MORGAN CITY, La.—Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief (DR) volunteers continue to serve storm victims in the aftermath of Hurricane Francine. Over the past few weeks since Francine caused widespread damage, volunteers have cleared debris, prepared meals, offered showers and laundry services in addition to other services for victims.

When Francine first hit, Louisiana requested DR to head up a site in Morgan City, La. This would eventually become the only sight needed in Louisiana long term, according to Jason Yarbrough, Oklahoma Baptists’ disaster relief director. Now, three weeks later, DR volunteers have completed nearly 300 job requests.

“We’re into our third week and hope to finish this week,” said Yarbrough. “We’ve had over 400 job requests in Morgan City and still have about 100 of those jobs left to complete.”

Teams from Texas and New Mexico are assisting DR in the cleanup this week.

“We have five teams there this week: two teams from Oklahoma, a Southern Baptists of Texas Convention (SBTC) team, a Texas on Mission (TXM) team, and a New Mexico team that are helping us,” said Yarbrough.

While volunteers work to meet the physical needs of storm victims, they also are working to meet the spiritual needs in Louisiana. According to Yarbrough, there have been five professions of faith through the ministry in Louisiana and about 300 to 400 Gospel or ministry contacts. These stories of spiritual life change taking place act as an encouragement to the volunteers who do go to help physically, but also go to spread the Word.

On the weekend of Sept. 27, Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida and caused massive damage throughout Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee and the Virginias. Damage came from the direct impact of the Hurricane including tree damage and the surge as well as the flooding that occurred.

“When Hurricane Helene hit, it was catastrophic,” said Yarbrough. “They’re comparing this to Katrina that hit Louisiana. This is going to be a long-term response and widespread.”

So far, Florida, Georgia and North Carolina have invited DR to come. DR does plan to help at least one of the three states soon, but DR is committed to finishing their work in Louisiana before sending teams to one of those states, according to Yarbrough.

“In Louisiana, (DR) is committed to finishing there, but we have teams being put on alert and we’re trying to build teams, being flood recovery and chainsaw teams, that would travel east and help once we get finished with Louisiana,” he said.

DR hopes to finish work in Louisiana by Oct. 5 so that they can send teams east. If they are unable to accomplish this goal then they will send teams the following weeks. Yarbrough thanks those who have been supporting DR through prayer and requests that those prayers continue.

“The prayers that we receive give us the strength to know that we can handle this,” he said. “Oklahomans have been busy this year. Pray that they’re rested, and ready and able to go and meet the need because it’s vast.”

For more information, or to make a tax-deductible donation to Oklahoma Baptist DR, visit www.okdisasterhelp.org.