Baptist and Reflector
SAVANNAH, Ga. — Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief operations at Southside Baptist Church in Savannah are winding down, said Wes Jones, disaster relief specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Convention.
The feeding unit of Sullivan Baptist Association, based in Kingsport, was sent to Savannah last week in response to Hurricane Matthew. A shower trailer unit from Holston Baptist Association, based in Johnson City, along with chain saw teams from both associations; Cumberland Baptist Association, based in Clarksville; and Knox County Baptist Association, based in Knoxville, have been on site.
The feeding unit provided about 2,400 meals a day, Jones said. It ceased operation on Sunday, Oct. 16.
Chain saw teams will work through the middle of this week, Jones continued.
Jones said there is a possibility additional teams will be needed later, but he had not been notified as of press time on Monday, Oct. 17.
Jones also said that a shower trailer and a childcare trailer could be dispatched to North Carolina, but that, too, is undecided.
Hurricane Matthew struck Haiti on Oct. 4, causing massive destruction before hitting Cuba later that night. The damage in Cuba was not as extensive as first expected but some areas were hard hit.
It moved on to Florida and up the East Coast, causing extensive flooding and wind damage in Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas before being downgraded to tropical storm status and heading out to sea.
In Haiti, nearly 900 deaths have been attributed to the massive storm. In the United States, at least 19 deaths have been linked to Hurricane Matthew.
Tennessee Baptist volunteers have responded to a number of disaster relief needs this year that have put a strain on the DR budget, Jones reported.
Tennessee Baptists interested in donating to hurricane relief can respond online at tndisasterrelief.org to 2016 Hurricane Matthew or by a check made payable to the Tennessee Baptist Convention and mailed to Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief, P.O. Box 728, Brentwood, TN 37024.
