Disaster Relief Team in Action

2008 has been a very active year for our GMBA Disaster Relief folks. Since May, we have had 6 call outs for help, for both local and national response.
 
In May, we were called to serve in Ft. Kent, Maine for major flooding. Since it was a national call out, NAMB provided administration for the Incident Command Center, and volunteers from outside the BNCE joined our teams to help with assessment, mudout, feeding, and chaplaincy needs. Serving there from GMBA were: 4 from Washington Baptist; 1 from Baptist Fellowship; and 1 from Orange Alliance.
 
In June, our shower unit was requested for flooding in Rutland, Vermont. It was there that our DR team made some connections with members of the VT Red Cross. It was to be the beginning of improved awareness of what SBC DR was capable of and how we could be of service in a disaster.

In July, a team of 7 were called to Wapello, Iowa, during the midwest floods. The team included: 1 from Resurrection Baptist, 2 from Washington Baptist; 2 from Orange Alliance; and 2 from Maine. We provided for mudout and feeding needs.

While in Iowa, our team received word that a tornado had struck NH. A team from the GMBA, along with others from the BCNE, and Virginia served there. They did chainsaw work, as trees had fallen on homes and blocked access to roadways. GMBA volunteers included: 3 from Baptist Fellowship; 1 from Washington Baptist; and 1 from Orange Alliance. WBC provided a shower unit for volunteer use.   

In August, Hancock, VT suffered a flash flood. GMBA  volunteers served in mudout and feeding for three days. Serving there were: 4 from Washington Baptist; 1 from Baptist Fellowship; 3 from Resurrection Baptist; 1 from Faith Community Church; and 9 from Reformed Bible Church.

In September, 12 members of the GMBA represented SBC in Northfield's Labor Day Parade. We passed out frisbees with the plan of salvation inside, and information about New Life Community Church. We also handed out a pamphlets on DR when asked specifically for them. We hauled our mudout/chainsaw and shower units with the doors open so as to allow the onlookers to see inside each one.

From October 5-19th, 9 BCNE DR volunteers served in Galveston, TX following damage sustained from Hurricane Ike. GMBA volunteers included: 3 from Washington Baptist, and 1 from Baptist Fellowship. Joining them were 3 from CT, 1 from Thetford, VT, and 1 from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. We served in the feeding operation.

We are planning on more Disaster Relief training events before year's end. Please pray to see how God can use you in this vital ministry.