A series of late spring storms which spawned tornadoes, hail, high winds and flooding, swept across areas of the Southeast May 8-9, leaving behind at least two known deaths in Tennessee and another in North Carolina, several injuries and thousands of people without electricity and extensive wind damage.
Southern Baptist volunteer teams were assessing the damage on Thursday after more than 200,000 were left without power in states including Alabama, Tennessee, North Carolina and Georgia. Disaster Relief teams were also busy helping residents impacted by storms this week in Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Texas, according to Coy Webb of Send Relief.
‘Massive’ damage
Wes Jones, disaster relief specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, said Disaster Relief volunteers will begin assessing damages after daylight on May 9 and begin determining how to best respond and assist. He noted storm damage is throughout the state, but the worst damage appears to be in Middle and East Tennessee.
“It’s hard to figure out where to start because the damage is so massive,” Jones said.
To read full report from the Baptist and Reflector, click here.
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.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Lonnie Wilkey and originally published by Baptist and Reflector, with reporting from The Baptist Paper.
