Kentucky Baptist Disaster Relief began as a ministry outreach of the Kentucky Baptist Convention in 1984. For 33 years, the trained volunteers of disaster relief have brought help, healing, and hope to those affected by disaster.
During this time, over 25,000 volunteers have been trained, and Kentucky Baptist Disaster Relief has developed incredible resources that can be mobilized in times of disaster.
Kentucky Baptist Disaster Relief (KBDR) is a ministry of Kentucky Baptist churches that is supported by gifts to the Cooperative Program and the Eliza Broadus Offering for State Missions. These gifts enable KBDR to mobilize the following mobile disaster relief units in times of disaster:
- 4 Mobile Kitchens – capacity of 68,000 meals per day
- 27 Chainsaw/Flood/Wildfire Recovery Trailers
- 2 Mobile Communication Units
- 7 Mobile Shower Units
- 1 Mobile Laundry Unit
- 2 Mobile Childcare Trailers
- 3 Mobile Water Purification Units
- 1 Roof-Tarping Trailer
- 1 Kuboda Skid-steer, Mobile Lift, and 2 Fork-lifts
When Hurricane Andrew hit Florida in 1992, Kentucky Baptist Disaster Relief was there.
When 9-11 shook the core of our nation, Kentucky Bap
tist Disaster Relief volunteers were among the first responders to arrive in New York City.
When Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast of Mississippi and Louisiana, Kentucky Baptist Disaster Relief helped serve over 1.3 million meals the first week.
When the Kentucky ice storm paralyzed almost half of the Commonwealth in 2009, Kentucky Baptist Disaster Relief mobilized chainsaw teams, mobile kitchens, shower units, and response to 18 counties.
When the Haiti earthquake rocked this poverty-stricken island in 2010, Kentucky Baptist Disaster Relief sent 17 teams to minister in the midst of the rubble.
When a F-3 tornado leveled the small Kentucky town of West Liberty, Kentucky Baptist Disaster Relief had chainsaw teams, chaplains, childcare teams, shower units, a communication trailer, and a mobile kitchen on the ground in less than 24 hours.
When Hurricane Sandy unleashed its fury on New York City in 2012, Kentucky Baptist Disaster Relief was the first on the ground.
When floods destroyed over 1000 homes and took 23 lives in West Virginia in the summer of 2016, Kentucky Baptist Disaster Relief provided almost 40,0
00 meals, assisted in 214 flood clean-up jobs, and made almost 1000 Chaplain visits.
When famine gripped millions of people in Lesotho and Zimbabwe in 2016 and 2017, Kentucky Baptist Disaster Relief partnered with the International Mission Board and Baptist Global Response to provide over 1 million meals to starving people in Sub-Saharan Africa.
And not only was Kentucky Baptist Disaster Relief there serving faithfully in countless disasters for the last 33 years, every Kentucky Baptist church was there.
Every Kentucky Baptist church was there, because your gifts to the Cooperative Program make ministries like Disaster Relief possible through the Kentucky Baptist Convention.
Together by our support of the Cooperative Program, we are bringing help, healing, and hope to the hurting and hopeless.
Thank you Kentucky Baptists for your gifts to the Cooperative Program and for supporting Kentucky Baptist Disaster Relief!
I saw several of your vehicles caravan’ing down I-75 in Atlanta, GA. I was so happy to see your mobilization in action and made a small contribution to your cause. I’m guessing your heading to FL and am sure the people there who have suffered so much devastation will be happy to see you and give you a warm welcome. I pray for you that you will so touch their lives they will see Jesus through you and their heart will be turned toward Him. I also pray for your stamina and strength as you witness the effects of Ian on the people and land of FL.