From B&R, wire reports
MOUNT JULIET – Even as the Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief teams continue their efforts in Texas to provide aid for those effected by Hurricane Harvey, additional teams are standing ready to provide assistance in Florida following Hurricane Irma.
Wes Jones, the disaster relief specialist for the TBMB, said on Thursday, Sept. 14, that officials in Florida are “in the process of setting up locations for response and deciding where those will be.”
Jones said he received a call from Florida on Thursday morning “about the possibility of sending Flood Recovery units to Jacksonville,” and said he is waiting on more details regarding logistics.
The confirmed death toll from Hurricane Irma stood at 69 on Thursday morning, CBS news reported, including 31 deaths reported in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina, and at least 38 more across the Caribbean.
In Sugar Land, Texas — where recovery and clean-up efforts are ongoing from Hurricane Harvey — the Tennessee Baptist DR feeding units are putting out about 8,000 meals a day. That number is projected to spike to about 20,000 next week when the feeding locations are consolidated.
The Incident Command continues to work along with assessors, chaplains, shower, laundry and Flood Recovery units. The Tennessee Baptist teams also have some associations and churches partnering with local churches in the area to assist them. One of the DR’s chainsaw units is scheduled to travel to Texas this weekend to assist with tree and debris removal south of Houston.
Jerry Morgan of First Baptist Church, Morristown, dumps a load of household goods that could not be saved for street pickup in Wharton.
Jones said there has been a continual outpouring of volunteers who are willing to help.
“Our trainers have been doing training as fast as we can arrange them,” Jones said. “We are grateful for those desiring to get connected and serve through the tool of Disaster Relief.”
For updates on the relief efforts, visit www.baptistandreflector.org. If you would like to donate to the response effort, visit http://tndisasterrelief.org/contributions/ or mail a check to TBMB DR, PO Box 682789, Franklin, TN, 37068. Write “Hurricane Relief” in the memo line.
