As of July 5, Oklahoma Disaster Relief (DR) volunteers—supported by volunteers from several other states—had completed 258 work orders which resulted from late June tornado/storm damage across the northern section of the state.
“We moved our Command Center from Owasso, First to Sapulpa, First during the first weekend in July to be more centrally located to the remaining work to be done,” Oklahoma Baptists’ State DR Director Jason Yarbrough said. “In the two weeks following the storms, we had received a total of 457 work requests in 20 different communities, and we have about 200 remaining to be completed.”
Yarbrough said teams from the New Mexico, Kansas/Nebraska, Missouri and Kentucky conventions have joined Oklahoma teams to do the chainsaw work, which he expected to continue in the Tulsa area for an additional couple of weeks.
“We are grateful for our partners we can call on for help and they come running,” he said in expressing his gratitude for the support.
In addition to providing cleanup and debris removal services at no charge to many Oklahoma families, DR chaplains had made 569 ministry contacts leading to 40 Gospel presentations, which resulted in two professions of faith in Christ and three recommitments.
“We praise the Lord for the seed that is sown by our volunteers during these times of disasters,” Yarbrough commented. “This reminds us that, as DR volunteers, we work through disasters to advance the Gospel. We are also thankful for the support we have received from Oklahoma Baptists and their prayers as our DR volunteers work through disasters to advance the Gospel.”
In addition to the chainsaw work, as of July 5, DR volunteers had prepared more than 13,500 meals, including 1,883 for volunteers, provided 383 showers and washed and dried 149 loads of laundry.
DR teams serve in Oklahoma Panhandle
Yarbrough also reported DR volunteers are serving areas in the Panhandle.
“As work continues in Tulsa Area, our DR volunteers are also responding to wind damage that affected the towns of Beaver and Forgan in the Panhandle early Friday morning,” he said. “We will be set up at Beaver, First for the next few days.”
For more information or to donate to Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief, visit okdisasterhelp.org.