Louisville—Kentucky Baptist Disaster Relief teams arrived in South Carolina Sunday to assist in recovery efforts after record rainfall caused widespread flooding and at least 19 deaths.
The catastrophic flooding was the result of more than 20 inches of rain that fell on parts of the state last week.
Kentucky Baptist Convention Disaster Relief Director Coy Webb said two Kentucky flood recovery teams, a feeding team, and several chaplains have been sent to South Carolina to work alongside national and state Baptist conventions that also deployed personnel.
Richard Harris, South Carolina Baptist Convention interim executive director-treasurer, said he welcomes all assistance.
“South Carolina has experienced historic rainfall and flooding that few of us have experienced in our lifetime,” Harris said. “Thousands across our state have lost homes or had significant damage to their homes, as well as vehicles and other personal property. Business owners are facing huge damage to buildings and inventory loss. Numerous churches, many of our SCBC churches, and their members have felt the wrath of the heavy rains and flooding.”
About 300 roads and bridges remain closed a week after storms.
Harris said the crisis provides an opportunity for Southern Baptists to “express the love of Christ, meet needs and share the hope found in the gospel with people impacted by the floods.
Kentucky Baptists who want to help flood victims can make financial donations through Kentucky Baptist Disaster Relief, www.kybaptist.org/dr, or to Southern Baptist Disaster Relief at www.namb.net/disaster-relief. The money will be used to:
— purchase supplies and materials to clean out homes and churches;
— purchase food, supplies and housing for volunteers mudding out homes and churches;
— assist families with special needs and repair of homes;
— purchase fuel and supplies to operate trucks and equipment;
— assist churches with grants to clean their facilities or cover income losses;
— provide for warehousing and transportation of supplies and materials, and
— provide rental equipment to support mud-out operations. (KBC)