Disaster Relief

WESTERNPORT, Md. — On a cool day in June, Disaster Relief (DR) volunteers from Baptist conventions in Maryland/Delaware, New England, West Virginia and North Carolina gathered in Westernport to assist flood victims. Wearing masks and gloves, the team of about 30 men and women worked diligently, dragging ruined household items and shoveling mud from basements. They were finishing the final stages of a three-week deployment, focused on completing mud-out work on 150 homes following massive flooding in mid-May.

DOUGLAS, Ga. (BP) – Nine months after Hurricane Helene scythed across the Southeast, Georgia remains one of those areas still cleaning up the damage. The new undergrowth around downed trees testifies to the slow progress. Root balls dwarf Smyrna Baptist Association Director Mike Taylor, that’s considerable since he stands 6’8”tall.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Missouri has experienced its share of violent weather this spring, keeping Missouri Baptist Disaster Relief (MODR) volunteers on their toes. News sources report a record number of tornadoes striking the state in 2025. According to one meteorologist, there had been close to 90 tornadoes of various sizes just through May 20.

In the aftermath of the recent tornadoes in the commonwealth, there was a compassionate and organized response from Kentucky Baptist Disaster Relief. 

LONDON, Ky. (KT) — A path of downed trees in rural Laurel County signaled where a deadly tornado likely began a path of destruction last Friday night (May 16).

NATIONWIDE – So far this year, at least 5,300 Southern Baptist trained Disaster Relief volunteers have responded to 40 natural disasters across the United States, from wildfires in California to storms on the eastern side of the nation.

NASHVILLE (BP) – Search and rescue efforts continue across Kentucky even as recovery efforts have begun in Missouri following deadly storms that swept across the region May 16-17. More than 25 people were killed by the storms and thousands suffered injury and loss.

SOMERSET, Ky. (BP) – A wave of severe storms ripped across the Midwest and Ohio Valley leaving death and destruction in its wake. Authorities reported at least 20 deaths in Kentucky and seven in Missouri as of midday Saturday (May 17).

MCGEHEE, Ark. – Arkansas Baptist Disaster Relief (ABDR) recently deployed to McGehee to assist with the recovery of homes flooded on April 5 following torrential rainfall across the state.

Sandy Dunnuck stays busy. The 73-year-old works for a food delivery service (“It helps pay the bills and keeps me busy,” she says) and is an active member at Spring Baptist Church, which she has attended since moving to the area from El Paso in 1994 with her two sons following a difficult divorce. She chose Spring to be near parents and other family members.