Floods Prompt Disaster Teams to Respond

Posted: 7/16/15 at 2:40pm.

Wet weather has plagued much of the country this spring and summer, and disaster relief teams have been ready to lend a hand.

In June, with significant flooding in Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas, a team of Virginia Baptists served for a week in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, in partnership with the Arkansas Baptist State Convention and Southern Baptist Disaster Relief.

A team of seven Virginia Baptists cleaned out flooded homes, removing damaged interiors, cleaning up personal items, and getting the homeowners to a place where they could begin the rebuilding process. Team members came together from Baptist General Association of Virginia (BGAV) churches across Virginia, including Nickelsville, Roanoke, New Kent, Saluda, Newport News and Virginia Beach.

pine bluff arkansas virginia disaster team — The Virginia team helped a homeowner clean up personal items while working at the home.

Over five work days, the team cleaned 12 homes in the Pine Bluff area.

Back home in Pocahontas, Va., the town suffered significant flooding in early July. Local church leaders contacted the Virginia Baptist Disaster Response office to see what response might be available, and in conversations with local emergency management, an official request was made for a BGAV flood recovery team.

pine bluff arkansas virginia flood team — Flood recovery teams remove flooded wall and insulation to a level just above the flood line, ensuring the rebuilding process begins with a dry start.

Less than a month removed from the Pine Bluff callout, Assessor and Team Leader Paul McDaniel, a member of Belmont Baptist Church in Roanoke, packed up to lead the team to help residents in Pocahontas and Abbs Valley continue the cleanup process. The team included members from Roanoke, Saluda, Fredericksburg and our partners with the District of Columbi Baptist Convention’s Emergency Response Team.

Bluefield College, a BGAV educational partner, provided lodging, and local churches served a hot meal each evening for the team members.

“It takes a coordinated effort to mobilize a team and care for its ongoing needs,” said Aaron Lee, Virginia Baptist Disaster Response Coordinator. Lee added, “We are so grateful to Bluefield College’s staff and the churches who supported this team.”

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Learn more about Virginia Baptist Disaster Response and find out how you can join response efforts across the state and throughout North America.