Rio Grande Valley Flooding
Southern Baptists of Texas Convention (SBTC) Disaster Relief volunteers are responding to recent flooding in the Rio Grande Valley. In Roma, Texas and the Star County area there are as many as 1,100 homes affected. Please pray for those who are affected by the flooding. Pray that they will accept the assistance offered and experience the hope of our Lord Jesus as volunteers assist them in recovery. SBTC Disaster Relief volunteers are serving in cleanup and recovery, chaplaincy, and operations.
Earth Dam Break, Grand Canyon
On August 16, 2008, heavy rains in Northern Arizona caused an earthen dam to give way on a side canyon of the Grand Canyon. The breach of the dam caused flooding in a Supai Indian Village. The flooding forced an evacuation of several hundred Native Americans, hikers and campers. The American Red Cross established a shelter at a community center at Peach Springs, Arizona. Arizona Southern Baptist Convention Disaster Relief volunteers and feeding unit responded. Approximately 700 meals were served. The response was closed August 20, 2008 and the Supai Native Americans were allowed to return home.
FLORIDA
Tropical Storm Fay made land fall in Florida four times as well as provided heavy rain in Alabama and Georgia. Florida has also experienced tornadoes associated with Fay.
Florida Baptist Convention Disaster Relief has been busy with assessments, mud out, and other clean up operations in many areas across the state. Please continue to remember Florida‘s Disaster Relief director Fritz Wilson as he leads the response and volunteers Florida Southern Baptists. Pray that the volunteers will not grow weary, that they will be safe and have many opportunities to demonstrate their faith as they assist with the recovery.
CALIFORNIA
California Southern Baptists Convention Disaster Relief volunteers continue to respond to the needs created by the fires. The Southern Baptist Incident Command Team working out of the Convention Office in Fresno will close this week. All operations will be coordinated by Don Hargis, California Southern Baptists Convention Disaster Relief director and his staff. Please continue to remember these men and women who have worked tirelessly and are exhausted from the long response.
California Southern Baptists continue to serve at two ministries sites. The Big Sur site is serving out of Light House Baptist Church in Sea Side. The Paradise site is serving out of Magalia Pines Baptist Church in Magalia.
While the Paradise site has many homes still needing assistance, the site will close this weekend due to lack of volunteers. All out-of-state teams will return to their home states. The remaining work will be continued by Magalia Pines Baptist Church. Pray for Doug Crowder as he leads his people, and they continue to assist their community in recovery.
The Big Sur site remains active. There is a great need for volunteers who are able to respond. Pray for the leadership as they determine the best way to assist the people in the recovery. Mark Madison, of the Utah/Idaho Southern Baptist Convention, arrived Tuesday, August 26, 2008 and will assume duties as the site commander for the Big Sur response.
Volunteer days 1351
Meals prepared 5006
Jobs completed 22
Showers 1026
Laundry 36
International Response
A seven-member team of disaster relief specialists from Texas Baptist Men is scheduled to leave for Georgia on August 27, according to Jim Brown, U.S. Director of Baptist Global Response. A similar team of specialists from the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma will follow soon after.
To read more about the response to Gori, Georgia, click on this link.
Baptist relief team enters Gori to assess needs
