TBM volunteers serve after tornadoes hit Southeast Texas

DEER PARK—Along a several-block stretch of Hillshire Drive in Deer Park, limbs are piled along the street as neighbors seek to clean up from a tornado that swept through Jan. 24.

The easy cutting had been done, but a Texas Baptist Men disaster relief team from Katy swept in to clear away some of the difficult-to-handle damage.

Marcell Hunt led the TBM crew from Kingsland Baptist Church. He described the work as mainly involving “hangers”—large branches broken off but still connected to the tree and dangerous. And limbs were down on roofs.

The seven-man team brought chainsaws, a man lift and a skid steer because some of the hangers were large and required multiple cuts for safe removal. The crew used the lift to reach hangers high in the trees above three homes in a row.

Their ministry comes quickly after a series of tornadoes swept across Southeast Texas from the Houston area to Orange.

One of the homeowners affected by the storms, Scott Wilkerson, said the TBM work was a blessing.

“I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart for what you guys are doing,” he said. “God bless, ya’ll.”

Wilkerson received bids of $6,000 to $7,000 for what the TBM crew did for no charge.

To the Southeast, the TBM Deep East Texas team cut and removed trees in Orange County. They also installed a tarp on a house that was missing half its roof.

David Wells, TBM statewide disaster relief director, praised the work of the Deep East Texas team, as well as the Houston-area teams that assisted tornado survivors.

“The very first part of the Great Commission is to make disciples of the people in your Judea—the area closest to you,” he said. “That’s exactly what these teams are doing. Their neighbors are hurting, and they’re stepping up to help them out in the name of Christ.”

To donate financially to TBM disaster relief, click here or mail checks to Texas Baptist Men, 5351 Catron Drive, Dallas, TX 75227.