BAYBORO, N.C.—Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief (DR) volunteers have begun clean-up efforts following widespread damage after Hurricane Florence hit the coast of North Carolina.
DR arrived in the town of Bayboro late in the evening Tues., Sept. 25. On the first day of work, Wed., Sept. 26, Oklahoma Baptist DR, who are partnering with Arkansas and Texas DR, received 100 work orders for chainsaw and mudout requests.
Volunteers listen at a DR meeting in North Carolina.
“We’re here to help with the physical devastation, but we also want to spend the time to walk alongside each homeowner and offer them emotional and spiritual help as well,” said Don Williams, state director of Oklahoma Baptist DR.
DR mud-out workers roll up carpet in a church that sustained flood damage.
“Many people are still in the phase of disbelief, asking themselves, ‘How could this happen to us? Where do we go from here?’ It’s devastating,” Williams said. “But North Carolinians are strong, and they know how to take care of business and move forward.”
DR started mud-out work on Wednesday in a church that sustained flood damage after six inches of standing water ruined carpet and dry wall.
According to Williams, the trained, equipped and credentialed DR volunteers will continue to do mud-out work and chainsaw work for months to come. Chaplains and assessors will also join in relief efforts.
To make a tax-deductible donation to Oklahoma Baptist DR and for the latest updates, visit, www.OKDisasterHelp.org.