By Philip Timothy, Managing Editor
The enormous scope of the damage that flooding has inflicted on Louisianans has left many in the state shaken but yet resolved to overcome.
Still, people are going to need a lot of help in order to recover, according to disaster relief experts in the state.
Floodwaters have damaged more than 7,000 homes in Louisiana, affecting 28 parishes, but that number likely will rise because many of the state’s biggest rivers have yet to crest.
Louisiana Baptists’ disaster relief units, joined by Southern Baptist crews from 10 other states, already are fanning out to minister and help where they can, even as they wait for the waters to recede.
“Nobody fully understands how big this thing is yet and it is still going on,” said John Hebert, director of missions and ministry for the Louisiana Baptist Convention.
“All of our state assets have been deployed and we are barely scratching the surface. The magnitude of this flooding is just unbelievable as there are very few places in the state that have not been affected by it,” Hebert said.
David Abernathy, Louisiana Baptists’ northern region disaster relief coordinator, told Hebert, “We need all the help we can get. We’re finding pockets of devastation everywhere. It’s hard to wrap your hands around how widespread it is.
“In my 24 years in disaster relief, I have never seen the churches rise to the occasion like they have with this flooding event,” Abernathy said. “They are ministering and working together like never before.”
“We have assessors and chaplains out all over the state,” said Hebert. “Please remember we are not first responders, we are recovery. Our hands are tied until the water finally starts to go down. It’s then our work begins.
“The water is falling in Sabine River Valley behind the floodwaters which are traveling south but everywhere else in the state the water is still rising,” Hebert continued. “And there is more rain forecast for this weekend.
Hebert is thankful for assistance from the Southern Baptist Convention’s North American Mission Board.
“We will be on a national conference call tomorrow in which NAMB will be making a national call for help because Arkansas, Mississippi, East Texas and Louisiana are all flooded,” said Hebert.
Under the supervision of Gibbie McMillian, Louisiana Baptists’ disaster relief director, the state has been grouped into five regions and incident command centers have been established at First Baptist Church Haughton, Ruston (Rolling Hills Ministries), North Monroe Baptist Church, East Leesville Baptist Church and Woodland Park in Hammond.
Already, Southern Baptist volunteers from across the country are engaged in bringing relief to Louisiana:
— In Bossier City, Missouri Baptists’ mud-out crews already are at work.
— Kentucky Baptists have sent teams to Union and Bienville parishes.
Tennessee SBDR volunteer K. Ray Helms (center) long-time driver for the North American Mission Board’s ministry efforts, works with Louisiana SBDR leaders Incident Command Leader David Abernathy (left) during the drop off of flood recovery supplies in Ruston, La.
Photo courtesy of Louisiana Southern Baptist Disaster Relief
— Alabama and Oklahoma Baptists are deploying to the Monroe area.
— Tennessee, South Carolina, Illinois and Texas Baptists are in the Sabine River Valley, mostly in Vernon Parish at the moment. But they will move south as the millions of gallons of floodwaters now being held in the Toledo Bend Reservoir are released.
— North Carolina and Georgia Baptists are setting up operations in southeast Louisiana.
“So many people have told me they have not experienced this type of flooding,” said Hebert. “This is a disaster of unbelievable proportions and we are going to have a response to match it. Our prayers are with all those affected and with the crews working it.”
Anyone wanting to help can donate money for disaster relief operations by clicking here. For more information, individuals can contact their local Baptist church or association, or call the state disaster relief office at 318.448.3402.
