By Philip Timothy, Message Managing Editor
ALEXANDRIA – With a revised estimate of 155,000 damaged homes now being reported by the governor’s office, Louisiana Baptist leaders are asking for more volunteers to meet the overwhelming demand for assistance in mud-out and related services caused by historic floods across the southern part of the state in August.
The new number, issued by Mike Steele, communications director for the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, more than doubles the previously reported figure of about 61,000 flooded houses.
But, Steele stressed the numbers may continue to fluctuate because calculations include direct reports from parishes combined with information gleaned from imaging technology.
Meanwhile, Louisiana Baptist leaders are calling for an even greater mobilization of volunteers.
Gevan Spinney, pastor of First Baptist Church, Haughton, and president of the Louisiana Baptist Convention, thanked Southern Baptists for their response so far and lauded the North American Mission Board for the great work it does with disaster relief.
“Those yellow shirts are a reminder throughout our state that we are not alone in this,” he said.
But he also urged more Southern Baptists from around the country to “Please, please come.
“Louisiana needs you more than ever before,” he said. “Please come and give to help us help the state recover from this flood. We need you. Thank you for what you’ve done in March in response to the floods in the northern part of our state. But the southern part of our state needs you now more than ever.
The urgency of the situation was echoed by Louisiana Baptists’ supervisor of state disaster relief efforts.
“Our disaster relief people began working as soon as the floodwaters began to go down,” said John Hebert, LBC state director of missions. He added that on any given day Louisiana has 300 certified disaster relief “yellow shirts” deployed around the state “working eight to 10 hours.”
“Their numbers have been bolstered by Southern Baptist disaster relief teams from 22 states,” adding about another 700 volunteers on the field daily, Hebert said.
Southern Baptist Disaster Relief team member Jerry Ritter, a member of Blackgum First Baptist Church in Vian, Okla., hands two hot meals to flood survivor Pat Thomas, a member of Healing Place Church of Baton Rouge. Carmen K. Sisson photo
But even with help from other faith-based organizations, kids helping from schools and churches organizing their members locally, the 155,000 flooded homes needing restoration far exceed the manpower available now to respond.
“We got a big shot in the arm over Labor Day weekend,” Hebert said, with a boost in volunteers that included about 400 Baptist Collegiate Ministry students.
But he emphasized even more help is needed quickly to help homeowners eliminate the possibility of “black mold” before the growth of these biological toxins worsen the situation.
Reports from the field indicate the problem already is developing rapidly.
Mountains of debris from cleaned out houses extend for as far as the eye can see in subdivisions throughout the Baton Rouge areas. Hundreds of volunteers are working to remove wet sheetrock, carpet and insulations from flooded houses. Brian Blackwell photo
“We went yesterday (Aug. 25) and the mold had already gotten into the ceiling,” said Robby Poole, pastor of Longview Baptist Church in Deville. “In this heat and humidity it is literally spreading like wildfire.”
“Mold is nothing to be taken lightly,” said Alan Knuckles, Director of Missions for Acadia, Louisiana and Mt. Olive Baptist Associations. “I have trained more than 200 in the one-hour mud out course and I caution them all to be very careful to wear their masks and gloves when doing a house.
“Of course, I went in to assess a home the other day,” said Knuckles, “And I forgot to put on my mask. I wasn’t in there very long and I began to cough.”
Knuckles also issued a plea for experienced disaster relief workers to step up.
“We need our trained DR guys to respond,” he said. “If they are waiting for a phone call, don’t. We need help and we need it now.”
Hebert said the response by Louisiana Baptists joined by Southern Baptists across the nation in gearing up to meet the challenge has been a blessing, and, he hopes the latest update about the substantially larger extent of the damage will rally an even greater outpouring of assistance.
“Look, I thank God for the help and support we have been getting from all over the United States,” he said. “So far, we have received $260,000 in donations, countless truckloads of much-needed supplies and food, and lots of prayers.
“But now we are praying God will stir a great army of volunteers to come and help us try to get ahead of this thing.” he said. “Now is the time we need everyone to step up.”
