ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP)–Most units involved in Southern Baptist Disaster Relief response to a string of deadly tornadoes and flooding across the Midwest and South are expected to conclude relief efforts by May 23.
The ministries have spanned eight states.
In Missouri, more than 52,300 meals had been prepared through May 14 by four mobile kitchens in cooperation with the American Red Cross. Units in Camdenton and Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary have closed operations, and units in Mount Vernon and Canton are expected to close during the week of May 19. Units from Arkansas and East Texas assisted Missouri units.
In Tennessee, more than 47 chainsaw and mud-out teams from eight states had completed more than 165 jobs as of May 14. Out-of-state teams were being released by midweek, and completion of the remainder of the jobs was expected during the May 16 weekend. More than 36,000 meals had been prepared by three mobile kitchen units in cooperation with the American Red Cross and Salvation Army.
In Oklahoma, more than 160 recovery jobs had been completed by in-state volunteers in the Oklahoma City area, and a mobile kitchen unit based at First Southern Baptist Church of Del City has prepared more than 28,000 meals for victims and relief workers. A childcare unit also has been caring for children at the Moore Community Center, where a number of agencies are providing assistance to victims.
In Alabama, “mud-out” and chainsaw crews had completed more than 60 jobs as of May 14, with about 50 additional jobs left to complete. Teams from Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina are assisting Alabama volunteers.
States that had concluded responses as of May 16 were Kentucky, Illinois, Mississippi and Kansas.
More than 25,000 trained volunteers currently are part of the Southern Baptist Disaster Relief network nationwide. The units generally are owned and operated by state conventions and local associations and coordinated nationally by the North American Mission Board.
For regular updates on Southern Baptist Disaster Relief responses, visit www.namb.net/dr.
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