By Baptist Message staff
KERR COUNTY, Texas (LBM) – As the country continued to mourn and pray for those impacted by the July 4th weekend deadly flood in Texas Hill Country, Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief teams were on stand by.
LBDR Strategist Stan Statham told the Baptist Message that two shower units were ready if needed.
“Pray for the families who have lost loved ones,” Statham told the Baptist Message. “Pray for the first responders who are still searching for those missing.”
Nearly a foot of rain caused catastrophic flash flooding on Independence Day morning in Kerr County, engulfing structures and leading to the deaths of at least 80 individuals. Among those were 27 children, counselors and director of Camp Mystic, a private Christian camp situated along the banks of the Guadalupe River in Hunt.
The camp released a statement on its website:
“Our hearts are broken alongside our families that are enduring this unimaginable tragedy. We are praying for them constantly.
We have been in communication with local and state authorities who are tirelessly deploying extensive resources to search for our missing girls.
We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of support from community, first responders, and officials at every level.
We ask for your continued prayers, respect and privacy for each of our families affected. May the Lord continue to wrap His presence around all of us.”
According to the Southern Baptist Texan news outlet, Southern Baptists of Texas Disaster Relief teams geared up for deployment soon after the flooding took place. A feeding team with a quick response mobile unit feeding kitchen arrived in Kerrville on July 4 and began preparing meals for the community and first responders the next day. An incident management team also was deployed to Kerrville, and chaplains and damage assessors began arriving on July 6.
Additionally, First Baptist Church, Kerrville opened its doors to DR teams.
Further north, SBTC DR teams also served in San Saba County, which also was impacted by flooding on July 4. KWTX-TV in Waco, Texas, reported that the flooding destroyed 75 homes.
SBTC DR shower, quick response mobile feeding, assessors, chaplains and mut out teams began work in or were en route to San Saba on July 6, the Southern Baptist Texan reported.