TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (BP) — Southern Baptists’ compassion ministry Send Relief, alongside Southern Baptist Disaster Relief (SBDR) volunteers from Florida and six other states, are activating response teams and prepping supplies to quickly deploy in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. This includes mobile kitchens, food, water, generators and cleanup supplies.
Hurricane Helene is projected to make landfall Thursday evening (Sept. 26) in Florida’s Big Bend region as a Category 4 storm, bringing heavy storm surge, wind and rain while it maintains hurricane status as it sweeps into South Georgia.
Send Relief’s regional quick-response warehouse and tractor trailers loaded with supplies are also ready to deploy resources to areas of highest need.
Send Relief and SBDR leaders reported they were in touch with national partners like the Salvation Army, as well as FEMA and the Red Cross, to ensure a coordinated response.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp have both declared a state of emergency as the two states brace for Helene’s impact.
“This is a very large storm, so you’re going to see tropical weather that’s going to extend hundreds of miles away from the center of the storm,” DeSantis said during a press conference Thursday morning.
“As we anticipate the arrival of Hurricane Helene, we are praying for all those who are in the storm’s path,” said Send Relief President Bryant Wright. “Hundreds of volunteers with Southern Baptist Disaster Relief will begin pouring into the affected areas as soon as it is safe to do so, and Send Relief stands ready to provide the supplies and other resources they will need to bring tangible help as they also proclaim the eternal hope of the gospel.”
SBDR volunteers from across the U.S. deployed as Hurricane Francine struck Louisiana earlier this month, and Hurricane Debby made landfall in this same region of Florida on Aug. 5 as a Category 1 storm.
Helene is currently projected to be a more powerful storm.
Florida SBDR director David Coggins praised Florida volunteers in a statement through the Florida Baptist Convention.
“This is another opportunity that we have to be the hands and feet of Jesus and to bring the hope of the gospel to communities that are going to be impacted again,” Coggins said. “We stand ready to share the hope of Christ and bring help, healing and hope in a critical time in people’s lives.”
Dean Inserra, pastor of City Church in Tallahassee, said the storm warnings have led many in his congregation to evacuate.
“Getting our church members back into town, assessing their home situation and building back will be the first priority,” Inserra said. “Then, the best thing we believe our church can do after this storm will be for our members to be good neighbors: See the needs next door and meet them as they are able.”
Weather prediction models project Helene will be a fast-moving storm once it makes landfall, which means South Georgia will experience the storm as a Category 1 storm with 90 mph winds, and the Atlanta metro area could see tropical storm conditions with sustained winds reaching 60 mph.
“The current forecast for Hurricane Helene suggests this storm will impact every part of our state,” Kemp said. “We are not taking anything for granted, which is why I have directed appropriate state agencies to work around the clock to ensure we’re prepared for whatever is heading our way.”
Other state SBDR teams, such as South Carolina and Illinois, have announced that they have put their volunteers on alert.
Those who are looking to help can pray and give to support the efforts of SBDR’s trained volunteers, said Send Relief’s crisis response director, Coy Webb.
“In the immediate aftermath of the storm, SBDR’s trained volunteers serve as the tip of the spear,” Webb said. “They have the training to assist homeowners who have endured catastrophic damage as well as the equipment to cook and serve hot meals while the power is out. Send Relief will be supporting those efforts as the damage from Helene is expected to be significant.”
For more information and the latest updates, visit SendRelief.org/hurricane.
(EDITOR’S NOTE — Brandon Elrod writes for the North American Mission Board.)
