Southern Baptist Convention (MidWest Floods/Tornado's)

FROM THE WEBSITE AS OF 6/20/08

Southern Baptist Disaster Relief responding nationally to midwest tornadoes and floods:

SBDR is currently operating in five states assisting with the needs of flood and tornado victims. There are three incident command teams assisting state directors in the heavily hit states. There are more than 50 fifty disaster relief units activated and serving in this event. Nineteen state conventions have sent units to assist to date.

Current reports indicated that the need for feeding operations is diminishing; however, mudout needs are increasing as the flood waters recede. Assessors from several states have been sent into Wisconsin, Iowa, and Indiana to determine the need for additional recovery units.

The Disaster Operations Center at NAMB is coordinating the response. Operating 12 hours per day, volunteers and NAMB staff members are coordinating the operations with the ICS teams in place. The DOC is also communicating with states that could be affected as flood waters approach Missouri and Illinois.

While traveling, Kentucky lost a shower trailer in a storm this week when 75 mph winds flipped the trailer. Thankfully, there were not any injuries.

Michigan lost two of its disaster relief units during a tornado which hit the garage this past weekend. A communications unit and a new trailer to be converted into a child care unit were destroyed.

The mudout operation is not currently in full swing because the flood waters have not receded in many places. Assessments and mudout jobs are being completed where the water has gone down. Feeding is taking place in Iowa, Wisconsin, and Illinois in partnership with American Red Cross and The Salvation Army.

Activity Count as of June 20:

Volunteer Days 1,931
Meals 96,376
Mudout 39
Chainsaw 15
Children 28
Showers 623
Laundry Loads 144
Messages 4
Chaplain Contacts 913
Professions of Faith 4
Ministry Contacts 331

Wisconsin
Incident Command Headquarters: Trinity Baptist Church, Reedsburg
DR State Directors: Dave and Jeanne Wedekind
Incident Commander: Wade Gayler (Utah)
Operations Officer: Russ Hohmann
Administration Officer: Marcia Hoffman (Illinois)
Logistics Officer: Larry Hoffman (Illinois)
Sites: Reedsburg, Muscoda, Gays Mill

Iowa
Incident Command Headquarters: Iowa Baptist Convention, Des Moines
DR State Director: Ty Berry
Incident Commander: Donald Kimbell (Louisiana)
Administration Officer: Tommie Palmer (Utah-Idaho
Operations Officer: Ed Greene (New Mexico)
Logistics Officer: Wesley Johnson (Oklahoma)
Sites: Cedar Falls, Cedar Rapids, Wappelo, Davenport

Indiana
Incident Command Headquarters: First Southern Baptist Church, Terre Haute
DR State Director: Allen Haynes
Incident Commander: Mark Madison (Utah-Idaho)
Administration: Ronda Corn (North Carolina)
Operations: Jerry Butler (Alabama)
Logistics: Tom Cooper
Sites: Terre Haute, Franklin, Bloomington

Michigan
DR State Director: Win Williams
Michigan is ramping up their chainsaw operation in Lansing. As of Wednesday night, they had cleaned 94 yards

Illinois
DR State Director: Jack Shelby
It is too early for mudout. Some areas are under 10 feet of water.

Missouri
State DR Director: Rick Seaton
Some levees broke yesterday and water will probably crest today.