Update on Various Spring Disasters from Southern Baptists

Forwarding this to all of you as a way to illustrate the present needs for Disaster Relief work. Most everything that has come up in the last few months is being taken care of locally. Keep an eye out, though, for needs associated with the potential flu pandemic as well as spring storms and flooding.


Disaster Relief Update - Wednesday April 29, 2009
"…in whom you also are being built together for God's dwelling in the Spirit."
(Ephesians 2:22)
2009 Disaster Relief Roundtable
A productive week has just concluded in Phoenix, Arizona. Southern Baptist Disaster Relief Roundtable included leadership from across the United States. It included wonderful times of worship, discussion about how Southern Baptists can better serve our Lord through the ministry of Disaster Relief. Our partners; American Red Cross, The Salvation Army, FEMA and The Office of Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnerships had representatives at the meeting.
An important decision about credentialing was made. Southern Baptist Disaster Relief now has a standard name badge that will be recognized by security officials when entering a disaster area.
The annual Disaster awards were also presented. This year’s recipients were:
Robert Dixon Award – Norman Wagoner
Joel Philips Award– Rick Taylor and Tom Cline
Distinguished Volunteer Award – Steve Chrisman, Al Martin, Golden Schell, Carol and Thurman Stewart and Tom Westerfield
Swine Flu Spreading
As the number of cases of Swine Flu climb in the US and around the world the World Health Organization and The Centers for Disease Control have issued a Phase 4 Alert. A wide array of resources and up to date information are available on the CDC website www.cdc.gov/swineflu.
North Myrtle Beach South Carolina Fire
To date 79 homes have been destroyed and 150-200 homes have been damaged and are unable to be occupied. SCDR is working with all emergency factors in the county. At this time a command post has been established at First Baptist Church North Myrtle Beach. A feeding unit, shower unit, and a multitude of crisis interveners and chaplains are on foot within the communities devastated by the fires. Assessment and chainsaw units will respond to cut down the burned, scorched, dying and dead trees around homes.
Texas Fires
SBTC volunteers are cleaning up after wildfire damage in Montague County. They are working out of FBC Bowie. They have completed 12 jobs and with 11 remaining. Jim Richardson, SBTC State DR Director, reports 81 volunteer days in this response.
Florida Floods
Florida SBDR teams continue their ministry to families who had homes damaged during recent flooding. Mudout teams and shower Units remain on site at First Baptist Church in Lee Florida.
Georgia Floods
Georgia Disaster Relief teams completed their work in response to flooding in the southern part of the state.
2009 SBDR Statistics as of April 29, 2009
SBDR volunteers have already logged over 15,000 volunteer days in 2009.
Volunteer Days 15,276
Meals Prepared 139,136
Mudout Jobs 34
Chainsaw Jobs 4,550
Repair Jobs 21
Roofing Jobs 19
Children 0
Showers 2,570
Laundry Loads 467
Water (Gallons) 0
Messages 0
Chaplaincy Contacts 635
Professions of Faith 49
Gospel Presentations 266
Other Decisions 32
Ministry Contacts 3,817


National Disaster Relief Leadership
• Bruce Poss, Disaster Relief Unit Coordinator
• Terry Henderson, Disaster Relief Operations Consultant
• Karl Ragan, Disaster Relief Planning Consultant
To contact the Disaster Operation Center, call 1 888 462-8657 or e-mail dr_offsite@namb.net