Oklahoma Fires

Tracy Streeper hugs five year-old grandson Jesse, as they stand on the north side of Streeper's destroyed home, Saturday, Aug. 4, 2012 in Luther, Okla. While residents of one Oklahoma town sifted through their c harred belongings Saturday to salvage what they could after a roaring wildfire that may have been deliberately set, residents in two other towns were being ordered to evacuate their homes. The fire near Luther, which is about 25 miles northeast of Oklahoma City, destroyed nearly five dozen homes and other buildings before firefighters were able to gain some measure of control Saturday. TABLOIDS OUT Photo: AP / AP

Today we have volunteers helping another homeowner sift and cleanup ashes.

Great day in progress. Photo below shows just part of the volunteers we have out working on 5 different homer owners properties. We have around 70 volunteers working from Mountain View, Pikes Peak, Eastside, Tri-Lakes and Golden Church of Christ, local people and out of towners. It is written, "Am I my brother's keeper"? When we choose to be of help, wonderful opportunities often present themselves. Among them, we can help people see the influence of Christ in our lives. We thank our Father that we may also help someone see rays of sunshine (Son shine) that discouragement has clouded.

We are getting ready for another big day tomorrow helping the owners of the burned homes sift thru the ashes. We have volunteers coming from Mountain View, Pikes Peak and Eastside Church of Christ plus other local and out of town people coming to help.

Well we were having another good day until about 20 min. ago and the wind took our awning, tables, chairs and supplies and tore them up and put them all over the parking lot. Come and joins us so you don't miss out on all the fun.

Big day today. Worked on 3 sites, the giveway and meals at Ground Zero. 50 volunteers help.

Lots going on. We have 1 group of volunteers out sifting and cleanup today. Doing lunches and preparing meals for large giveaway tonight and tomorrow for the families that had damage. Tomorrow we have lots of volunteers that will be out sifting and cleaning aprox 50-60. Large group from Mountain View CoC, two groups from TX and other locals will make up those numbers.

Busy day, had pod delivered to store more supplies in. Worked on two cleanup jobs. One is comp. and the other one will probably be finished tomorrow. The one that we completed the owner was very happy we found many things including most of his coin collection. Also did all of the normal stuff (meals, handed out other food and supplies and signed up more people for help).

Photo below is our volunteer work crew for today. We have two houses to work with today.

Today was another good day. Talked to many people, handed out meals and other supplies and signed up another family to help sift and cleanup. We have cleanup for tomorrow, Thursday and 2 on Saturday. I am also planning on attending special program on Fri & Sat evening to hand out meals, other supplies and sign up families who need help.

Volunteers helping clenaup and sift Colorado Springs Fire

Colorado Springs Fire Video by Matt Elliott

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-Nu5V7MH1U&feature=player_embedded

The fire is contained and now we have flash flood warnings. Today was another good day. Handed our meals, other food and supplies. Had sifters delivered. Talked to many people and scheduled another family that wants help sifting and cleanup. That makes 3 for this week.

Today has been a good day. We handed out meals, other food, cleaning supplies, mops, shovels and wheel barrel. Looks like the people are slowly wanting to sign up for help with clean up. We have 5 families wanting help and have one of them scheduled for next week. One lady in today with no insurance lost everything. Herman & Lisa from Mountain View CoC have agreed to supervise the cleanup crews. As I have stated before if anyone wants to volunteer to help here you will need RV or make arrangements at Hotel. If you do want to come send me email with dates and how many. We are setup up on land with no utilities and are running everything form our large generator.

Update from Don Hudson

Don's Good News....Disaster Assistance, from it's inception, is a mission that seeks to help people and to help the Church of Christ in it's effort in outreach and evangelism. This mission effort is associated with Lake Jackson Church of Christ, Lake Jackson Tx. We work to help the local church in whatever it needs in times of disaster. The need may be repair and ...construction, or preparation of meals,or counseling and sometimes our volunteers just sit and listen to people who have lost everything. Some of them may even have insurance, but they have lost everything and they hurt. We try to share the love and understanding of Jesus with them. We want them to know that God cares and we do too. Due to the efforts of volunteers in this home missionary work, hundreds of bible studies have been conducted and we are aware of many people who have been baptized into Christ. Most importantly we volunteers are there to help the local church. "People don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care."

Disaster Assistance - Ground Zero - Colorado Springs Fire

Terry & Joyce Cross arrived here on Saturday form Ohio to volunteer for a few days. They leave for home today. Thank you so much Terry & Joyce. Below is a post from Joyce's facebook page. A meet Rita today. What a story. She is 93 and had to evacuate her home. She was evacuated from 3 different places. Rita was aloud to return to her home a condo Tue 7/3. The stress from this disaster has been hard on her physical and emotionaly. I meet Rita as she was trying to wash the ash off her car that had been left at her home. She didn't understand the auto car wash function and was shaken by the process. I drove the car along with her through the wash as she told me her story and that of others who lost there homes. She called me her angle from heaven and couldn't believe that someone would help her. We talked about why I was there and the work that was being done. Asked her if she would like for us to pray with her and she was over come by the love and care she was given. Terry, Mike and I gave her a drink and we prayed. Wished her God's blessings and she went on her way to buy some groceries. Rita is one of the lucky who returned to a home. Rita like many will be forever changed. This tragedy will find many grieving there losses. The stress will affect the health of some. Continue to pray for the firefighters, the victims, recovery workers and those that minister to them. I'll never forget my friend Rita.

Our First Day at Ground Zero

Well this day started off with a bang. I went out to check oil on generator. When I tried to get back in the latch on the door of the mobile headquarters was broken and I could not get in. Called lock smith he arrived 1 hr later and another 45 min to get it open. Can't get new parts until tomorrow so door is tied shut with string. Than started cooking and generator stopped working. Had to get 4 strong people to help get the 17,500 W generator out of the trailer. Than of course the battery was dead. Finally got it started and cooking again. Than what else could happen? I dropped my phone down the steps and broke the screen. We got the food cooked served around 50 meals, signed up people for other needs, gave out lots of info. and had a listening ear, hug and prayer for many people who lost there homes. All in all we had a good first day.

Disaster Assistance Mission-Colorado Springs Ground Zero Location

We will start serving meals and registering people for other help tomorrow 7/5. Items needed individually wrapped snack cakes individual bag chips ketchup, mustard, mayo packets fruit and pudding cups Gatorade water Clorox wipes paper towels and toilet paper wet wipes walmart gift cards gas cards hand sanitizer wheel barrels shovels, brooms and rakes

-Disaster Assistance Mission-Ground Zero-Colorado Springs Fires-

Well we made it to Ground Zero(main entrance to damaged homes). Photo below is our Mobile Headquarters. You can see the top of the mountains that were burned. We will be setting up and getting things ready for helping families tomorrow.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- One week after the Waldo Canyon Fire firestorm, the wildfire is now 70 percent contained.

The Semi load of supplies from Disaster Relief Nashville will now arrive here at the Eastside Church of Christ on Wednesday then the distribution will began. The lunch program and cleanup will begin when families are allowed to go back to their property. We are not sure when that will be yet. There have been around 350 homes destroyed and a large number of others with damage. Today after service at Eastside we had meeting for any who had questions or wanted to sign up to volunteer. We had a very nice number of members willing to help. This afternoon Elder form Mountain View Church of Christ picked me up and took me to evening service there. I gave presentation of our work and what the plan was for this area. At the end a very nice number of members signed up to help. Both Eastside and Mountain View are very interested in how they can be involved with outreach to the families affected by the fires. If things here are like they were at the Bastrop fires last year, it might be a few weeks before major cleanup begins. As all of you know we have worked 5 disasters in the past 14 months, we need your help to continue at this pace. We need three things YOUR PRAYERS, VOLUNTEERS AND DONATIONS.

COLORADO SPRINGS (AP) – People who fled the most destructive fire in Colorado's history are being allowed temporary visits to the most devastated neighborhoods, and many will find that their homes were among the nearly 350 burned to the ground. About 10,000 people remain evacuated, down from more than 30,000 at the peak of the Waldo Canyon fire in Colorado Springs. On Sunday people whose homes were burned will be allowed to tour the affected areas. Authorities said some residences would be cordoned off with police tape, and people would not be allowed beyond that point.

Colorado Fires

Well I arrived here today around 1pm after 1800 miles. Went directly into meetings with church leader and rep from Disaster Relief Nashville. The Eastside CoC is going to be the central location for assistance for all the Churches of Christ in the area. Tomorrow morning I will attend AM services here at Eastside and have a meeting for Elders and any interested members also Disaster Relief Nashville Rep will attend following services. Have lunch planned with the assigned church disaster coordinator. Later on Elder from another CoC here in town will pick me up to discuss what we have planned and attend evening services with him. At this time we are telling volunteers that we will be needing them starting next weekend for distribution, meal prep and delivery and cleanup. Please send me email if you would like to come and help. Just let me know the dates and how many will come and if you have RV.

Colorado Springs Fires-Latest update

I have made it 1350 miles and only 450 more to go. I will be arriving at the Eastside Church of Christ early afternoon tomorrow. Eastside is going to be the central location for the churches in that area for distribution of supplies, food, meals and volunteers. Also I am working with a group from Dallas(SGSO) that will bring in more supplies and tool trailers as needed. Decision is being made tonight on when to bring in Semi load of food and supplies from Disaster Relief Nashville. Please send me message if you would like to volunteer. Also for those of you that have already let me know that you have a group that wants to come. I will let you know when you are needed as soon as I can.

-Disaster Assistance Mission-Colorado Springs Fire-Officials said 20,085 homes and 160 commercial structures are still threatened

-Disaster Assistance Mission-COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. --

At least 346 homes on 34 streets have been lost in the Waldo Canyon Fire, Colorado Springs Mayor Steve Bach said Thursday. Area Preachers and Elders are having meeting tonight to review how they want to move forward with assistance for those affected.

I am having confrence call meetings as I drive. We are still deciding what the best location to setup the Mobile Headquarters would be.

Colorado Fires Latest Update

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Hundreds of homes have been lost in the Waldo Canyon Fire, Colorado Springs Mayor Steve Bach said Thursday. "We now know hundreds of homes have been destroyed," Bach said. "We are working through the process, which is very painstaking, of assessing every address to make sure that we have absolutely accurate information on each address. The worst thing we could do would be to put out information that's inaccurate."

Disaster Assistance Funds needed for Colorado Fires

The Disaster Assistance Mission will be working with Mountain View and Southside Churches of Christ in Colorado Springs. Here is the latest update. A firefighter told a Gazette newspaper reporter that firefighters were told during a Wednesday briefing that 200 to 300 homes have been lost. The firefighter said it was difficult to be accurate about the number of homes lost because of the extreme devastation of the fire. No official estimate of homes lost has been released.

Donations for Colorado Fires (information to your right)

Disaster Assistance Mission-On way to Colorado Fires

I have stopped for the night. 1623 more miles to go. This map shows the growth of the Waldo Canyon wildfire over the past three days. Green line is Sunday, Yellow is Monday, Purple is Tuesday and Red is Wednesday. We will be working with two or more churches in the fire area. WE NEED YOUR HELP

Disaster Assistance Colorado Fires

The Disaster Assistance Mission is on its way to the Colorado Fires. It will take me 3 days to get there leaving from Florida. We will be working with 2 or more churches in the fire area. After I arrive and have meeting with leaders I will update you with the program.

Colorado Fires-Waldo Canyon Fire Devours Neighborhoods Overnight-

Authorities say 32,000 people were evacuated overnight in Colorado Springs as the wind-driven Waldo Canyon Fire exploded into several neighborhoods, destroying countless homes.

-Disaster Assistance Mission-TS Debby-

Looks like they finally know which way it is going. Most of the damage is going to be from flooding.

Looks like TS Debby is going to be spinning in the same place all this week.

-Disaster Assistance-Manitou Springs Evacuated Due To Waldo Canyon Fire-Fire West Of Colorado Springs Has Burned 3,000 Acres-Mandatory evacuations started at 1 a.m. Sunday for everyone north of Manitou Avenue and officials started working their way south through the city. About 5,000 people live in Manitou Springs.

-Disaster Assistance-TROPICAL STORM DEBBY IN GULF OF MEXICO-

With the large amount of uncertainty that exists, care must be exercised to not look at the single line of the official National Hurricane Center forecast, or for that matter in this case even the cone, and assume that Debby is definitely is going there -- it might, but not necessarily -- given the extreme dichotomy in model forecasts the past few days and in the vastly different paths available via the atmospheric forks in the road that exist. Some tropical cyclones have track forecasts which are very straightforward and are of high confidence. This one does not.

Nearly 9,000 evacuated as Utah fire explodes

'Ash was falling on us as we were pulling away,' says one evacuee

Colorado Fire Update

I just received the following update from my contact there. --- I just assessed the situation and the operation appears to operating smoothly for now. It appears that once the evacuation orders cease and people are allowed back into their land, then the real work will begin. God Bless,

LARIMER COUNTY, Colo. -- As high winds fuel the High Park Fire, authorities issued new evacuation orders at 6 p.m. Sunday Larimer County officials sent 331 telephone notifications for mandatory evacuations in the Soldier Canyon and Mill Canyon areas.

-Disaster Assistance-Colorado Fire Update-

The High Park Fire has destroyed 181 homes, making it the "most destructive wildfire in Colorado" history, Larimer County sheriff spokesman Nick Christensen said Saturday. The wildfire west of Fort Collins has burned 55,050 acres -- or 85 square miles -- since it erupted a week ago.

Disaster Assistance-Colorado Fires-Friday's Update: 112 Homes Lost In High Park Fire

Firefighters Worried Fire Could Jump Canyon; Threaten Glacier View

Disaster Assistance-Florida Panhandle Flooding

Today I met with leaders of two churches in this area and talked on phone with Elder of a third one. We talked with Emeregency Mgmt, Fire dept, Police and FEMA, I also surveyed the area with one of the Deacons and the outcome was that there isn't enough flood damage there to set up a meal and volunteer program. This is a good thing. Another good thing is I now have 3 churches in this area that are willing to work with us when or if anything happens.

Disaster Assistance-Colorado Fires

In this Saturday, June 9, 2012 photo provided by the Escambia County SheriffÌs Department, people wade through high floodwaters near a sheriff's department vehicle, in Escambia County. Floodwaters from torrential rains damaged homes and closed roads throughout the Florida Panhandle, cutting power to the county jail and sending residents to emergency shelters as the area braced for additional rains Sunday. (AP Photo/Escambia County Sheriff's Department)

Disaster Assistance-Florida Panhandle Flooding

In this Saturday, June 9, 2012 photo provided by the Escambia County SheriffÌs Department, people wade through high floodwaters near a sheriff's department vehicle, in Escambia County. Floodwaters from torrential rains damaged homes and closed roads throughout the Florida Panhandle, cutting power to the county jail and sending residents to emergency shelters as the area braced for additional rains Sunday. (AP Photo/Escambia County Sheriff's Department)

Pensacola's Second Rainiest Day Ever Sparks Flooding

I have also talked with our contact in this area. We are monitoring the flood waters here.

Hundreds Evacuated As Colorado And New Mexico Wildfires Spread

I have been in touch with our contacts in both areas.