CARY, N.C. — N.C. Baptists on Mission disaster response volunteers have deployed to Muncie, Indiana, to help residents recover from deadly storms that brought torrential rain, catastrophic flooding and damaging winds across the state.
At least seven people have died as a result of the severe weather that began Aug. 11, according to Indiana emergency officials. The storms produced historic flooding across the state, with some rivers rising to levels not seen in more than a century. The flooding forced evacuations and damaged thousands of homes.
North Carolina is one of several Baptist disaster response groups assisting Indiana Baptist Disaster Relief officials in the storm’s aftermath. Other Baptist conventions assisting include Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota-Wisconsin and Oklahoma.
N.C. Baptists on Mission volunteers began setting up a recovery site at a church in Muncie in east-central Indiana on Wednesday. Teams are expected to begin assisting with flood recovery on Friday, which will include mud-out and tear-out work in homes affected by the floods.
N.C. Baptists on Mission Disaster Response Coordinator Tom Beam said upwards of 300 homes have been damaged in and around Muncie, with many located in close proximity to the recovery site.
“Some teams will be able to walk to their jobs,” Beam said.
The Indiana response comes as N.C. Baptists on Mission volunteers conclude a disaster deployment in West Virginia, where they have spent recent weeks serving families affected by severe flooding that took place in late July. As that response winds down, volunteers and equipment are being redirected to Indiana to assist there.
The flooding has created an urgent need for volunteers to help residents begin the difficult process of cleaning out their homes.
“We’re thankful for the opportunity to serve and for the dedicated volunteers and resources that allow us to respond to disasters wherever we’re needed,” Beam said. “When we’re asked to serve, we want to be there and do all we can do to help in the name of Jesus.”
Individuals and church groups interested in serving with the response in Indiana are being asked to complete Baptists on Mission’s online form. Financial donations for disaster response efforts may be made online by visiting www.baptistsonmission.org/give/disaster-response.
Pictured top: Photo by K. Brown, NC Baptists on Mission. N.C. Baptists on Mission disaster response volunteers remove flooring from a home in West Virginia after recent flooding. As work in West Virginia concludes, volunteers from North Carolina are moving operations to Indiana to assist communities affected by severe storms in recent days.
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