Levee starting to break in Poplar Bluff

215 Meals Today

Today Country Club Road CoC is out delivering meals and other supplies. Helen St CoC is going door to door with food boxes, cleaning supplies and signing up houses that need help with cleanup and repair.

Police have evacuated about 1,000 townspeople living near the Black River here after officials determined that a "catastrophic failure" of the levee is imminent.
Poplar Bluff is a community of about 17,000 people in southeast Missouri, about 150 miles from St. Louis.

Police were going house to house in part of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, ordering people to evacuate ahead of an imminent "catastrophic failure" of a levee on the Black River, authorities said Monday. I have talked with the preacher at Green Forest CoC there in Poplar Bluff. He is going to keep us updated on the conditions there. We will be there to help if needed.

Well it looks like another week of rain and storms. Volunteers from Helen St CoC delivered food, water and cleaning supplies to one of the damaged areas yesterday from 4 to 7 PM. We need your help to continue providing these necessery services to OUR NEIGHBORS here in North Carolina. Hope everyone has a good day, now I must get started cooking.

Today we have volunteers from Helen St CoC out in a neighbor hood handing out food boxes and cleaning supplies. I also sent them out with 48 corndog snack bags. I stayed here and am working on packing the lunch bags for tomorrow.

Flooding now main concern as rain continues to fall across Kentuckiana
The Ohio River is at about 22.5 feet at this time and is expected to reach 27 feet by Monday if the rain continues.

Weekly Recap---Photo below is from the St Louis area

Today has been a crazy one. We prepared 610 meals and delivered them. The Helen St CoC had their monthly food
hand out and I have been on the phone with Churches in the St Louis area that were hit by the tornadoes last night.

Below is the recap of our work this week here in Fayetteville, NC.

Before I get to the recap I need you to know that to continue this Mission of Assistance and Evangelism we need your
help. We Urgently Urgently need funds to keep the doors of this Mission work open.

You can donate online at: www.disasterassistancecoc.com or make check payable and mail to:

Disaster Assistance
402 Center Way St
Lake Jackson, TX 77566

Weekly Recap:

Sunday I left home with the mobile headquarters and headed to NC.

Monday I arrived and surveyed the area with Preacher from Helen St CoC

Don Hudson arrived on Wed.

Ron and Sally Keller arrived on Thursday from FL to help.

Don and Ron have approx. 15 Bible studies going on.

We have cooked and taken out to the damaged areas 2128 meals.

Semi load of food and supplies from Disaster Relief Nashville arrived, was
unloaded and supplies taken out.

Today (Saturday) Helen St CoC is having there monthly food handout.

We have been working with multiple churches here in the Fayetteville area.

I have posted many photos on the blog www.disasterassistancecoc.blogspot.com

Monday 4/25- 10 volunteers form the Paducah Ky area will be arriving to help with cleanup
and repairs.They will be sleeping on cots inside the church fellowship hall.

As I am preparing this recap I am waiting on call backs from churches in the St Louis area that.
were hit by the tornadoes last night. If needed we will head that way when things are under control here.

Please pass this information on to everyone on your email and Facebook list , take it to your church and business, you never know who might be willing to help us. Please pray for the thousands of people whose lives have been forever changed and for us as we show the love of the Lord to them by just providing a simple meal.

"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, ..." Matt. 25:35

Looks like double duty today need to get started on the over 500 meals and check on the tornado damage in St Louis, MO

Bridgeton subdivision described as a "war zone". Above photos are from the St Louis area.

Watching the Tornados in the St Louis Area will follow up in the morning if it looks necessary

553 Meals Cook and Handed Out Today

We have a group of 10 volunteers from different churches around the Paducah KY area arriving here on Monday. They have worked at other disasters and will be bring equipment to help with cleanup and repairs that are needed. They will be staying in the Helen St Church fellowship hall and sleeping on cots. There is two showers here one in the men's and one in the women's restrooms.

547 Meals Today

The Semi came today from Churches of Christ Disaster Relief, Nashville. Ron and Sally Keller, from Lake Butler Church of Christ in Lake Bulter FL arrived here today to help us. Ron is going to be working with Don and Sally will be helping prepare the meals. We are now working with multiple churches here in Fayetteville.

Today we did 307 meals. Semi of food and other supplies should arrive here tonight or tomorrow morning. Don Hudson should be here within the next 15 min. Trying to get volunteers scheduled for this weekend. If you can help just let me know.

Good day today. We delivered 111 lunches out to the disaster areas. Allen(preacher here)said things went well and he wants to do 300 tomorrow. I have volunteers coming to the mobile headquarters tonight to get the lunch bags ready for tomorrow morning. Also sometime later this week Disaster Relief Nashville will be bringing a semi load of food and supplies here to the Church.

We are setup at the Helen Street CoC in Fayetteville,NC. Damage photos below. I will post more details tomorrow

North Carolina Update

This morning I have talked with three Churches in the Raleigh area, NC emergency mgmt, Volunteers of America and Don Yelton who lives in NC. If we are needed they will get back with me.

Have been on the phone this morning with North Carolina emergency management waiting to hear back from them on what they need

Checking with Churches in the Raleigh, NC area. The weather channel is reporting large tornadoes in that area with much damage.

Tornadoes Sweeping Across MS and AL Lots of Damage

Mapleton, IA Tornado

I have talked with one Church south of Mapleton and waiting on call backs from another minister and a Elder located in that general area. There is no Church of Christ in Mapleton.

2011 Huricane Predictions

NAMED STORMS 16

HURRICANES 9

MAJOR 5

The Weather Channel is reporting widespread damage from tornado in Hopkinsville,Ky. I have talked to Southside Church of Christ there in Hopkinsville, they are looking into this and will let me know the condition of things there.

Bad Storms In Florida Today

Just got off the phone with one of the Elders at the Greensburg Church of Christ. His home was damaged some. At this time he doesn't think we are needed but will stay in touch.

Greensburg, PA Tornado

GREENSBURG, Pa. — Officials say a possible tornado destroyed about 30 homes and damaged 60 more in western Pennsylvania.

I have been on the phone this morning with contacts closer to the damaged area and am waiting to here back to see if any help is needed.

We are following the levee breach near Maysville, IN. 50-75 homes may be affected. According to Emergency Management arrangements with area fast food restaurants are in place to provide food if needed.

Just received an update. So far the damage in the Theodore, AL area is minor.

Today's Bad Weather

I have been in touch with our contacts at Volunteers of America and Bellingrath Road Church of Christ in Southern Alabama. They are going to keep me updated on any of the Tornadoes in that area.

Keeping an eye on the storms

We are staying intouch with our contacts in the areas that storms are passing thru. If need we will head that way.

WE ARE READY IF NEEDED

An outbreak of severe storms and tornadoes is likely across the South today, and torrential rain is forecast for other areas as the nasty weather heads east.

The most dangerous storms will strike late afternoon into the evening as they move across Arkansas and spread into northern Mississippi and western Tennessee, according to the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) in Norman, Okla.

"Tornadoes, a few possibly strong, and particularly damaging winds will be possible," the SPC says.

The big cities most at risk are Dallas, Little Rock, Memphis and Nashville, the Weather Channel reports.

I am in Florida right now preparing for a fund raising event next week. The deep freeze is full and I have volunteers here with me ready to go if we are needed.

'Crippling' storm on the move

A monster potentially historic storm was bearing down on the middle of the United States on Tuesday, with freezing rain and sleet pelting several states from Texas through Ohio, cancelling flights and causing dangerous travel conditions.

Forecasters predicted a mix of brutal winter weather over a third of the country, — 24 inches of snow in some areas and up to an inch of ice and snow in others.

"The storm may very well impact a third of the population of the United States — approximately 100 million people," said meteorologist Tim Ballisty of The Weather Channel.

Last night I attended the Gospel Meeting at Lemon Bay CoC. Guest Speaker was Jerry Carmichael, Minister Grant County CoC.

Today we picked up two truck loads of food(almost 2000 lb) at the food bank for the pantry here at Port Charlotte CoC.

Photo below is people waiting inside the Port Charlotte Church of Christ for the food pantry to open. They have a handout on the 1st and 3rd Fridays of each month.

Port Charlotte Church of Christ

I have the mobile headquarters setup at the church here on the west coast of FL. I will be doing fund raising in the area. This morning I help unload food from the food bank. These supplies will be handed out to around 130 families tomorrow morning.

Tornadoes in Arkansas

I have talked with Elders in Arkansas about the damage from the Tornadoes. They are going to get back intouch with me and let me know if we are needed there. If so I can change my plans and head that direction.

On Monday I will be heading to the West Coast of Florida for 2 plus months, I will be doing fund raising efforts. On Christmas Eve we delivered cloths and toys to the YWCA(battered wemans shelter)they have 25 kids living there with them. My wife has done this for the past 7 years. Also while we were in Nevada we took coats to a ladies shelter there.

Update from Yazoo City, MS (Tornadoes)

Yazoo County, Mississippi was struck by twin tornadoes this past Monday night (Nov. 29, 2010). We are still trying to rebuild from the E5 tornado that struck us April 24, 2010.

There are many one and two day repair projects to be accomplished as well as many major repair and total rebuilds. Just in this past Monday night's strike, we had 7 homes to receive major damage along with many that received some damage. There were 24 businesses in our downtown historical district that received damage as well as our courthouse and municipal buildings.

The Yazoo Humanitarian Recovery Long-Term Recovery Committee is in need of skilled teams (carpenters, electicians, plumbers, etc.) that can volunteer their time in our area to help restore those that can't restore their homes themselves. The Long-Term Recovery Committee is composed of individuals representing many of the churches in Yazoo City. The Long-Term Recovery Committee case manages each household affected and emphasizes our help to senior citizens, households with disabled family members, and households with young children. We are close to finishing three total rebuilds this month from last April's tornado strike. We are in need of purchasing several Katrina Cottages to place for housing. We are currently building additions onto already placed Katrina cottages to provide additional room for disabled individuals (we are building handicapped facilities in these additions) who were severly injured in last April's tornado strike.

If you can send skilled teams to help us, please contact the Yazoo Humanitarian Recovery. Our construction coordinator, Mr. Gerald Glascoe can be reached at the following numbers: cell (601) 720-4316 or home (662) 746-1780. He can give you a better overview of what we are dealing with and what tools and materials are needed.

Had a really good presentation about our mission work at Fairlawn Church of Christ here in Muncie yesterday.

I am working on fund raising events to start in January

Savage Storm Blasts Midwest

Schools here in Muncie, IN had the kids in storm shelters 3 times Tuesday.

One of the strongest storms in decades barreled across the Midwest on Tuesday.

Rice, Texas Tornado

Here is our new trailer donated by El Campo Church of Christ, El Campo, TX

Great day yesterday. Had two presentations one at AM services and another at PM services in North Central FL. Had one couple from each church talk to me about being part of the Disaster Assistance Mission and they each have an RV :):):)

Yesterday Don delivered meals and conducted 11 bible studies. Last night I attended Bellingrath Road CoC. This is a very nice small church. It is located right in front of the RV park that I talk about below. If another major disaster ever hits this area I think this church would work with us.

--Disaster Assistance--Bayou La Batre--Just got todays update from Don Hudson our Director of Evangelism. He had Bible Studies with 18 people today.

Lunches waiting for the last item to be added(a baked chicken sandwich)than they will be closed and boxed for Don and Rosemary to take out with them while they visit families and conduct bible studies in the Bayou La Batre area.

Chicken baking in our ovens

Disaster Assistance Making Plans for now and Future Storms

I am setup at the Payne's RV Park in Theodore, AL about 5 min from Bayou La Batre. This park is behind the Bellingrath Road Church of Christ. I can walk to Wednesday night service. Don and Rosemary are on their way here. Don will be conducting bible studies this week Rosemary and I will prepare meals for him to take out with him for
the families in Bayou La Batre.

I just had a meeting with the owner of this RV park. They were not effected by hurricane Katrina, so this would be a good place to setup if there was another major storm down here in this area. He said we could reserve 5 spots for our future needs. The park has laundry and bath house, on site propane fill up and he also owns an RV service center. Great for all our needs.

From here we could service Bayou La Batre, all of the towns on Mobile Bay and these towns in MS. Pascagoula, Moss Point, Gautier and Ocean Springs.

Great location to setup our Mobile Headquarters if we are needed in this area again.

Bayou La Batre, AL--Gulf Coast Oil Disaster

I will be heading back South on Tuesday or Wednesday. I have two meetings scheduled and I will be watching the tropical storms. The Bay Area Food Bank is no longer having food handouts at the Hemley Road Church of Christ, the handouts are now at the Bayou La Batre Comunity Center. So if we return there we will setup there or a different location other than the church.

Earl now a tropical storm

Well the East Coast dogged a big one. Earl left behind some flooding, wind damage and some power outages. Most areas say they will be open and in good shape for the Labor Day Weekend.

We still have no idea where the worst damage is going to be from Hurricane Earl. It may be Saturday before we know where we are needed.

Keeping an eye on Earl's path

Normally we would be on our way to the projected landfall area but this one is to hard to call. We are waiting longer to make sure we go to the correct area.

Watching Hurricane Earl

A satellite image shows Hurricane Earl spinning off the Florida coast Wednesday morning. As the storm barreled toward the eastern seaboard and threatened weekend holiday plans for beachgoers, North Carolina authorities ordered the mandatory evacuation of Ocracoke Island.

Hurricane Earl

We are watching the progress of this storm. The hurricane experts are now saying that it may take the same track as the Great Atlantic Hurricane of 1944. If it follows that track the damage will be Catastrophic. As soon as we know for sure we will be on our way there.

Spending this week at home catching up on paper work and watching the storms in the Atlantic. If a huricane hits the US than I will go there if not I will stay here until after Labor Day than head back to South Alabama.

Below is a normal week at Hemley Road Church of Christ, Bayou La Batre

Each week there is usually 2 grocery hand outs. The bay area food bank brings around 12000 pounds
one day and on Fridays they bring produce and fruits to hand out.
Also frozen dinners and water from CoC Disaster Relief is handed out.
Between 500 and 800 boxed lunches are delivered to nursing home and other needy families each day.
Cloths that are dropped off are sorted by size and handed out as needed.
Food from the Church pantry is handed out as needed also.
Volunteers are housed and taken care of almost every week.
Regular Church services are held on Sunday and Wednesday.
Many other things seem to come up each week also.

Yazoo City, MS Church of Christ

Got an update from Yazoo today. They have finished most of the clean up work and now are ready for the repairs and rebuilding of the houses. They now need specialized volunteers to help with that work. If you would like to help just let me know and I will give you the phone numbers to call. They have a building where they are housing the building supplies. disasterassistance@gmail.com

Great Day @ Hemley Road CoC in Bayou La Batre

Had my alarm set for 6AM today but was awaken by people arriving and lining up before it went off. The food hand out will not start until 10AM.

Today volunteers at Hemley Road CoC unloaded and sorted clothes by size. Also they delivered 600 boxed lunches.

Photos below are of parking lot, street and people standing in line today just to sign up for grocery give away Friday.

Also today Hemley Road CoC volunteers passed out around 700 boxed lunches.

Yesterday just as church was ending a truck from Compass Food Serv pulled in with around 1000 sandwich box lunches. Volunteers delivered them Sunday afternoon and today.

3 Were Baptised at Hemely Road CoC, Bayou La Batre Today

Very Good Crowd Today at Hemely Road CoC

Kids at Hemely Road CoC Having Breakfast Today

Today was another busy one here at Hemely Road Church of Christ. We passed out lots of produce and fruit form the food bank, sandwich boxes from Compass Food Serv and Hungry Man Dinners from Disaster Relief in Nashville. The photo below shows people lining up 2 plus hours before the food even arrives.

Wednesday my wife(Ty), Taya(9 years old) and I cooked and served 1120 lunches to the people here that were inline to pickup a box of groceries.

Below is ariticle about the group that was working here at the church last week

BAYOU LA BATRE, Alabama - The Partnership for Prescription Assistance will be in Bayou La Batre for three days beginning Wednesday, August 4, at the Hemley Road Church of Christ to help uninsured and financially-struggling Alabamians, including those affected by the Gulf of Mexico oil spill disaster, access information on programs that provide more than 2,500 brand name and generic prescription medicines for free or nearly free. The Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA) is a nationwide effort sponsored by America’s pharmaceutical research companies.

The South Alabama Regional Planning Commission – Area Agency on Aging will join the PPA at the event to help disabled adults or individuals 55 years of age or older identify other benefit programs that may be able to assist them via the Area Agency on Aging Benefits Check Up and Alabama SenioRx programs.

To date, the PPA has helped over 6.5 million patients find such programs, including more than 140,000 Alabamians. Since its launch in April 2005, the PPA has visited all 50 states and more than 2,500 cities to raise awareness about patient assistance programs.

Uninsured patients in need can access information on more than 475 patient assistance programs including nearly 200 offered by pharmaceutical companies. Patients can visit PPA’s easy-to-use Web site (www.pparx.org) or call the toll-free phone number (1-888-4PPA-NOW) where trained operators field calls in 150 languages. Disabled adults or individuals 55 years of age or older should also call toll-free at 1-800-243-5463 or log on the Web at www.BenefitsCheckUp.org/SARPC to determine other benefit programs that may be able to assist them.

Partnership for Prescription Assistance was here from 10AM to 3PM again today. Parking lot was full all day. About 4PM ref truck pulled up and dropped us off 250 boxed sandwich lunches(Compass Food Service). Than man from church in Daphne AL stopped and dropped off school supplies. Never a dull moment around here.

Another Busy Day

We went to food bank and picked up a load of groceries, Port City Church of Christ was here conducting a 1 day vacation bible school and Partnership for Prescription Assistance is setup helping people with their needs. They will be here for 3 days. Also 7 people from Americorps arrived last night and will be here for 10 weeks helping the food bank and the Hemley Road Church of Christ. Photo is of PPA helping the people. Also cooked 90 corndogs for the kids.

Our group of volunteers form El Campo Church of Christ left after church on Sunday so Monday I used to get caught up on thank you letters. Our next group of volunteers are scheduled to arrive today from Americorps.

Photo and Clip taken from today's Mobile Press-Register

The line is between our mobile headquarters and Hemely Rd Church of Christ.

People battle the heat as they wait to receive food during a Bay Area Food Bank distribution at Hemley Road Church of Christ Saturday July 31, 2010, in Bayou La Batre.

Sponsor a Lunch for Everyone

Saturday we had another big grocery handout from the food bank, it was sponsored by a company from Northern Alabama. They brought 20 of there employees to help with the distribution. As always we had people lining up at 6AM and we didn't open until 10AM. You should get your group together and sponsor a lunch for everyone. You can even come cook it and help hand it out if you like. Cost to sponsor a lunch for everyone is approx. $1700.00. Just let me know when you would like to do this.