TBM disaster response deploys 16 units in Louisiana

Sixteen Texas Baptist Men disaster relief mobile units and dozens of volunteers have been deployed to Louisiana to serve people whose lives have been disrupted by Hurricane Isaac.

Victim Relief Ministries sets up a prayer station in LaPlace, La., providing spiritual and emotional counsel to disaster victims and first-responders. (PHOTO/Courtesy of Edward Smith)

Volunteers working from the Dallas-based TBM Disaster Relief Mobile Unit—an 18-wheeler specially equipped with a field kitchen—are preparing meals for storm victims and emergency responders, working from Belle Chasse Baptist Church in Algiers, La.

Regional mud-out crews and a shower/laundry mobile unit also are on site at Calvary Baptist Church in Algiers, along with an asset-protection team to provide security.

Mud-out teams already serving in Louisiana are from University Baptist Church in Houston and Colorado Baptist Association. An additional mud-out and chainsaw crew from Collin Baptist Association was slated to arrive Sept. 6.

Sally Thompson, chaplain with Victim Relief Ministries, prays with a resident of LaPlace, La. (PHOTO/Courtesy of Edward Smith)

Multiple units have been deployed to provide showers and laundry service, particularly for National Guard personnel, American Red Cross volunteers and other first-responders serving the affected region.

In addition to a regional North Texas mobile unit, others shower/laundry units are from First Baptist Church in Comanche, Green Acres Baptist Church in Tyler, First Baptist Church in O'Donnel, Austin Baptist Association, Gambrell Baptist Association, Denton Baptist Association.

A regional temporary emergency child care unit from Gambrell Baptist Association and the statewide child care unit also were deployed to Louisiana.

A TBM team serving with the Smith Baptist Association regional disaster relief unit is setting up food-service operations at Celebration Church in LaPlace, La.

Also in LaPlace, northwest of New Orleans, Victim Relief Ministries has set up its trailer and a banner declaring the site a "prayer station." The crew is "swamped by people needing chaplains," said Edward Smith, deputy executive director of Victim Relief Ministries, an interdenominational organization that grew out of TBM and continues to serve as an independent but affiliated TBM ministry.

"We are providing emotional and spiritual care in the heart of the impacted community," Smith said. Victim Relief Ministries anticipates sending another chaplain team into Plaquemines Parish.

Terry Henderson (left), disaster relief director for Texas Baptist Men, is serving as Hurricane Isaac incident commander for Baptist disaster relief. Henderson consults with Dwain Carter, disaster relief director for the Missouri Baptist Convention and Cathy Smith of the North American Mission Board, inside the North American Mission Board's new mobile incident command center, set up at First Baptist Church in Covington, La. (PHOTO/Karen Willoughby)

Meanwhile, a four-member TBM crew is serving with the incident management team at First Baptist Church in Covington, La. At the request of Gibbie McMillam, Louisiana Baptist state disaster relief director, TBM State Disaster Relief Director Terry Henderson is coordinating Baptist disaster relief responders from Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Missouri.

Joe Henard from Paramount Baptist Church in Amarillo is serving as logistics and safety officer at the incident command center in Covington. Ralph Rogers, also from Paramount Baptist in Amarillo, is working as operations officer, and Cindy Wesch from Hillcrest Baptist Church in Midlothian is administrative officer.

TBM disaster relief efforts are financed entirely by designated gifts. To give directly to TBM, visit www.texasbaptistmen.org or mail a check to Texas Baptist Men, 5351 Catron, Dallas, 75227.