IBDR volunteers from Williamson Association and members of Cornerstone Church in Marion work together to fill sandbags.
Southern Illinois | Recent heavy rains have drenched southern Illinois causing rivers to swell, threatening to overflow their banks. Now, the National Weather Service is forecasting major flooding along the Ohio and Big Muddy Rivers affecting Shawneetown, Murphysboro, and Cairo, with moderate flooding expected in Carmi. The forecast caused Illinois Baptist Disaster Relief (IBDR) State Coordinator Arnold Ramage to place volunteers on alert April 7.
Reports indicate, between April 2-6, the southern part of the state received 6-10 inches of rainfall. However, Ramage said, “There are no reports of residential flooding, but that is likely to change.”
Preparations are already underway as an IBDR team from Williamson Association partnered with Cornerstone Church in Marion to fill sandbags in Mound City on Tuesday, April 8. A team from Saline Association filled sandbags in Shawneetown that same day. According to Ramage, together the two teams filled “approximately 8,000 sandbags.” The team from Saline Association continued their work into Wednesday.
The rising Big Muddy River near Murphysboro. Screenshot WSIL-TV
“Let us use this disaster as an opportunity to spread the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ,” Ramage urged volunteers as they prepare.
To become a trained Illinois Baptist Disaster Relief volunteer, go to IBSA.org/dr where you can take the Disaster Relief 101 training. IBDR also has training events scheduled on April 10 at Tabernacle Baptist in Decatur and April 11-12 at Emmanuel Baptist in Carlinville. IBDR has nearly 500 trained volunteers who serve on chainsaw and flood recovery teams, with shower, laundry, and food service, and at every callout, as chaplains.