The Alabama Baptist Disaster Relief help line is now activated and available to request help with downed trees and/or tarps you may need after the storm.
Call 334-613-2237 and provided your address, call back number and your county. The phones will be active until 8 tonight, and then staffed from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. for the next few days.
DR volunteers also have been working all day to assist with storm clean up after Hurricane Isaias made landfall last night (Oct. 9) near Destin, Florida. The southeastern part of Alabama suffered the most damage from the storms.
“This storm … brought in heavy winds throughout Alabama, taking down trees, knocking out power and doing some damage,” reported Gov. Kay Ivey earlier today (Oct. 10). “Unfortunately, we have also learned that two Alabamians have lost their lives. I am praying for their loved ones this morning.
“I offer my sincere thanks, too, for the various crews we have positioned throughout the state who have been diligently working to clear debris and restore power. That is the focus right now, and I am proud to report that all major roadways … have been reopened. There are still some road closures due to downed power lines, and our linemen are working to clear that as soon as possible,” she said. “In Escambia County, for example, our folks are still working on reopening a portion of US-31 north of Brewton. Fellow Alabamians, please continue being smart today as cleanup continues. Safety for y’all is the main thing today.”
Four deaths reported
Along with two lives lost in Alabama, two people have died in Florida as well, according to media reports.
Regarding damage reports among Alabama Baptist churches, The Alabama Baptist has learned of threechurches so far — New Brockton Baptist Church in Coffee County, Catawba Springs Baptist Church near Brewton and and Ino Baptist Church in Kinston.
ABDR volunteers are staging out of Little Escambia Baptist Church to service Brewton and the surrounding area, according to Mark Wakefield, DR strategist for the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions.
“We will be doing chainsaw and tarping along with support staff,” he said.
Staging also will take place at FBC Andalusia to service eastern Covington and Geneva counties as well as FBC Frisco City for its surrounding area.
Southeast Alabama Baptist Association DR volunteers are working through Houston County chainsaw requests under the supervision of associational missionary John Thomas.
Coffee and Dale associations are taking care of work needed in Coffee County as is Calhoun Association in Calhoun County.
The Disaster Relief Center in Prattville is being used as the state DR incident command, Wakefield said, noting that’s where the call center is set up.
Little Escambia serving on Sunday
The church family at Little Escambia Baptist also will be doing Sunday a bit differently tomorrow.
“We are canceling our regular Sunday services and activities so that we can go out and serve our community,” church leaders reported on the church’s Facebook page. “As many of you know, several trees are down, and many in our area are still without power and water.
“If you are able to travel safely, please join us for a brief prayer service and devotional at 9:00 AM in the sanctuary. Feel free to come dressed in work clothes, as many of us will be heading out directly after prayer to help our neighbors. Please stay safe, and we hope to see you tomorrow morning.”
The Escambia Baptist Association annual meeting scheduled for tomorrow (Oct. 11) also has been postponed.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This article was updated at 10:45 p.m. with details about Ino Baptist Church in Kinston being damaged. The steeple toppled as a result of the storms. It damaged the roof and fell on the HVAC that serves the sanctuary. The church also remained without power the evening of Oct. 1o. The members of Ino who are able will be out assisting the community tomorrow.
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