Feeding Unit Operations Update

The Virginia Baptist Disaster Relief Feeding Unit in Baton Rouge has temporarily suspended feeding operations because of winds associated with Hurricane Ike.

This unit may resume operation in Baton Rouge when the weather allows. In any case, this unit will conclude operations in support of Gustav on Sunday September 14.

This feeding unit will then be redeployed to a new location to support relief operations for Hurricane Ike.

VBMB Volunteers in the News

Virginia Baptist volunteers were showcased for their Disaster Relief efforts in the wake of Hurricane Gustav. Click the image below to see the video news segment.

Open the Video from News 2 in Baton Rouge

Relief Operations in Baton Rouge Continue

Open the Hurricane Gustav Slideshow

The VBMB Mass Feeding Unit in Baton Rouge is continuing operations. Their meal count has increased over the last several days. They prepared 10,000 meals Sunday, and the count may increase to 12,500 on Tuesday. A new team of volunteers has arrived and begins work in earnest today.

If Hurricane Ike maintains its current track, the unit in Baton Rouge will likely stand down late this week, move to a safe place, and wait there for assessments of needs following Ike’s landfall. If not needed for a response to Ike, this unit will continue the Gustav operation in Baton Rouge until its conclusion.

Disaster Relief Units in Operation

A VBMB Disaster Relief Mass Feeding Unit is now in service in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, being operated in partnership with the American Red Cross (ARC). Nine ARC Emergency Response Vehicles (ERVs) are assigned to the unit. These ERVs fed box lunches last night, with one ERV driver reporting that she emptied her ERV (625 meals) in one city block.  People were lined up and traffic was blocking the street to get these meals and water.

Beginning today, hot meals will be available as VBMB Feeding Unit volunteers are preparing 5000 meals to be delivered in the community by the ERVs. It is likely that the meal count will increase, maybe double, for the next few days. Feeding operations will continue until power is restored to the area.

Clean Up Recovery volunteers are cutting trees and removing debris. Clean Up Recovery operations are scheduled to end after Saturday September 6.

Crisis Care Chaplains are making visits, seeking to address the emotional and spiritual needs of the storm’s victims.

Radio Communications volunteers are staffing the Field Command Unit, making email correspondence possible via satellite phone and ham radio.

On Sunday September 7, new teams of Feeding Unit volunteers and Crisis Care Chaplains will relieve those currently serving.

Disaster Relief Units Deployed to Louisiana

The following Disaster Relief units have been activated to deploy to Baton Rouge, Louisiana:

1. One Mass Feeding Unit, capable of preparing 15,000 meals per day.
2. One Recovery Unit, equipped with chainsaws, pumps, and other tools to clear debris and clean up mud.
3. One Shower Unit
4. One Water Purification Unit
5. One Command and Communications Unit
6. Two Crisis Care Chaplains

The Class A Feeding Unit that was deployed to Kingsport, Tennessee, began operations on Monday September 1 and is currently producing approximately 1,000 meals per day for evacuees at an American Red Cross shelter.

Virginia Baptists have approximately 65 trained Disaster Relief volunteers responding to Hurricane Gustav.  Other volunteers may relieve the initial team in Louisiana, depending on the length of the deployment.

Disaster Relief Units on "Stand By"

The following Disaster Relief units have been placed on “Stand By” status in anticipation of activation in response to Hurricane Gustav and have departed for a staging area at Shocco Springs Baptist Conference Center in Talladega, Alabama:

1. One Mass Feeding Unit, capable of preparing 15,000 meals per day.
2. One Recovery Unit, equipped with chainsaws, pumps, and other tools to clear debris and clean up mud.
3. One Shower Unit
4. One Water Purification Unit
5. One Command and Communications Unit

Two Crisis Care Chaplains are also deploying with this response team.  Crisis Care Chaplains are formally trained to communicate effectively with and comfort victims of disasters.

In addition, a Class A Feeding Unit, capable of preparing up to 2,500 meals per day, has been deployed to an American Red Cross evacuee shelter in Kingsport, Tennessee. 

Virginia Baptist Disaster Relief on "Alert"

Tropical Storm Gustav is expected to regain strength, return to hurricane status, and make landfall somewhere along the central Gulf Coast.

Consequently, Virginia Baptist Disaster Relief units have been placed on “alert” status.  “Alert” status means that a potential threat is seen that could realistically result in activation in the coming days.  VBMB Disaster Relief units will respond following Gustav, if assistance is needed and requested by the Disaster Relief Coordinator of the affected state(s) Baptist convention(s).

Another matter of concern is this: Six of Virginia Baptists’ Venturer missionaries could be affected by Gustav.  Dennis and Nancy Bell-Strole serve at Nutshell Camp and Conference Center on the northern coast of Jamaica.  Rick and Melissa Kesterson and Bruce and Erin LePoint serve in lower Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana.