MORGAN CITY, La. — Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief (DR) continues to work in Morgan City, LA following the devastation caused by Hurricane Francine. In total, there have been 410 workorders, 65 gospel conversations, 7 professions of faith, 800 contacts made and 30 Bibles distributed. For the volunteers, approximately 2500 meals were made, 300 loads of laundry done and 750 showers provided.
DR is incredibly grateful for the support of Oklahoma volunteers and also acknowledges the amount of help provided by volunteers from Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, Southern Baptists of Texas Convention (SBTC), Texas on Mission (TXM), Arizona, New Mexico, the Kansas/Nebraska Convention and Mississippi.
Currently, DR plans to finish projects in Louisiana by the weekend so they can head East to begin responding to Hurricane Helene. DR Director Jason Yarbrough has been in talks with state directors in Georgia, North Carolina, South Caroline and Florida regarding how best Oklahoma DR can assist in the Helene response.
OK DR team connecting with local homeowner.
Numerous other Southern Baptist DR teams are already hard at work responding to Helene. These teams come from Alabama, Arkansas, Missouri, New Mexico, SBTC, TXM, Kentucky, Mississippi and Ohio. Efforts include setting up recovery sites, feeding sites and beginning the over 1,000 work orders. In light of all the needs, it is likely that Oklahoma will deploy teams to help with site management, feeding, showers, laundry as well as sending chainsaw and flood recovery teams across one or two different states.
On the weekend of Sept. 27, Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida, causing damage throughout Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee and the Virginias. Tree damage, the Hurricane’s surge and mass flooding in the area caused an immediate need for relief.
“When Hurricane Helene hit, it was catastrophic,” said Yarbrough. “They’re comparing this to Katrina that hit Louisiana. This is going to be a long-term response and widespread.”
If DR is unable to complete work in Louisiana by this weekend, then they will plan on sending teams the following weeks. Yarbrough thanks those who have been supporting DR through prayer and requests for those prayers to continue.
“The prayers that we receive give us strength to know that we can handle this,” he said. “Oklahomans have been busy this year. Pray that they’re rested, ready and able to go meet the needs because it’s vast.”
For more information, or to make a tax-deductible donation to Oklahoma Baptist DR, visit www.okdisasterhelp.org.