Irma temporarily halts Disaster Relief response to Houston

Georgia Baptist Disaster Relief volunteer Rhett Spires looks over Buckets of Care collected for Louisiana residents last year. State GBDR director Stuart Lang urges Georgia Baptists to pray, donate, and collect Buckets of Hope for Hurricane Harvey survivors as well as those to be affected by Hurricane Irma. CINDY GREENWELL/Special

An active hurricane season has led Georgia Baptist Disaster Relief to pause in its response to one storm while awaiting the after-effects of another. 

While Southern Baptist Disaster Relief personnel organize even as they respond to Hurricane Harvey's damage in southeast Texas, the imposing threat of Hurricane Irma demands attention. Currently, Harvey could very well become the most expensive story in the country's history, outpacing Hurricane Katrina's destruction. As of today, though, Irma held sustained winds of 185 mph, tying it as one of the strongest such storms projected to his the U.S.

In an email to Georgia Baptist Disaster Relief responders, state missionary Stuart Lang explained the situation. 

"You may be wondering why we have not yet mobilized to Texas or Louisiana," it read. "In a word: IRMA."

Pray, how to donate, where to take buckets

With a two-front disaster response looming, Lang encouraged Georgia Baptists to pray and give as well as continue preparing Buckets of Care for storm victims. Drop-off locations include:

Blackshear Place Baptist Church, Flowery Branch. Contact: Sydney Mugume (770) 534-7058. Drop-off times:

• Wednesday, Sept. 6, 5-7 p.m.
• Weekdays, Sept. 7-24, 7-9 a.m. and 5-7 p.m.
• Saturday-Sunday, Sept. 9-24, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

First Baptist Church Thomson. Contact: David Harbeson (706) 799-8817. Drop-off times:

• Thursday-Friday, Sept. 14-15, 1-5 p.m.
• Thursday-Friday, Sept. 21-22, 1-5 p.m.

Northeast Church, Braselton. Contact: Kristie Jones (706) 654-3205. Drop-off times: 

• Thursday-Friday, Sept. 28-29, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. (at the loading dock at the end of the building)

Rehoboth Baptist Association. Contact: Ronnie Clements (478) 808-6991. Drop-off times:

• Monday-Friday, Sept. 5-15, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
• Monday-Friday, Sept. 18-29, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. and 1-4 p.m.

Rosemont Baptist Church, LaGrange. Contact: Christy Tidwell (706) 882-6234. Drop-off times:

• Wednesday-Thursday, Sept. 6-7, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
• Friday, Sept. 8, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
• Monday-Thursday, Sept. 11-14, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
• Friday, Sept. 15, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
• Saturday, Sept. 16, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Monday, Sept. 18, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

An additional site in Tucker may be confirmed soon, Georgia Baptist Disaster Relief stated on its website. 

Pending Irma

Lang stated that GBDR has a "soft commitment" to send mud-out teams to Lake Charles, LA "pending the projection of Irma."

"I'm in regular communication with my peers and especially those in adjacent states, Georgia, and our own ministry coordinators about planning for the worst hurricane the Atlantic Ocean has seen since we've been keeping records," he added.

Next week's Disaster Relief Orientation at New Providence Baptist Church in Forsyth is still planning to meet, he said. The registration deadline has been extended to Sept. 10. Online registration is available here.