Along a several-block stretch of Hillshire Drive in Deer Park, Texas, tree limbs were piled along the street as neighbors sought to clean up from a tornado that swept through Jan. 24. The easy cutting had been done, but a Texas Baptist Men Disaster Relief team arrived on the scene to clear away some of the more challenging damage.
Marcell Hunt led the TBM crew from Kingsland Baptist Church, Katy, Texas. He described the work as mainly involving “hangers,” large branches broken off but still connected to the tree that can be dangerous. Tree limbs were also down on roofs.
The seven-man team brought chainsaws, a manlift and a skid steer because some of the hangers were large and required multiple cuts to be safely removed. The crew used the lift to reach hangers high in the trees above three homes.
Their ministry comes after a series of tornadoes ripped across Southeast Texas, from the Houston area to Orange.
One of the homeowners affected by the storms, Scott Wilkerson, said the TBM work was a blessing. Wilkerson received estimates of $6,000-$7,000 for what the TBM crew did free of charge.
To the Southeast, another TBP team cut and removed trees in Orange County. They also installed a tarp on a house that was missing half of its roof.
Helping hurting neighbors
TBM Disaster Relief Director David Wells praised the work of the teams that assisted tornado survivors.
“The first part of the Great Commission is to make disciples of the people in your Judea — the area closest to you,” he said. “That’s exactly what these teams are doing. Their neighbors are hurting, and they’re stepping up to help them out in the name of Christ.”
Other ways to help
Check with your church, association or state Baptist convention to find out how they are contributing to ongoing relief efforts in your state and beyond. To contact your state convention for more information, click here.
To read more Disaster Relief stories, click here.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written and originally published by the Baptist General Convention of Texas.
