SBC of Virginia Disaster Relief teams are responding to disasters caused by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria.
Update on OCTOBER 19, 2017
PUERTO RICO UPDATE:
Update on September 22, 2017
TEXAS AND FLORIDA UPDATE:
SBC of Virginia churches have sent dozens of volunteers and tens of thousands of dollars in gift cards and donations to Texas in the wake of Hurricane Harvey. In partnership with Second Baptist Church of Houston, feeding teams spent two and a half weeks preparing meals for thousands of survivors and hundreds of volunteers every day. At the same time, flood recovery teams worked with homeowners in completing the task of mucking out and preparing the home for rebuild. More than two dozen homes were completed. Nearly three dozen volunteers from 13 SBCV churches traveled to Houston to be the Hands and Feet of Christ.
While the work continues in Texas, Hurricane Irma caused historic damage in Florida. As part of our partnership with the North American Mission Board (NAMB), we (along with all conventions east of the Mississippi) have been asked to turn our attention to Florida. Our first three teams leave for Naples, Florida on Saturday, September 23 for a week of flood and chainsaw recovery work. Two dozen volunteers from nine churches will make the two-day trek. The current plan is to have three teams per week for the next three weeks’ work in Naples.
If you are a credentialed DR worker WE NEED YOU! See the email call out for more information. If you are not DR credentialed but desire to Go and Serve, you can begin by completing a 2 ½ hour on line training. Once you complete that we will contact you by email to invite you to sign up for a team. Follow this link sbcv.org/dr and scroll down the page to the online training button.
Thank you for your support in praying, giving, and going!
PUERTO RICO UPDATE:
Hurricane Maria left the entire island of Puerto-Rico with significant needs. SBC of Virginia is coordinating relief efforts with the Pennsylvania Disaster teams to support feeding units. This group of volunteers may leave within the next week.
Please continue to pray and give as they Lord leads you. Don’t forget that 100% donated to disaster relief goes directly to families impacted. Many have lost a lot in these natural disasters. The SBC of Virginia is here to support them as their brothers and sisters in Christ. Thank you for making a difference for God’s glory.
Update on September 13, 2017
SBC of Virginia Disaster Relief has been asked to place all Recovery (chainsaw and flood) teams on STANDBY in response to Hurricane Irma. This means it is time to gather your “What to Bring” items, check your calendar for times you can go, and be ready.
Once we have specific details, we will email a registration link to sign up for teams.
So, pack your bags. If your church has a unit, check your equipment and trailer, and be ready to depart on short notice.
Please be in prayer for Florida DR leadership as they develop a strategy for this response.
Teams deploying will be doing their own assessment as the conditions on the ground have not allowed for assessments to take place. So, you will assess, do the recovery, minister and share Christ.
We do not have other details at this point.
Thank you for preparing and praying.
Mark Gauthier
Director of Disaster Relief and Virginia Global Response
SBC OF VIRGINIA
Mark Gauthier
Director of Disaster Relief and Virginia Global Response
SBC OF VIRGINIA
Hurricane Victims Receive Generous Gift from Virginia Families
4-year-old Penelope and her family raised money from their yard sale to help those impacted by the Houston flood. Those giftcards made into the hands of families in Texas.
SBC of Virginia Disaster Relief teams respond to disasters in Brookside community of Pearland, Texas.
Update on September 5, 2017
Feeding and flood recovery teams from SBCV will arrive in Houston later today (Tuesday, September 5) and will begin serving tomorrow. The feeding team will begin meal preparation to serve both volunteers and the community in partnership with Second Baptist Church of Houston. The flood recovery team will also be in partnership with Second Baptist and begin serving in the neighborhoods surrounding the South campus.
All clean-up and recovery trained volunteers! We are beginning to start the mud-out operations in Houston for those affected by Harvey. Teams are short and we need additional volunteers to fully staff our units immediately. We can connect you with teams if you are willing to help. Please check your calendars and see if you are able to deploy now or in the future. The need for clean-up volunteers is urgent.
Feeding volunteers! We need feeding team members to depart Virginia on September 13 to be onsite serving from Friday the 15th through the 19th then return home. A third team will be needed to depart on September 18 and return home on September 26.
To register for a team going to Texas by clicking below:
And then there is Irma! The current forecast (as of 5:00 am Tuesday) that shows the storm moving between Cuba and Florida around Saturday and continuing into the Gulf of Mexico and moving up the gulf coast of Florida. We are already in planning on how SBCV will respond to this second storm. Please pray about how YOU can be part of this response. If you are not DR trained, there may still be an opportunity for you to respond with teams and serve.
If you are not trained and would like to be considered for a team, you must complete the online training found at this link: Get trained for Disaster Relief. Be sure and use the coupon code SBCVDR.
Update on August 28, 2017
Thousands of Houston, Texas residents are currently being evacuated from what has become a catastrophic, historic flood. Dr. Greg Postel, meteorologist and hurricane specialist for The Weather Channel, said the flooding unfolding in the Houston area “could be the worst flooding disaster in U.S. history.” Gov. Abbott shared on Fox News Sunday, “We’re measuring rain these days not in inches but in feet.”
SO, WHAT CAN BE DONE NOW?
First of all pray. Pray for those impacted, the first responders, emergency management, disaster responders and planners. Pray for open hearts to the Gospel. Pray for wisdom in planning and safety while traveling. Finally, pray that God’s will be done and that He be glorified in the midst of this tragedy.
Give. Thanks to the SBC of Virginia missions offering, Vision Virginia, your partnership goes toward these disaster relief efforts. However, we know that this response will require more funding to make a difference with resources. You can donate through SBCV either by mailing checks (4956 Dominion Boulevard, Glen Allen, VA 23060) designated for disaster relief or by giving online. Your church can collect gift cards (from Walmart, Sams Club, Lowes, and Home Depot) to be sent to our partner Southern Baptist conventions in Texas where they will be distributed to those in need. Remember, these gift cards allow the survivors to purchase items they need and the dignity of making the purchase themselves.
For DR workers, prepare to go! For those who are not trained but desire to go, in the weeks ahead, you can complete an online training (sbcv.org/dr) and be integrated into a recovery team.
While there is always a desire to collect “in kind” donations (such as water, clothes or household products), these are not always the best.
It is expensive to ship items and the required logistics on the ground for sorting, storing, and distributing is a burden on the receiving community. Gift cards (from Walmart, Sams Club, Lowes, and Home Depot) as described above are a great option!
Those who are interested are encouraged to donate online where 100% of the contributions go to SBC of Virginia Disaster Relief efforts.
Photo Coverage
The Weather Channel: Rainfall from Harvey Could Reach 50 Inches in Spots
Localized storm total rain amounts of up to 50 inches are not out of the question once Harvey’s rain is finished later this week. This may end up being one of the worst flood disasters in U.S. history.
As of early Monday morning, flash flood emergencies has remained in effect for 11 southeast Texas counties, according to the National Weather Service in Houston.
Be trained to get involved in Disaster Relief.
The SBC of Virginia offers training to equip members of SBC of Virginia churches so they are able to respond during times of disaster. Each training offers necessary instruction for volunteers to respond with other Southern Baptists around the world during times of disaster and crisis. The training is practical and allows those, 18 years old and above, to serve with confidence.
