EDITOR'S NOTE: Tharran Gaines serves as public information coordinator with Missouri Disaster Relief (MODR). MILWAUKEE, Wisc. – Milwaukee is known for many things, including the birth of Harley-Davidson motorcycles, cheese curds, bratwurst and Lake Michigan. One thing it’s not known for is floods. That all changed, though, on Aug. 9-10, when different parts of the city were inundated with 10-to-14 inches of rain. The rain came so fast that it was more than the storm drains could handle, … [Read more...]
MODR Helping to Rebuild a Home Following Hurricane Helene
EDITOR'S NOTE: Tharran Gaines serves as the Public Information Coordinator for Missouri Disaster Relief. Watch a video related to this article at https://modr.org/video (“Helene NC Rebuild” video). At the time John and Lisa Grinstead moved to Burnsville, North Carolina, from Florida in 2010, part of their goal was to escape the frequent hurricanes that hit the coast. Little did they know that another hurricane would hit the mountains, where they thought they would be safe, and take … [Read more...]
Texas residents assess losses, welcome Southern Baptist DR volunteers
SAN SABA, Texas – A welcome sign off U.S. Highway 190 identifies San Saba as the “Pecan Capital of the World”—a claim hard to deny. The Central Texas town of just over 3,000 is surrounded by pecan orchards and boasts numerous shellers, packers, retailers, and distributors. People around here say this is a community on the rise. Actor Tommy Lee Jones owns a large ranch in the county. An enormous western store covers half a city block, which is also graced by restaurants, shops, a restored … [Read more...]
Thousands of DR volunteers deployed so far this year, more needed
NATIONWIDE – So far this year, at least 5,300 Southern Baptist trained Disaster Relief volunteers have responded to 40 natural disasters across the United States, from wildfires in California to storms on the eastern side of the nation. That was before this weekend’s outbreak of severe weather from Kansas to Kentucky, which is expected to continue through Wednesday across much of the nation’s interior east of the Rocky Mountains. “Our job as the body of Christ is to stand up at … [Read more...]
Relief efforts underway in Missouri and Kentucky following deadly storms
NASHVILLE (BP) – Search and rescue efforts continue across Kentucky even as recovery efforts have begun in Missouri following deadly storms that swept across the region May 16-17. More than 25 people were killed by the storms and thousands suffered injury and loss. Send Relief’s St. Louis Ministry Center director Traci Byrd asked for prayer for those affected by the storms and that local churches will have opportunity to respond to the needs in the community. “Pray that our local … [Read more...]
‘Hear my cry for mercy’: MODR volunteers bring hope to California fire survivors
LOS ANGELES, Calif. (MODR) – Following any disaster, it’s only natural that the survivors want to recover anything that hasn’t been destroyed. It doesn’t matter whether they’ve experienced a flood, tornado or hurricane. The natural response is to locate any belongings that may have survived. Unfortunately, the situation is usually much worse following a widespread fire like those that occurred in Hawaii in August 2023 and more recently in southern California. When the entire house burns to … [Read more...]
Missouri DR’s Ann Stevenson receives national award
SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Anyone who knows Ann Stevenson is used to seeing her with a chaplain’s shirt and badge—accompanied by her trauma-trained dog, Steele—as she visits with victims of disaster. Or maybe they’ve seen her provide key leadership in MODR childcare. However, Stevenson recently took versatility to another level when she coordinated two disaster relief responses in Pulaski County, where she lives, within seven months of each other. That’s just one of the reasons she was … [Read more...]
Friendship Baptist disabled father, bedridden son perish in Eaton fire
ALTADENA, Calif. (BP) – Jordan Mitchell, caregiver to his disabled father and brother Justin with cerebral palsy, is certain he could have gotten them out of their Altadena home in advance of the Eaton fire. That is, if he himself hadn’t been hospitalized with sepsis. Instead, the fast-moving fire consumed the home as Anthony Mitchell Sr. huddled beside his son Justin in a bedroom, awaiting an ambulance to evacuate them. Friendship Baptist Church of Yorba Linda Senior Pastor Kenneth … [Read more...]
California, Arizona Disaster Relief teams preparing to join L.A. County wildfire response
PASADENA, Calif. (BP) — California Baptist Disaster Relief is prepared to help in the recovery effort as three wildfires burn across L.A. County, a state spokesperson shared with Baptist Press today. “He told them we’re ready,” Sarah Graham, team leader for the Office of Communications at the California Southern Baptist Convention, said as Disaster Relief director Kendrick Neal met with emergency response leaders. CSBDR is being asked to provide those who can assist in spiritual … [Read more...]
Southern Baptist DR exemplifies national cooperation
JEFFERSON CITY – The Apostle Paul explains in 1 Cor 12:12, “Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.” He goes on to say in verse 27, “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” So it is with Southern Baptist Disaster Relief. Some volunteers are chaplains, some maintain the shower and laundry units, and some prepare meals. In the meantime, others provide flood recovery or operate a chainsaw. In … [Read more...]
Missouri DR volunteers help IMB missionary after tree falls on stateside home in Georgia
AUGUSTA, Ga. – Hurricane Helene was described by one official as a 400-mile-wide tornado, … which isn’t too far from reality. So, even though Asheville, N.C., has gotten much of the media’s attention, there’s been no less damage in neighboring states. That’s certainly the case in Augusta, Georgia — just 180 miles from Asheville — where volunteers with Missouri Baptist Disaster Relief (MODR) have been working since Sept. 26. “I would describe it as one big debris field,” said Toby Tucker, … [Read more...]
People needed food and each other. They found it on a pastor’s back deck.
FAIRVIEW, North Carolina (BP) – Cane Creek starts as a trickle up in the mountains from Stacy Harris’ home. Garren Creek and Flat Creek are there too. Typically, they create the small, crystal-clear pools trout love and cascading waterfalls that are favorites of Smoky Mountain tourists. Their appearance began to change nearly two weeks ago when heavy rain saturated the area. Then Hurricane Helene arrived on Friday, Oct. 4. People in Fairview Township, where Harris is pastor at Trinity of … [Read more...]
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