SBTC crews served half-million meals following Katrina, Rita

Through mid-October, 519 disaster relief volunteers from Southern Baptists of Texas Convention churches had been deployed in the aftermath of hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

The volunteers?not including those working in the Houston Astrodome and Convention Center following Katrina?provided 562,205 meals to rescue and relief workers and evacuees in Louisiana and Texas, said SBTC Missions Director Robby Partain.

Nationally, Southern Baptists served an estimated 7.3 million meals in the Gulf Coast states following the hurricanes, Baptist Press reported.

Additionally, SBTC chainsaw crews completed 187 jobs in hurricane-damaged areas and SBTC chaplains counseled with at least 140 hurricane victims, Partain reported.

“Katrina and Rita have been the most challenging events we have participated in, and our Disaster Relief personnel have performed wonderfully,” Partain said.

Feeding operations in Port Arthur and elsewhere have ceased as electricity and residents began returning, but “we’re possibly looking at another two months of chainsaw and debris removal,” he said.

Additionally, SBTC mud-out recovery units may be used where water and mud damaged structures, Partain said.