As heavy rains continued to hit the Northeast causing flash flooding and other damage over the weekend, Southern Baptists were among relief teams responding to those in need. At least five people were reported dead in Pennsylvania following reports of severe storms and flash flooding that have impacted millions of residents in the region.
Among other states impacted by flash flood warning, tornado watches and thousands of power outages were Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont, the Associated Press reported.
Relief efforts in Vermont
Disaster Relief teams from Georgia and South Carolina are deploying today (July 17) to Vermont to help victims in what has been described as that state’s worst natural disaster in nearly a century. Flood response teams are expected to set up in Barre, Vermont, one of the hardest hit communities. Other state Baptist conventions already on the ground participating in relief efforts in Vermont include West Virginia, New England, Penn/South Jersey, North Carolina and Kentucky.
“This is some of the worst flooding that these regions have ever seen,” Georgia Baptist Disaster Relief Director Dwain Carter said Sunday.
Parts of Vermont received up to two months’ worth of rain in a matter of days.
Vermont Gov. Phil Scott requested and received a major federal disaster declaration, which means the state now qualifies for aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Following the Baptist Churches of New England’s request for assistance, Carter said he planned to send two teams consisting of about 20 volunteers to help residents with cleanup now that the floodwaters have receded.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Roger Alford and originally published by The Christian Index. The Baptist Paper contributed to this report.
