Disaster relief completed at Caddo Lake, continues in Southeast Texas

ORANGE—Texas Baptist Men volunteers completed disaster relief in the Caddo Lake area a month after hard-driving rain flooded parts of East Texas. But relief efforts continued and long-term recovery began more than 150 miles to the south in Orange and Newton counties.

Since disaster relief began in mid-March, TBM workers in five locations donated more than 1,400 volunteer days, made about 780 ministry contacts, presented the gospel at least 60 times, distributed 138 Bibles and 50 evangelistic tracts, and prepared about 9,000 meals.

Mission accomplished at Caddo Lake

TBM workers dedicated 176 volunteer days to the Caddo Lake region before wrapping up April 7 after preparing 470 meals and fulfilling 63 work requests. Mud-out crews in the area cleaned out 32 homes, removed damaged drywall and flooring from 25 houses, pressure-washed 15 buildings and completed 26 mold-remediation jobs.

Volunteers staffing a mobile shower and laundry unit at Caddo Lake provided access to 78 showers and washed 75 loads of laundry.

Work continues in Southeast Texas

A TBM incident-management team based in Orange continued to coordinate work in Newton and Orange Counties, where four mud-out crews, three shower and laundry units and an emergency food-service team remained in service.

TBM volunteers in Orange County prepared more than 8,300 meals and distributed more than 7,800 boxes residents used to reclaim scattered possessions.

Volunteers serving with shower and laundry units in Orange and Newton counties provided access to about 700 showers and washed close to 1,000 loads of laundry.

Through April 11, mud-out crews in Southeast Texas cleaned 67 homes, tore damaged walls and floor coverings from 82 houses, pressure-washed 22 buildings and completed 91 mold-remediation jobs.

A member of Calvary Baptist Church in Deweyville works on repairs at the flood-damaged church building. (Photo/Marla Bearden)Although Calvary Baptist Church in Deweyville—a Newton County community about 30 miles northeast of Beaumont—sustained serious flood damage, TBM volunteers and church members served about 200 meals a day from the church’s parking lot, said Marla Bearden, disaster recovery specialist with the Baptist General Convention of Texas.

“Even though the building was damaged, the church continued as a ministry point,” Bearden said, adding its members worshipped at the church April 10 for the first time since the flood.

Long-term recovery begins

Calvary Baptist received some immediate financial assistance from the BGCT and Sabine Neches Baptist Area. TBM mud-out crews removed damaged drywall from the Calvary Baptist facility, and a building team from First Baptist Church in Newton helped replace sheetrock in its fellowship hall, Bearden said.

“But Calvary Baptist Church still needs building supplies and volunteers to install insulation, hang sheetrock and do taping and bedding,” she said.

Floodwater damaged the homes of about 80 percent of Calvary Baptist’s members, and many other families in the surrounding area also were affected, Bearden noted.

Texas Baptists’ disaster recovery will work with the Tri-County Long-term Disaster Recovery Committee that has been formed to serve needs in Jasper, Newton and Orange counties, she said.

Ministers from affected communities serve on the committee, and churches are working across denominational lines to offer immediate relief and long-term recovery, Bearden said.

Texas Baptists can contribute financially to recovery at Calvary Baptist in Deweyville and the surrounding area. Mail checks to Texas Baptists’ Disaster Recovery, 7557 Rambler Rd., Suite 1100, Dallas 75231-2310 or click here. 

To contribute to TBM disaster relief, click here  or send a check designated “disaster relief” to Texas Baptist Men, 5351 Catron, Dallas 75227.