FLDR

As Hurricane Debby, a Category 1 storm, made landfall early Monday morning, Aug. 5, along the Big Bend coast of Florida, Florida Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers are now on “active” status, ready to respond to bring help, hope and healing to those impacted by the storm.

Waking up at 2:00 a.m. to prepare meals, sharpen tools, work on administrative duties or wash clothes–these are just some of the tasks associated with Florida Baptist Disaster Relief.

Anne’s home in the Ocean Waterway Mobile Home Park neighborhood of Ft. Lauderdale was hit by a tornado earlier this month after record-setting rainstorms. The home, which Anne’s family has lived in since the ‘70s, suffered roof damage that produced a leak inside in one of the rooms, and the covered Florida room that she had installed some years ago was ripped off.

A day after Ian dropped more than 19 inches of rain in the Daytona Beach area, the pastor and members of City Light Church in Port Orange sprang into action to help fellow members and other churches dealing with significant flooding.

Hurricane Ian passed through Florida three weeks ago, but the lengthy recovery task will continue in the days, weeks and months ahead.

As Southern Baptist Disaster Relief (SBDR) nears 500,000 meals prepared in the wake of Hurricane Ian, volunteers have completed approximately 730 recovery jobs for homeowners. 

It has been nearly two weeks since Hurricane Ian made its devastating landfall in southwest Florida, and volunteers with Florida Baptist Disaster Relief and 16 other state conventions, alongside local churches and pastors, have committed to serving for as long as there is a need.

As Hurricane Ian rolled in Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 28, Wade Harmon was on the fifth floor of the Larsen Health Center Nursing in Fort Myers where his wife was working.

Any time a major storm system threatens the continental United States, the antennae of thousands of Southern Baptist Disaster Relief (SBDR) leaders and volunteers go up. They prepare a response that has required year-round preparation and readiness.

In times of catastrophe, the yellow hats and shirts worn by Florida Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers are a sign of help and hope. And in non-disaster times, volunteers in those same yellow hats and shirts are bringing their skills and training to churches across Florida.