OBI disaster relief teams have been on-hand since mid-September helping residents clear their homes of debris. In Bridge City alone, about 99 percent of the homes were flooded due to the storm surge.

BRIDGE CITY, Texas – Richard and Angie had enough to worry about between doctor's visits with their son – who was born with only half a brain – and keeping him on track with his development.

Then Hurricane Ike hit and all their best laid plans were bogged down with mud, muck and mold.

The family left their home to seek safer ground before the hurricane hit and hoped for the best. However, upon their return, they found their home flooded under two feet of water.

This meant things for their 11-year-old son, Cameron, were now all up in the air.

Richard arrived at the Operation Blessing office and filled out a work request for volunteers to come help gut his house.

"Richard was very overwhelmed with all that needed to be done to cleanup his home," said Jody Herrington, Operation Blessing's U.S. director of disaster relief. "He was so relieved when we told him we could begin work in just a few days."

OBI disaster relief teams have been on-hand since mid-September helping residents clear their homes of debris. In Bridge City alone, about 99 percent of the homes were flooded due to the storm surge.

Marsh mud and reeds were ripped from their beds and washed into people's homes, bringing with it an array of poisonous snakes. Even as the water dries out, the debris is still left, leaving residents to sift through rotten mud and moldy possessions.

For Richard and many other families like his, finding a place to stay locally has been a challenge. The family needed to be close to their son's doctors. However, since everything in the surrounding area was destroyed, there was no place to find temporary housing.

Cameron, above center, sits with his family on their front lawn as OBI crews help to gut their home. The family has been moving from place to place becuase there is no where to find temporary housing.

The family, along with their teenage daughter Kelsey, have been moving around from house to house and staying with friends who live out-of-town.

Just this weekend, a family friend offered a trailer for them to use until their home was repaired.

When they finally were able to move into their trailer, Cameron began laughing and said, "alone, alone, alone."

In addition to helping local families, volunteers and aid workers are also making it a priority to assist first responders as well as the elderly, disabled and sick. Right now, there are more than 400 active work orders waiting to be completed.

OBI is coordinating the volunteer efforts in Bridge City and housing and feeding volunteers at their headquarters at Cathedral of the Pines church in Beaumont, Texas. More volunteers are needed to complete the enormous task of helping the resident's cleanup. For more information, visit www.ob.org/volunteer.asp or e-mail volunteer@ob.org.

HOW YOU CAN HELP
You can help by making an online donation toward OBI's disaster relief efforts. With your support, we can continue to provide emergency relief and recovery. Please make an on-line donation today.

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