Update on ways to continue helping Houston and assist those facing damage from Hurricane Irma (updated Saturday, 6:30 p.m.):
- Follow legitimate news sources for your information.
To double check rumors related to Hurricane Irma, click here.
- Share information about a new shelter open for evacuees in Robertsdale, Alabama:
Robertsdale Fair Grounds Coliseum (19477 Fairground Road, Robertsdale, AL 36547). Reports indicate about 200 people were there around 2 p.m. today. It is pet friendly and is a FEMA/county-built facility with a lot of showers and room.
Directions: From I-10, take the Loxley (Alabama) Exit, go south on Highway 59. Turn left onto Fairground Road immediately past Robertsdale High School.
For more information, call 251-947-3247.
- Donate fans and dehumidifiers
A church in Katy, Texas, is asking for large fans and dehumidifiers to help dry out homes in their area.
In the days following Hurricane Harvey, Christ Church PCA issued a request for relief in the form of fans and room size dehumidifiers. (Fans and dehumidifiers will likely be needed in Florida as well.)
“Money is great, but with 100,000 flooded homes, not counting businesses, the equipment to dry flooded homes is not locally available,” said Daryl Brister, flood relief coordinator at Christ Church.
Brister said the fans do not have to be expensive but large fans (2-3 feet) are most helpful.
Items can be purchased online and shipped to :
Christ Church
108180 Gaston Road
Katy TX 77494
Attention: Kayne LeBlanc
- Donate gloves and facemasks
Daryl Brister, flood relief coordinator at Christ Church, Katy, Texas, said the area is in need of disposable Nitrile industrial gloves in medium, large and extra-large and disposable facemasks (those with a single carbon filter) that cover the mouth and nose area.
A flooded home presents just the right conditions for mold to grow. Though some people are more sensitive to molds than others, any exposure to mold can cause upper respiratory issues such as nasal stuffiness, eye irritation, wheezing or skin irritation. Some people will have a much more serious allergic response. Those with chronic lung conditions may be extra sensitive, often developing mold infections in their lungs.
Flood relief volunteers will spray down surfaces with chemicals that kill mold. Drying out surfaces as quickly as possible helps even more.
Items can be purchased online and shipped to :
Christ Church
108180 Gaston Road
Katy TX 77494
Attention: Kayne LeBlanc
- Pray and donate to Southern Baptist Disaster Relief efforts
The North American Mission Board (NAMB) is moving supplies into South Georgia to prepare for Hurricane Irma. Send Relief volunteers will be called up once officials determine it is safe to send workers into the area.
“Please pray for the people staying, evacuating and working to protect life,” wrote Redemption Church, Mobile, pastor Ed Litton in a Facebook post. “This is an unprecedented storm and opportunity to show the love of Jesus Christ.”
NAMB Send Relief partners with state convention-led Southern Baptist Disaster Relief (SBDR) chapters to meet urgent needs of communities in crisis, including hot meals, clean water, laundry, child care, structure repairs and rebuilding. SBDR’s trained volunteer force of more than 80,000 people is the third largest disaster relief agency in the United States. Though many agencies will leave after a few weeks, Southern Baptists will be helping our neighbors in storm-affected areas for months to come.
With many still recovering from Hurricane Harvey and major destruction expected from Hurricane Irma, resources will be stretched thin. Donations are needed now and volunteers will be needed in the coming days and weeks. Donations can be directed toward Hurricane Harvey recovery, Hurricane Irma recovery or to the greatest need.
One hundred percent of every dollar given to NAMB Send Relief goes directly to Southern Baptist Disaster Relief efforts. Donations may be made online at www.namb.net/donations/. For assistance with a donation, to learn about volunteer opportunities or to give by phone, please call 1-800-634-2462 (English/Español).
- Volunteer to serve with an Alabama Baptist Disaster Relief team
Volunteers need to have updated Disaster Relief credentials so Alabama Baptist Disaster Relief officials will hold emergency training sessions on Monday and Tuesday as well as one later in the month:
Sept. 11, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m., Valleydale Baptist Church, 2324 Valleydale Road, Hoover
Sept. 12, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m., First Baptist Church Bay Minette, 1201 Hand Ave., Bay Minette
Sept. 24, 12:15 p.m. – 2:30 p.m., First Baptist Church Opelika, 301 S 8th Street, Opelika
Training costs $35 per person and will focus on Mudout/Cleanup/Recovery. Preregistration is recommended for these events but same-day registration will be available. Arrive early for same-day registration.
Credentialed volunteers will have numerous opportunities in the upcoming weeks to serve in areas affected by Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Harvey.
More than 100,000 homes in Texas and some 800 homes in southwest Louisiana experienced flooding from Harvey. Some are damaged beyond repair. For those that are salvageable, mudout teams are needed to assist with the cleanup.
To register for training or donate to Alabama Baptist DR efforts, visit www.sbdr.org/hurricanerelief.
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