Georgia Baptist Disaster relief returning from West Virginia

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Tom Young assists Lori Moreland exiting a crawl space after photographing possible structural issues for a Mt. Nebo, WV homeowner. In all, five teams of Georgia Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers joined in efforts to help West Virginia residents still recovering from June floods. GBDR/Special Tom Young assists Lori Moreland exiting a crawl space after photographing possible structural issues for a Mt. Nebo, WV homeowner. In all, five teams of Georgia Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers joined in efforts to help West Virginia residents still recovering from June floods. GBDR/Special

After two weeks helping West Virginia residents begin cleanup efforts from historic flooding, Georgia Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers are returning home.

The first of five teams deployed July 11 after flooding destroyed over 1,000 homes and killed at least 23 people. In addition, the list of schools postponing opening grows as communities continue to assess damage.

Initially three teams were called to action, with chaplains and cleanup and recovery teams from Unit 30R-Hartwell and 7R-Tugalo Association responding. Team 1 arrived in Mt. Nebo, WV July 14 for their five-day deployment, joining peers from North Carolina Disaster Relief.

Changes to initial assessment, continued response in SC

A team from the Baptist Collegiate Ministries of Armstrong Atlanta State University and College of Coastal Carolina work in May on cleanup after flooding that hit South Carolina the previous fall. GBDR/Special A team from the Baptist Collegiate Ministries of Armstrong Atlantic State University and College of Coastal Carolina work in May on cleanup after flooding that hit South Carolina the previous fall. GBDR/Special

The increase in teams reflected the need. When Team 5 leaves tomorrow Georgia volunteers will have completed 187 work days. Add to those efforts 29 mud out jobs and placing one roof tarp. Chaplaincy work brought 110 contacts with 92 gospel presentations, 46 ministry contacts, two professions of faith, and two other decisions.

As West Virginia operations for Georgia volunteers wind down, South Carolina needs from floods last fall continue. Weeklong deployments of teams up to 25 people are still available through September in cleanup and recovery. For more details contact Community Missions and Disaster Response of the Georgia Baptist Mission Board by emailing pficarra@gabaptist.org or calling (770) 936-5254.

chaplains, cleanup, Disaster Relief, flood, response, West Virginia