More than 70 Southern Baptist disaster relief units from 11 state Baptist conventions (Fla., Ga., N.C., S.C., Tenn., Ala., Miss., La., VBMB, SBCV, Tex.) were activated on 16th August to assist victims of Hurricane Charley.

Thousands have lost their homes and about 790,000 people remain without power. More than 28,500 State Baptist convention-trained volunteers are helping cleanup and recovery efforts in southwest Florida.

Mickey Caison, manager of the Disaster Operations Center at the North American Mission Board said a total of 175 Southern Baptist disaster relief units could be activated in response to Hurricane Charley over the next few weeks.

Although it will take months for recovery and long-term rebuilding, Caison expressed that Southern Baptists are better equipped and prepared to help the victims of Hurricane Charley than they were 12 years ago, the Hurricane Andrew type damage.

Southern Baptist disaster relief units have provided thirteen feeding units/teams, 35 recovery units, 5 communication/command units, 15 shower units, 2 laundry units, and 1 generator. All these are either en route, being set up, or operational at this point.

The units generally are owned and operated by state conventions, local associations and churches and are coordinated nationally by the North American Mission Board.