Hurricane Helene Relief

GBDR is deploying all resources at its disposal to the areas most impacted by Hurricane Helene. Partnership with other states, the American Red Cross, and Salvation Army are essential to meet the extensive needs of these communities. The five sites include:

GBDR’s primary services include feeding, chainsaw/tree removal, and tarping. Once completely set up, shower
services will also be available at all five locations

Each site is fully functional including feeding, chainsaw crews, and showers. Chaplains are available at sites.

A public number is available for homeowners requiring assistance: 404-904-5263.

Absolutely. The other states help us scale our response based on the extensive impact of Hurricane Helene. Nonprofits such as American Red Cross and The Salvation Army serve specific roles in the response. For instance, GBDR will set up kitchens and prepare meals, ARC and SA will distribute the meals throughout the communities.

We understand that there are affected areas that are still unreached with meals. The routes of meal distribution are determined by our partners in The Salvation Army and American Red Cross. We are continuing discussion about possible solutions to reach these other areas.

An Incident Management Team (IMT) is serving out of the GBMB office in Suwanee. All questions and communication flows from there to each site.

First, be patient. The process of responding to disasters of this magnitude is slow and methodical. Teams like ours serve under the direction of federal and state entities who determined the accessibility and safety for all involved. Flexibility is key as the situation on the ground changes often.

Mobilizing volunteers and sending supplies is not preferred. The systems and structures are not in place to receive, manage, store, or deploy products such as cleaning supplies, diapers, clothing, furniture, etc. These items often end up in warehouses and landfills when the response is completed.

GBDR is prepared to utilize small numbers of walk-up volunteers at the five sites for tasks that do not require training or credentials, but they are not prepared for large numbers or church groups.

In the near term, the five sites will receive bottled water, sports drinks, and prepackaged prepared foods. Please do not send food that requires refrigeration or preparation.

Collecting gift cards and providing them to the GBDR sites is also an excellent way to support the response. Stores such as Walmart and grocery stores are best to help meet the broad needs.

Churches can prepare for long-term support for churches that will need it. We know churches are the center of the community and ofter serve as the hub for responses such as these. The sooner a church is back to normal, the sooner they can serve their community.

After this initial stage of assessment, we will know churches that need repairs and long-term financial help. It typically takes more than one church to help them recover. We will help coordinate partnerships between churches.

Funds have been allocated through Mission Georgia to provide for the repairs required to affected Georgia Baptist churches and homes of ministry staffs. Specifically, these funds will be used to at least partially pay insurance deductibles if damages are extensive enough that a claim would be necessary. A GBMB Assessment Team is deployed throughout the affected area traveling from church to church to assess the impact on their properties. The team is organized by associations and working diligently to attend to the needs of each church as quickly as possible.

The Assessment Team is gathering important details about the condition of their properties, their insurance policies, and the potential of long-term need. That information is shared with our team to determine how we can support them financially

• Georgia Baptist churches may give through ga.sbcworkspace.com (iGo). A Mission Georgia-Storm Response fund has been added to their giving options. This route allows churches to make electronic fund transfers and use credit cards.
• Gifts from churches or individuals may also be made to Georgia Baptist Disaster Relief or Mission Georgia. Links to giving to either of those can be found on the home page of gabaptist.org and on missiongeorgia. org. These options allow for multiple payment options credit cards only. Any links you share publicly through social media should go through this channel.

Our desire is to provide assistance where it is needed. As we understand the needs of the churches in the affected area, we will be able to determine the amount we can distribute per affected church.

Our Field Assessment team is intentionally connecting with AMS as they go from area to area. Where AMS desire to partner with us in the assessment process, they are joining with us. In some cases AMS are initiating their own responses.

AMS that require assistance in the affected areas may contact one of the GBDR response sites.

Yes. They may contact Joy Stevens at jstevens@gabaptist.org to request an assessment.