Hurricane Milton hit Florida’s Gulf Coast as a Category 3 storm Wednesday evening (Oct.9), knocking out power to reportedly 3 million people before rolling on into the Atlantic Thursday morning. At least four deaths have been reported. Baptist response teams are ready to hit the ground running as search and rescue teams provide immediate help.
A tractor-trailer loaded with generators, temporary roofing, more than 20,000 meals and equipment to serve meals to first responders and survivors, was staged earlier this week at Send Relief’s headquarters in Alpharetta, Georgia. The truck was ready to head to Florida where teams began developing plans to move into the areas affected by Hurricane Milton as soon the storm’s threat passed.
RELATED: For more stories on Baptist disaster relief efforts, click here.
Elsewhere in the region, Baptist response teams have been making similar preparations, even while dozens of teams of volunteers continue to help Hurricane Helene survivors throughout the Southeast who have been devastated by that storm.
Baptist Disaster Relief mobile kitchens have been on alert with teams from Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texans on Mission ready to partner with The Salvation Army and American Red Cross to provide hot meals to survivors this week.
Helene response
Milton comes fast on the heels of Helene’s historic path across the Southeast that began on Sept. 26 when the storm made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend coastline as a Category 4 storm and tore through six states, bringing devastating flooding to the mountains of western North Carolina and the surrounding region.
More than 230 deaths throughout the Southeast have been attributed to Helene, with North Carolina’s flash flooding accounting for just under half of that total.
Baptist teams from 27 state conventions have been involved in the response to Helene at 25 response sites, and their response will continue as volunteer teams from across the Southern Baptist Convention will mobilize to help communities newly impacted by Milton.
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Ways to help
For more information on how you can help, check with your church, association or state Baptist convention to find out how they are contributing to this and other ongoing relief efforts in neighboring states, your state and beyond.
For more related headlines, see list below:
Hurricane Milton plows across Florida, pounding cities and whipping up tornadoes. At least 4 dead – Associated Press
Hurricane Milton leaves trail of chaos across Florida – World
Hurricane Milton Makes Landfall: The Damage of Giant Storms Raises Issues Beyond the Headlines – Albert Mohler/The Briefing
Hurricane Milton threatens as Send Relief, SBDR teams prep for action – Send Relief
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was compiled by The Baptist Paper, with reporting from Send Relief, the compassion arm of the International Mission Board and North American Mission Board.
