SBTC Disaster Relief clears debris in Ark.

HARRISON, Ark.?SBTC Disaster Relief (DR) chainsaw volunteers cleared debris for Arkansas families affected by the ice storm that hit Jan. 27-28 across the mid-South and Midwest.

Paul Morrow, an SBTC chainsaw team supervisor from Forest Home Baptist Church in Kilgore, who along with his wife, Billie Sue, traveled to Harrison, Ark., the week following the storm, said SBTC volunteers were well received while working there Feb. 4-11.

Morrow said one of the jobs they completed was for an 84-year-old woman who was raising her grandsons, ages 5 and 7. The woman’s home was surrounded by large, downed trees that prevented them from safely walking around the property. In a few hours, the SBTC team was able to clear the debris and make the property safe for the boys and their grandmother, Morrow said.

Derek Milstead, a member of Trinity Baptist Church in Bridge City, was on his first DR mobilization after being the recipient of disaster relief ministry last fall as Baptist volunteers removed debris and mud from his property and home in Bridge City after Hurricane Ike.

Milstead said he took the opportunity to give back. He is living in a FEMA trailer in Bridge City; his home is gutted because of flood damage.

“Disaster relief ministry gives us the opportunity to impact the lives of people at a very critical time,” said SBTC DR Director Jim Richardson. “People need physical assistance and we have the opportunity to share the hope of our Lord Jesus as we assist them with their physical needs.”

Arkansas, the second hardest-hit state behind Kentucky, requested shower units and chainsaw teams from other states as 350,000 customers were without power and 48 counties were declared federal disaster areas.

DR TRAINING SCHEDULED

An SBTC Disaster Relief phase two training is scheduled March 16-21 at Highland Lakes Camp and Conference Center in Spicewood for those who have attended phase one training. The training sessions will include specialty schools in DR tasks such as feeding and chainsaw work as well as CPR, chaplaincy or ham radio operations. Also, Baptist Global Response instructors will offer international disaster relief training.

For more information on the phase two training or other DR training events, visit sbtexas.com/DR or contact Amber Nygaard in the SBTC office toll-free at 877-953-7282 or anygaard@sbtexas.com.