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Katrina, One Year Later

One year ago today, Hurricane Katrina slammed into New Orleans with incredible devastation. Virginia Baptist Disaster Response units had been placed on stand by the day before and within 24 hours of the hurricane hitting land, a feeding unit, recovery volunteers, water purification unit and crisis care chaplains would be deployed and Virginia Baptists would be the first to respond in Picayune, MS. Less than a month later, on September 17, Hurricane Rita would hopscotch over Florida to Texas.  For the first time in Virginia Baptist disaster response history, we staged our next response from the scene of the previous disaster.  It would also be the first time that Virginia Baptists had two feeding units stationed at two different locations.

Virginia Baptists have served and responded since that first day. When the call went out for needed funds, over $2 million was donated. When the call went out for volunteers, phone lines were flooded.

Virginia Baptists have responded as a family-united with the mission to serve and to show the love of Christ. It is a response that has impacted each of our congregations and is a powerful testimony to the depth of commitment by Virginia Baptists to show Christ’s love to those in need.

The following links will provide you with downloadable information that can be copied and used as bulletin and/or newsletter inserts:

  • Timeline of Virginia Baptists’ response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, click here. For an 11x17 version, click here.
  • History of Virginia Baptists’ disaster response efforts, click here.
  • How your church members can train to participate in future disaster response efforts, click here.

Did You Know?

  • That during the initial disaster relief response nearly 500,000 meals were served by two Virginia Baptist feeding units in Picayune, MS and Slidell, LA?
  • That more than 75 teams made up of more than 1500 volunteers have traveled or are scheduled to travel to the Gulf Coast to assist in these ministries?
  • That Virginia Baptists are partnering with Habitat for Humanity International and with their Jackson County, MS affiliate in funding ($300,000) and building four new houses for Katrina victims?

For a complete list of Virginia Baptists’ ministries related to Hurricane Katrina recovery, click here.

Feedback
As always, we want to hear from you with your feedback. How can we better communicate with you? How can we better serve you? Let us know your thoughts by sending an e-mail to Paige Peak at paige.peak@vbmb.org.
 

 

  

 



 
 

“I am still amazed at how wonderful you people were during our crisis. I specifically remember that Virginians were everywhere and very hard workers! I can’t thank you enough for your help and sincere caring for us and our situation.”

Those words are taken from a letter received by one of our Virginia Baptist pastors as a Hurricane Katrina victim recalled her experience with Virginia Baptist Disaster Response volunteers. Our response as a united and committed Baptist General Association of Virginia family has been possible because of the faithful support of the Cooperative Missions program. Those offerings support the on-going mechanism that keeps staff prepared and trained, keeps them connected to state and national emergency agencies, keeps equipment and technology in a state of immediate response, and keeps Virginia Baptists in the forefront to respond. The combined giving power of over 1,400 BGAV churches keeps us ready to Respond to the Signs of the Times.

For free downloadable ads for use in your church bulletin, eNewsletter and/or website, click here.
 
 

  Click to go to vbmb.org