Involving Louisiana Baptists

in Disaster Relief

Brief History• Began in 1966 with action of SBC

to authorize $50,000 to be used by Home Mission Board for disaster relief efforts

• 1967 Hurricane Beulah, Bob Dixon and “Buddy Burners”

• 1971 Texas Baptist Mission offering allotted $25,000 for first DR feeding unit

National Fleet2015

Total National Units965 Units

100,000 Trained VolunteersRepresenting 45 differentConventions and NAMB

Louisiana’s Disaster Relief

Oklahoma, Louisiana, Mississippi, Kansas/Nebraska

Joined the Disaster Relief Movement in 1976

LOUISIANA FLEET REPORT• Feeding Units 3• Recovery Units Chainsaw / Mudout 53• Command/Communication 1• Shower /Laundry 16• Childcare 1• Water Purification 1• Generator 2• Heavy Equipment 8

Total units in the state fleet 72• Trained Volunteers 4200

LOUISIANA FLEET REPORT

Louisiana Baptists Disaster Relief is the 3rd largest D.R. organization in the U.S.

We respond to all types of disasters.

The DROP ManualAll of the procedures and protocols for

Disaster Relief.

“We do what we do well, but we don’t

duplicate what other people do!”

Gibbie McMillan

Food Preparation

It’s a BIG task!

• Yellow Hat- Entry Level

• Blue Hat- Crew Chief

• White Hat- Incident Commander

The Crisis“A disaster is an occurrence

that causes human suffering

or creates human needs that

the victims cannot alleviate

without assistance”.

MISSION STATEMENTLouisiana Baptist Disaster Relief is a Christ-centered partnership of national, state and associational ministries serving through the local church to bring help, healing and hope to individuals and communities affected by disaster.

VISION STATEMENT

Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief will be a well defined, united disaster response organization, demonstrating the love of Christ by providing physical, emotional and spiritual help to those affected by disasters.

CORE VALUESThese core values are the foundation for the ministry that we provide. They comprise the constant guide by which we perform the Disaster Relief ministry and interact with an affected community, our partners, other organizations, volunteers, and Southern Baptist constituents.

Categories of Disaster

Emergency Relief

Recovery

Long-term Rebuild

Disaster Services• Advisory/Advocacy

• Feeding Teams

• Bulk Items

• Case Work

• Chainsaw Crew

• Child Care

• Clean up Team (mud-out or debris pick up)

• Chaplaincy

• Communication

• Counseling/Pastoral Care

• Crisis Closet

• Damage Assessment

• Emergency Medical

• Evacuating

• Reconstruction

Levels of Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief Response• Church

• Association

• Three Regional

• Coordinators: • North: David Abernathy

• Southwest: Larry Cupper

• Southeast: Tom Long

• Chainsaw Coordinator Marvin Leleux

• Chaplain Coordinator James Carson

Important Terms

• Alert! There’s a possibility

• Standby! There’s a probability

• Deployment: The normal stay is usually a week.

Training for Disaster Relief Volunteers

• Feeding

• Recovery/Mudout

• Chainsaw

• Childcare

• Chaplains

• Shower/Laundry

• Water Purification

Traits of Disaster Relief Volunteer• Christian qualities

• Trained• Follow directions• Provide leadership• Versatile and flexible• Rise to the occasion• Available• Trained Christian witness• Posses: Spiritual Strength, Physical Strength, Moral

Strength

Ethical Guidelines for Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief Volunteers

• Do not use careless words or actions

• Represent Jesus Christ

• Listen to victims

• Do not exceed your training

• Refer to qualified person

• Respect the victims property

Ethical Guidelines for Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief Volunteers

(continued)

• Never accept contributions

• Be prepared to share your faith

• Keep in confidence victim’s information

• Ask permission before photographing

• Be sure of your information

• Do not spread rumors

Compassion in CrisisThe purpose of crisis counseling is to offer a sense of

caring presence: to hold a hand or offer a friendly shoulder to cry on.

The primary goal of crisis counseling is to provide temporary intervention enabling

the person to return to effective, independent functioning as soon as possible.

Statements Of Understanding