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Western N.C. ice relief efforts on hold
Dianna L. Cagle, BR Assistant Managing Editor
February 08, 2010
2 MIN READ TIME

Western N.C. ice relief efforts on hold

Western N.C. ice relief efforts on hold
Dianna L. Cagle, BR Assistant Managing Editor
February 08, 2010

Ice storm recovery work in

western North Carolina has been on hold since early January.

Gaylon Moss, disaster relief

director for North Carolina Baptist Men, sent out a mass e-mail Jan. 5 alerting

workers of the halt in work in Watauga County. The e-mail credited inclement

weather with the work stoppage.

Volunteers faced tough

conditions with 30 mph winds and cold temperatures, making it dangerous to do

the chainsaw work they had been assigned, said Tom Stroud, coordinator for

Region 7 and member of Sandy Springs Baptist Church in Harmony.

Then, an earthquake struck

in Haiti Jan. 12 diverting attention further away from problems at home. And

more inclement weather in North Carolina has not helped. A recent front shut

down central North Carolina for several days._ь

Stroud is waiting for the

go-ahead from Moss to tackle the approximately 400 job requests waiting for

teams in the Boone area.

“I’ve been expecting it at

any time,” Stroud said, indicating jobs include mainly chainsaw work and

clearing brush. “A lot of limbs were broken due to ice.”

Stroud said 127 volunteers

worked during six days and completed 28 jobs in “miserable” conditions. He said

he tried to warn volunteers before they came to bundle up to fight the cold and

winds.

“It was a slow go,” Stroud

said, with winds blowing up to 35 mph. “Snow was hitting you in the face.”

Baptist Men was working out

of the Samaritan’s Purse office in Boone, and volunteers stayed at Greenway

Baptist Church in Boone.

To volunteer, call (800)

395-5102, ext. 5599, or visit www.ncmissions.org.