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.