Work in progress, volunteers needed to aid victims
by Jody Herrington-Gettys
BEAUMONT, Texas – Yesterday was a great day. We received free fuel at the fuel depot set up by the state to supply fuel to first responders, state officials and disaster relief agencies. The need for fuel, however, is still creating long lines at the pump.
One of our team members, Pete, waited in line at the state fuel depot for 3 hours. Overall, gas stations seem to be improving. The lines are not as long at some of the stations, however not all are open yet in town.
Power has been restored to some of Beaumont, but not to the church where we are headquartered. Our staff and a team of electricians got our generator hooked up to the church’s Family Life Center where we are now able to house volunteers. It is running like a champ and powering the whole building. Our base camp is now up and running including volunteer accommodations and a shower trailer.
Right now, our greatest need is for volunteers to help with gutting homes, debris removal and general clean up. We have volunteers signed up through next week, but need a lot more. Interested volunteers can contact our volunteer coordinator at volunteer@ob.org or visit our volunteer page for more information.
I went to Bridge City yesterday to meet with the mayor and other key officials. Yesterday our crews provided cleanup assistance to several homes of city officials and first responders. I went to the city yard and offices and met the building inspector, director of utilities, city manager and mayor. The mayor told me that he walked in his house once after the storm, saw that it was flooded and immediately closed the door and walked out. He said he was too busy to worry about it. He asked me if Operation Blessing could provide debris removal and cleanup assistance to his first responders and staff, so tomorrow we are going to the chief of police of the school district to help clean up his home.
Bridge City was over 95 percent flooded. I was told that all but 5 structures received water damage. I offered to send a load of drinks to the mayor for distribution and they gladly received them. Tomorrow one of our staff is setting up a work order station at the Point Of Distribution (POD). Today was the first day since the storm that they had a POD set up with water, ice and MREs (meals-ready-to-eat).
Yesterday I sent team members and volunteers to go door to door getting work orders filled out from residents – many of whom rode out the storm. We took a crew out and removed a tree from a home of a disable vet and older couple and did another gutting job. Tomorrow, crews will be going out again to work in Orange and Bridge City.
The hot meals for first responders and volunteers continue to go great. Yesterday we served 385 breakfasts and 396 dinners.
Tags: Beaumont, Bridge City, Disaster Relief, Family Life Center, Food Distribution, Hurricane Relief, Jody Herrington, MREs, North America, OBI, Operation Blessing, Orange, Relief Aid, Texas, Volunteers
Entries (RSS)
September 19th, 2008 at 9:42 am
how can we help my husbands out of work so is his subcontractors we build houses we have subs with equipment how can we help?
September 19th, 2008 at 4:44 pm
If you need a Christian counselor, I live in Houston and can help
as a counselor – pt – in afternoons or evenings.
Call: 713.498.1897
I was a case worker with American Red Cross in San Francisco during
the Katrina and have prior counseling experience – degreed -
Suzanne Hetherington
September 22nd, 2008 at 6:05 am
I am available to volunteer to help . I can not send money but will use my skills.
September 22nd, 2008 at 7:05 am
how do i get involved as a volunteer, how long do i stay what is available to do.
September 22nd, 2008 at 8:00 am
Hello,
I an an CBN member. I am 58 years old, not presently working and would
like to know more about volunteer opportunities for someone like me in Ike ravished Texas. Please let me know what’s available and I’ll pray about it.
Thanks
September 22nd, 2008 at 8:04 am
Good Day,
My name is Rob Howard and I am very interested in becoming a volunteer for the relief effort in Texas. I am available anytime to assist in whatever capacity needed. I have vast heavy equipment experience,construction experience. I retired from the U.S. Navy Special Forces and want to help the vicitims of IKE.
Sincerely,
Rob Howard
Cellular: 757-377-1184
September 22nd, 2008 at 8:13 am
I will like to jion the force how can i start?
September 22nd, 2008 at 8:14 am
I AM ONE OF THE FOLKS AFFECTED BY HURRICAINE IKE. I LIVE IN RUSK TX. AND WE (THOUGH FAIRLY FAR INLAND) GOT A PRETTY BAD DIRECT HIT FROM THIS STORM. NEVER SEEN ONE COME THIS FAR INLAND AND DO THAT MUCH DAMAGE BEFORE. MY ELECTRIC WAS OUT LACKING 20 MIN BEING 36 HOURS. I WAS ONE OF THE FIRST TO GET POWER AS I LIVE IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA, AND I GIVE GOD GLORY FOR THAT. SOME FOLKS IN THIS AREA STILL DON’T HAVE POWER. FEMA DID GIVE OUT WATER AND ICE BUT I MISSED OUT ON IT AS NOBODY TOLD ME. MY FOOD SUPPLY WAS ALMOST GONE WHEN I GOT TO GO TO THE STORE AND GET GROCERIES ON TUES. AND I FIND OUT WED OUR WATER WAS DECLAIRED CONTAMINATED (THOUGH I WAS TOLD ON SUNDAY IT WAS OK) THERE WAS NOT A JUG OF WATER IN THIS PLACE BUT GOD AGAIN STRECHED THE ONE JUG OF WATER I MANAGED TO GET ON WED TO LAST TILL FRI WHEN IT WAS AGAIN DRINKSABEL. MY YOUNGEST DAUGHTER WHO LIVES OUT IN THE COUNTRY 130 MILES FROM THE COAST IN (HONEY ISLAND) HAD POWER BY TUES OR WED AND SHE DIDN’T EXPECT THAT FOR AT LEAST 2-4 WEEKS. (IN FACT THEY HAD POWER BEFORE THE OLDEST DAUGHTER WHO LIVES INSIDE A TOWN NEAR TO ME DID. I GIVE GLORY TO GOD FOR THAT TOO THROUGH PRAYER. SHE AND HER HUBBY LIVE IN A DOUBLEWIDE MOBIL HOME AND ONLY HAD A MINOR ROOF DAMAGE IN ONE BEDROOM AND I BELIEVE ONE PIECE OF UNDERPINNING AND A CEDAR TREE DOWN AGAIN GLORY TO GOD AND THE POWER OF KEEPING THEM BATHED IN PRAYER. GOD IS GOOD AND HIS PROVISION IS COMPLETE. MY HEART GOES OUT TO THOSE WHO LOST EVERYTHING AND HAVE NO HOME TO GO BACK TO AND I PRAY THEY GET A NEW START SOON. ANN
September 22nd, 2008 at 8:28 am
Thank you
September 22nd, 2008 at 8:46 am
I read your enews and I am so thankful for willing people to assist those in need. I would like to be informed as to how this works for a volunteer. Do we have to have a lot of money for our own survival to volunteer to go there or is everything provided for volunteers, I mean daily NEEDS? Food, shelter, security, etc. etc. Please advise regarding transportation, how does one get there, I need details please. Thank you.
September 22nd, 2008 at 9:07 am
I am so proud to be a member of CBN. I live in Lake Charles, Louisiana just an hour away from Beaumont. I know full well the effects of the hurricanes. Rita was hard for the community and we have not fully recovered from that hurricane. Many people were still in FEMA trailers when Gustave and Ike hit or they just finished repairing their homes.
When Gustave hit my family did evacuate. When Ike came, most people did not leave because they did not have the funds. I know my family did not, most people had the two hurricanes within one pay period. It is so expensive and stressful to evacuate.
Thank you for sending Operation Blessing to this area.
September 22nd, 2008 at 9:25 am
I am not able to go personally and so I am helping financially. I thank God for the volunteers who have come as first responders and I pray for more to come forward……I pray for every need to be met and that there will be more than enough workers to distribute the food and supplies. This is a time for us to step up and say: “here I am, send me!”
God bless each of you and protection over all….we will keep you covered in prayer.
In His love and mine,
Sylvia
September 22nd, 2008 at 9:26 am
Can I help at all? I am disabled, but I have unlimited calling on my cell phone and a computer with 24/7 internet…you can send me info by computer for clerical work or for needed high volume calls.
Thank you,
Susan Cu Tikalsky
925-727-8227 cell
September 22nd, 2008 at 9:43 am
I’m 65, strong and healthy. Do you need volunteers on-site? If so, what accommodations are being provided for the volunteers.
Thank you.
September 22nd, 2008 at 9:45 am
I am available to volunteer for a week. I have worked as an Intake Tech for FEMA during Katrina and Rita, providing financial, ER housing and other advice and processing of aps to caller-victims.
Let me know if you need me.
Kim Hallmark-McKellar
kimhallmark@gmail.com
September 22nd, 2008 at 9:50 am
I’d love to help. If anyone has a team of 2 and you need a third person please let me know. I live in Jacksonville, Florida and I can join your team ASAP.
September 22nd, 2008 at 10:36 am
Dear sir,
Sorry to hear about the disaster. Since you need volunteers i have a question. Do you need volunteers from outside america too. I am a pakistani but living in australia. My sister who is a nurse is in pakistan she wishes to join you as volunteer can she apply at volunteer@ob.org? reply needed.
thanks
God bless the team who is helping the needy
ambreen munir
September 22nd, 2008 at 10:40 am
I am interested in going onsite and helping directly with Ike disaster relief. Please let me know how I should proceed.
September 22nd, 2008 at 11:00 am
Our “baby” lives in Houston and is hoping to have electricity back on today! PTL!
We’d like to help physically if there is some way to get us down there. We are long on experience and ability…short on means to get there.
Gratefully, GOD KNOW WHAT HE’S DOING!!!!!
September 22nd, 2008 at 11:10 am
Hi Operation Blessing.
I am retired, 75yrs. old but still strong.When I go on mission trips
with the church, we work and I can feel the snergy the LORD supplies me
to work for His glory.,
I live in McDonough, Georgia 30252 30 miles south of atlanta
I’ll need transportation, food and lodging there and back
Sincerely
Joe Xuereb
September 22nd, 2008 at 11:54 am
Hi,
I’m a missionary in Ga for the Morrow, Lake City and Forest Park ,plus metro Atlanta ares, home church Just JesusWord of God church in Morrow <Ga. I like to know how I can help volunter. Thank you.
Yours,
JohnDavis, missionary|minister
September 22nd, 2008 at 11:59 am
Hi,
Lived in Texas in 1980-1983. I lived in Clearlake and worked in
Houston with Pennzoil on Milam. I heard about the devestation and
would like to volunteer. When would you need me to come and what
does Operation Blessing provide for volunteers?
Thanks, Look forward to hearing from your staff.
Maranatha!
Yolanda Denton
September 22nd, 2008 at 2:04 pm
I have a bunch of clothes (mostly women’s, some men’s, and some girl’s & boy’s clothes) that I had set aside for a yard sale. I would much rather give them to people who need them right now more than ever. I remember when Katrina hit, an 18-wheeler was set up in our city to collect donations of clothes, diapers, food & more. I haven’t seen one around here for Ike. I am located in Greenville, NC & was wondering if there is any way for me to get these clothes to the hurricane victims. Thanks so much for any info. you can offer. Be blessed in your efforts to help those families.
September 22nd, 2008 at 2:42 pm
I would like to volunteer…tell me how I can help….
September 22nd, 2008 at 3:23 pm
Im a 100% Disabled Veteran and was wondering if I could do something to help in Texas. I cam get around mobility is fine and i can speak think and do all of the normal daly jobs that most humans Dont do. Let me know what I can do thank you. I belong to the 1000 club members of CBN if you need my contact info. thank you and Have a Blessed day.
September 22nd, 2008 at 4:22 pm
Would like to help, especially in food service (as I am 80yo). Have worked with OP in Slidell post Katrina. Cannot get through at phone #, and mailbox is full. Am 2 hours away.
Phone: 281.910.5701
Thanks and God bless.
September 22nd, 2008 at 5:07 pm
Hi Jody & Pastor Feldschau & crew-
Blessings to and prayers for you all. Jim & I are in Salem, Oregon and occasionally see you on CBN. Good job to all. Sorry to see another “eye” of Ivan and Ike has devastated where you are. Take good care of yourselves, okay? We love you. Matthew and Angela and their two, Amos and Jasmine are here for two years now. Josh and his girlfriend, Sonja, came up in July. I know you’re too busy to respond but want you to know you’re on our minds and hearts. May the Prince of Peace be with you.
September 22nd, 2008 at 5:59 pm
I will be praying for all involved in service, as well as those being serviced.
God bless each of you for your generous, giving, hearts! I’ve had opportunities to serve w/ a church group in Mississippi last Nov. for 10 days & even spent Thanksgiving painting w/ a group of teens & a few adults. Great group, great weather, great Thanksgiving meal and a GREAT, GREAT
GOD we serve!
Would love to serve in whatever way I could & will pray that if God desires for me to come, He will provide the extra income. At this point in time I’m getting alimony & will be looking into employment/school/training session starting Oct. 13th. Praying the Lord will give me HIS direction/will for my future & know He WILL as I surrender my will!
God’s blessings, peace, comfort & RENEWED STRENGTH be continually given to everyone throughout this time of restoration of hearts & homes.
In Him,
Michelle Bissett
September 23rd, 2008 at 10:06 am
We, myself and a friend or two are considering volunteering, if you can please get back to me as to where we should fly out to in order to meet up with the “Operation Blessing” crew.
We will be coming in from CA and are ready for this, please let me know.
Keep up the good work and God Bless.
September 23rd, 2008 at 2:02 pm
I can help locally. I live in Beaumont but had no damage. Let me know when and where. I’m retired so I have time to spare. I do private nutrition counseling and renovated my own house after flooding a few years ago.
September 24th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
who do I contact and how?
September 25th, 2008 at 6:47 am
Our church has sent teams to New Orleans two years in a row to help gut and rebuild. Can you give us any contacts to help out this summer?