Georgia Baptist volunteers continue to help with Vermont flood cleanup

BARRE, Vt. — Disaster relief volunteers from Georgia Baptist churches are continuing their work in in Vermont helping flood victims recover from what’s being described as that state’s worst natural disaster in nearly a century.

“The jobs are massive, lots of debris and flood damage,” said Georgia Baptist Disaster Relief Director Dwain Carter.

In addition to helping with cleanup, Carter said the volunteers also share the gospel with people they meet. He said the volunteers led two people to faith in Christ on Sunday.

Parts of Vermont received up to two months’ worth of rain in a matter of days.

Vermont Gov. Phil Scott had requested and received a major federal disaster declaration, which means the state qualifies for aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Recovery, however, depends heavily on the work of Disaster Relief volunteers like those from Georgia who have years of experience of helping victims of natural and manmade calamities.

Georgia crews were deployed a week ago.

Georgia Baptist Disaster Relief teams routinely deploy to disasters across the country and beyond. In the past two years, they've responded numerous times in the aftermath of hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding and wildfires. They also deployed to Poland to assist Ukrainian refugees fleeing their homeland after the Russian invasion.

Carter said the Georgia Baptists are bringing “help, hope and healing” and Vermont residents are seeing “the church in action.”