EAST COAST – Debby isn’t done yet, but Southern Baptists aren’t waiting.

The second named storm of the 2024 hurricane season made landfall near Steinhatchee on Florida’s Gulf side on August 5 with peak winds of 80 mph and swirled across the east coast states with decreasing strength until it passed over Canada on August 10.

Heavy rain, severe flooding, flash floods, slow-moving floods and tornadoes are byproducts of this storm. Disaster Relief (DR) volunteers were on the scene in some cases as early as a day after Debby arrived, providing food, chainsaws and mud to people.

In other areas such as Sarasota, Florida, Richmond Hills, Georgia, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Steuben County, New York and others, floodwaters had not receded enough by Wednesday (August 14) for vehicles to drive on the roads to bring aid and hope to victims of the storm.

“For the residents we serve, it (Debby’s impact) is tremendous,” Florida DR director David Coggins told Baptist Press. “We don’t respond to tragedies. Our volunteers help the people affected by these tragedies. Our volunteers are eager to help and bring renewed hope of the gospel to a community devastated by yet another hurricane.”

“We are very grateful for this volunteer-driven mission,” Coggins continued. “Without them, we could not do anything on the ground. They bring the gospel, hope and healing to the people in these communities in need.”

Previous articles in Baptist Press have described the difference DR volunteers make. Posted on August 5: Disaster relief responds to Debby, prepares for flooding; August 7: Remnants of Debby bring flooding and tornadoes; August 9: Flood damage doesn’t stop pastor and church from serving; and August 14: Blessing Field blessed by disaster relief.

“We pray for their rest,” Coggins said. “The DR volunteers are always ready. They have a calling, otherwise they wouldn’t continue. The volunteers are very passionate about what they do and are willing to do more.”

Churches like First Baptist Church in Perry, Florida, are also providing disaster relief by opening their buildings and properties. This August, the church opened its doors for the second time to help with hurricane relief efforts.

“I think it has grown the church spiritually,” Pastor Steven Ruff told Baptist Press. “It has given our people the opportunity to help others and show compassion. They heard me preach that and it was a natural way to put that teaching into practice.”

“They’re giving up their own space, giving up everything they have here, their schedules and all that,” the pastor of First Perry continued. “It gives them the opportunity to put into practice in a very real and practical way what the Bible says about loving your neighbor and serving others.”

The Florida DR is currently focused on cleanup and reconstruction efforts, removing trees and debris, removing mud and temporarily covering the canopy, Ruff said.

Coggins said the food service unit was disbanded last Friday, Aug. 9, after preparing nearly 12,000 meals in Florida. So far, about 185 trained DR volunteers have been deployed in Florida.

“We try to schedule our volunteers so they don’t burn out,” Coggins said. “Their willingness to help and willingness to help, even when it’s difficult, is amazing. Our volunteers often describe themselves as being called to this ministry, just like pastors are called by God, so they have real passion and dedication.”

Michael Flannery, director of disaster relief for the Baptist Convention of New York, explained what DR volunteers are facing in the region 150 miles southeast of Rochester and several miles north of the Pennsylvania state border.

“This is a national problem,” Flannery said. “What Debby did wasn’t that bad. It was the flash floods that came on August 8th because of all the rain.”

“Most of the basements here have dirt floors. Concrete blocks or stone walls, but dirt floors are very difficult to manage and all the technical equipment is in the basement. It’s really hard work, plus we have to spread the gospel, comfort them and let them know we care. It makes a huge difference to these victims. It gives them hope.”

Volunteers from North Carolina DR set up a food unit. Send Relief provided Tyvek protective suits and Shockwave – a disinfectant and cleaning agent – ​​to eliminate mold.

“We have 225 trained DR volunteers and 25 on the ground,” Flannery said of the New York DR volunteers. “We’re relying on our brothers and sisters in North Carolina and Ohio to help. We’re hoping to set up six to eight work teams. Because of the mold, we need to get this done as quickly as possible.”

Further south, “we have flooded lowland areas,” said Sue Harmon, disaster relief operations director for the South Carolina Baptist Convention. “We’re waiting for the river to crest from Dillon to the coast near Myrtle Beach.”

“We’re expecting more flooding from the rivers in North Carolina,” Harmon continued. “Sometimes it takes a few days for the rainwater to soak into the rivers and then another few days for it to get to us.”

As DR volunteers remove waterlogged and damaged items from a family’s home, they are careful to uncover and return items that may contain “precious memories” or other values. At the same time, they empty a refrigerator or freezer filled with spoiled food, rip out drywall and pull out carpeting.

“South Carolina didn’t have as much flooding as expected from Debby, but the flooded areas are in bad shape and really need our help,” Harmon said. “We have a great partnership with Alabama Disaster Relief and are grateful that they can come and help us in Walterboro.” South Carolina DR teams will handle the recovery effort in St. George. “We’re still figuring out who will come” to help in Myrtle Beach, she added.

Coy Webb, Send Relief’s crisis response director for NAMB and IMB, was holed up in Puerto Rico when Baptist Press met him. About half the population of this U.S. protectorate is without power after Tropical Storm Ernesto swept through the Caribbean.

“We have begun flood recovery efforts in six states – Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and New York,” Webb said of the response to Hurricane Debby. “Send Relief is providing Tyvek suits, roof tarps and Shockwave to kill mold and mildew. This is hands-on help for people in disaster that helps our DR volunteers bring them the hope of Christ.”

“We built the first kitchen within 24 hours, but much of the work is just beginning,” Webb continued. “We had to wait for the flooding to recede before we could go in and start cleaning the houses.”

As of Wednesday (August 14), five people have made their profession of faith and logged 6,400 volunteer hours.

“It’s going to double or triple,” Webb said. “I think we’re going to have a whole flood of states if this thing continues.”

This year’s hurricane season is expected to be more severe than usual, Webb said. He suggested that people interested in disaster relief should get training at the state conference.

“We need prayers as we ask for wisdom, volunteers and resources,” Webb said. “Prayers are very important. Give. So we have resources like Tyvek suits. Get trained, pray and give. Those are the three best ways people can help.”

In a few weeks, there will be a need for food, chainsaws and cleanup in Puerto Rico, said Webb, who remained indoors Wednesday as rain wreaked havoc on the island territory.

And Hawaii? “They’re still recovering,” Webb said. “It could take up to a decade to rebuild.”

(Editor’s note — Karen L. Willoughby is national correspondent for Baptist Press.)