By Hubert Yates
MS Disaster Relief Director
The first teams from Mississippi Baptist Disaster Relief (MSBDR) are deploying to assist Georgia Baptist Disaster Relief (GABDR) in meeting the needs of southeastern Georgia, specifically in the towns of Douglas and Alma. MSBDR will establish an area command, begin work order assessments and chaplaincy ministry, and initiate cleanup and recovery efforts, including chainsaw and debris removal, starting Tuesday, Oct. 1.
The initial deployment from MSBDR consists of approximately 40 volunteers from the Desoto/Tate Baptist Association, Lee County Baptist Association, First Baptist Church of Flora, Temple Baptist Church of Hattiesburg, Lincoln County Baptist Association, Neshoba Baptist Association, Attala Baptist Association, and Jackson County Baptist Association. A second round of teams is scheduled for the week of Oct. 7, with follow-up teams expected to be needed through the end of October.
The MSBDR Feeding Kitchen remains on standby as feeding needs in Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina are still being identified.
In addition, a general mobilization of the 42 Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) State Convention Disaster Relief ministries is anticipated in response to Hurricane Helene. Currently, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Tennessee have all requested assistance to meet the needs caused by the storm. Eleven mass feeding locations have been established across Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee, with an additional 10 recovery operation sites planned to open within the next five days. This will be an extended deployment for all involved. Alma has water, but no power, and most surrounding areas have neither.
Please pray for our volunteers and the survivors of the storm.
Tax-deductible donations to assist MSBDR in their operations are being accepted. Monetary gifts may be made by check, or electronically by clicking here (Designate Disaster Relief in the form). Checks should be made payable to Mississippi Baptist Convention Board, with “Disaster Relief” designated on the memo line, and mailed to MBCB Business Office, P.O. Box 530, Jackson, MS 39205-0530.
