
Tokyo Baptist Church (TBC) has proved to be a very key, local partner
that has huge resources (people and finances) to assist in the
response. They have been the focus of SBDR training and equipping
efforts intended to help them establish relief and response schemes in
the affected areas.
Japanese Baptist Convention (JBC) has helped
make connections not only with JBC churches in the areas which were
minimally affected, but also American Baptist Churches as well. Many of
the first dispersals and feedings are occurring through our JBC churches
and contacts.
Our base of operations is still currently centered in Tokyo at Tokyo
Baptist Church. Groups are still going in and out of the affected areas
and we are moving to establish bases in the primary impact areas,
especially in Sendai and Ishinomaki.
Tokyo Baptist Church is
feeding up to 3,000 hot meals per day and weekly caravans of essential
goods are being mobilized into the primary affected areas of both Sendai
and Ishinomaki. These goods include rice, noodles, diapers, containers,
blankets, long-underwear, etc.
Southern Baptists have an ongoing effort to assist, train and empower
local Japanese partners to mount a response. We have focused on areas
of administration, grief counseling, the logistics of setting up feeding
units, etc. Don Hargis and Naomi Paget, California SBCDR, most recently
helped in this regard.
There are multiple partnerships and
cooperative efforts that present themselves every day. Our guiding
principle is that whatever partnerships/linkages we choose, our local
Japan partners must be the ones that agree to the partnership because
ultimately, they will be the ones affected in the long-term.
Southern Baptists have given over $500,000 in donations through IMB
and BGR and almost $200,000 has been spent on relief efforts to date.
Lifeway Stores have designated the "change buckets" in their stores
nationwide for Japan relief. To give online visit the Baptist Global
Response website.
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Japan Earthquake/Tsunami Relief Update - 3/19/11 |
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The International Mission Board (IMB), Baptist Global Response (BGR) and the North American Mission Board (NAMB) have been engaged from the beginning in seeking ways to provide help, healing and hope to Japan. IMB missionaries and families are feeling the fatigue of trying to provide ministry to the people God has called them to serve. They have been both victims and responders. BGR had a two person initial response team on the ground to begin the assessment process within the first 24 hours. NAMB has been communicating with BGR and providing coordination with the state conventions in the disaster relief network.
As you can imagine, there are a multitude of obstacles to this complex response. Distance, the magnitude of the disaster, continuous aftershocks, winter weather, radiation leakage, and lack of necessary supplies like fuel make every response effort from the military to non-governmental agencies difficult. In light of these difficulties Southern Baptists are working hard to ensure our response is focused, well planned and decisive. The situation on the ground is fluid with frequent interruptions and changes. | | |
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Below are some excerpts from a report from the initial assessment team. These are their thoughts on the present situation and how Southern Baptists may be able to respond.
Radiation
Although there is nothing we will be able to do to mitigate or fix this problem, there may be opportunities that arise to help people. Until there is improvement in the situation, this is not likely to be a viable response.
Tsunami
The tsunami area is off limits until the radiation issues begin to resolve and the government allows more access. Furthermore, attempts to do much there will be hampered by logistical problems associated with obtaining supplies and fuel. What exists will be in short supply as the population seeks to obtain and store these items and as relief organizations compete to obtain these items. Response to these areas will have to wait at least until the evacuation orders from the government are lifted.
Earthquake Zones
In the short term it will be the areas not affected by the tsunami where the most viable opportunities to respond can be identified. However, some of the same logistical problems exist: lack of access to supplies and lack of fuel. There are openings for a response however. Some missionaries have already found places of ministry working alongside neighbors in mudding out around their homes. The needs here are great. Recovery will take years. A response here will require significant logistical planning to overcome the issues listed above.
An assessment and initial response team comprised of Pat Melancon and Ben Wolfe with BGR; John Hayes, Alabama Baptist Disaster Relief; and Eddie Pettit, South Carolina Baptist Disaster Relief, will arrive in Japan on Tuesday, March 22. They will continue to look for ministry opportunities and work to establish an Incident Command System that will allow SBDR to begin to respond with Baptists and other partners in the country.
 The people of Japan have many needs today and many of these needs will continue for a long time. Southern Baptists are encouraged to continue to pray, and provide financial support that our IMB missionaries, Japanese Baptists, BGR and SBDR representatives can use to minister to the people of Japan. Pray for the assessment and initial response team as they make plans and preparations. Wait patiently and prayerfully for God's direction as He opens other avenues of ministry.
Carlton Walker, an International Mission Board missionary in Narashino City, Chiba, says that the people of Japan need a strong east wind to protect the population from harm. He also urges Christians to pray for the "wind" of the Holy Spirit to "blow with great power over this land and create a spiritual revival that will remake Japan from the inside out." | | |
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