Local churches provide relief for Irma evacuees

Published 6:15 am Wednesday, September 13, 2017

Fleeing from Hurricane Irma’s wrath, evacuees from Florida, Georgia and South Carolina poured into Limestone County this past weekend. Many of the estimated 400 people who have sought shelter here simply had to keep moving north until they could find an open hotel room.

Weary, worried and with little to no supplies, many have found relief through Limestone County’s churches and the Limestone County Baptist Association disaster-relief team.

Kevin Ward, director of missions at LCBA, said its disaster-relief team is coordinating a multi-faceted, long-term plan to help Irma victims.

“Right now we are trying to help the evacuees who have not returned home into shelters,” Ward said. “We have one as near as Cullman. Getting them into a certified shelter is the best thing for them. It takes the expense of having to stay at a hotel out of the equation and the shelters can address the specific needs of each victim.”

Several area churches have also stepped up to help.

The Rev. Brian Murphy, minister of education at Clements Baptist Church, said once they realized many of the area inns were filled with evacuees, they requested church members donate hotel-friendly food. Church members put together the donated items into 25 care packages and then personally delivered them.

“They were all so grateful,” Murphy said. “One evacuee even joked that if they were going to relocate anywhere it would be here.”

Church members came together Tuesday to provide a traditional church potluck featuring the Southern staple Brunswick stew for hurricane victims who have not yet returned home.

Across town at Lindsay Lane Baptist Church, the Rev. Eric Pugh, associate pastor of missions and family ministries, tells how church leaders have been helping a handful of families who have passed through their doors.

“What we are seeing are families needing lodging, meals and gasoline,” Pugh said. “The people who have come to us for help had no idea they would have to travel so far away from home to find a place to stay and they have simply run out of money.”

The church is providing lodging for a family until Thursday. The family of eight, consisting of two sisters who fled the West Palm Beach area with their children and grandchildren, received confirmation from the Red Cross that their county will be open to returning residents as soon as Thursday.

Many of the estimated 400 Hurricane Irma victims are already heading home to assess the damage caused by the Category 4 monster storm.

“Now the real work begins,” Ward said. “Our disaster-relief team is on standby. Our feeding team and mud-out/clean-up crew are being directed to Florida instead of Texas because of our location.”

The Limestone Country disaster-relief team will be directly involved in providing aid to Hurricane Irma victims for the next two years.