Mid-Atlantic Baptist Network/BCMD disaster relief volunteers helped minister to flood victims in Clear Spring, Md., after sudden flood waters damaged over 20 homes. Photo courtesy of Herald Mail Me
By Ellen Udovich, Mid-Atlantic Baptist Network/BCMD Mobilization and Disaster Relief missionary and Sharon Mager, BaptistLIFE Correspondent
CLEAR SPRING, Md.—On June 12, torrential rains caused flash flooding in the small town of Clear Spring. The National Weather Service reported between three to five inches of rain fell in one day in the area. More than 20 people were rescued from their homes when rapidly moving water overflowed a bridge near the Clear Spring Fire Company. Twenty to thirty structures were also affected.
One of those structures is a church-owned building that had been converted to three transitional apartments to provide housing for people in the process of rebuilding their lives after going through difficult circumstances.
Disaster Relief Chaplain Alan Caho was assessing storm damage in the area when he encountered members of the small evangelical congregation struggling to assist residents in removing soaked furniture and personal items from the apartments. He realized a trained Disaster Relief team with the right equipment could assist the church.
The Blue Ridge Baptist Association recovery trailer was quickly brought to the location and trained Disaster Relief volunteers worked for three days to tear out, clean and sanitize the first floor of the building.
This was the second deployment in two weeks for several of the Disaster Relief volunteers who had assisted the preschool childcare team during the Southern Baptist Convention in Baltimore.
Volunteers and local churches are working now with the Red Cross to help those affected by the flooding in Clear Springs. There are no Southern Baptist churches in the area but Mid-Atlantic Baptist Network/BCMD Missionary Ellen Udovich and Bruce Conley, Blue Ridge Baptist Association Director of Missions, have been meeting with the local ministerium and community organizations to explore ways Southern Baptists can minister to these families as they strive to recover and rebuild their lives.
To make a donation to the Disaster Relief ministry, visit https://bcmd.org/disaster-relief-effort.