A hurricane siren is one of the most feared sounds along the Gulf Coast because of the potential devastation caused by natural disasters like Hurricane Beryl this July.

Regardless of damage and loss, the Church always activates its faith and commitment to service for those impacted by unthinkable moments like Beryl caused. Thousands of volunteers partnered with U.S. disaster relief efforts such as the American Red Cross, Samaritan’s Purse, Catholic Charities, and Convoy of Hope.

The Category 1 hurricane took out power to over 2.5 million homes in southeast Texas. Facing triple-digit heat and heat indexes climbing toward 80%, some are sgointo their second week without power or air conditioning.

From Galveston to Houston and into Louisiana, at least eight people have died. The loss of life and property is paramount to the minds of these ministries, whose efforts continue to be heroic for those affected by the treacherous storm.

Ministries in Action for Hurricane Beryl Effort in Texas

When Hurricane Beryl first made landfall with 80 mph winds in Matagorda, Texas, ministries began filling portable storage units and gas tanks with relief supplies. Below is a small collection of stories from national ministries focusing on southeast Texas for service and Gospel outreach.

Catholic Charities

Catholic Charities, an organization with a vast outreach among predominantly Texan communities with a majority of Hispanic citizens, was one of the first early responders, said Cynthia Colbert, CEO of the Galveston-Houston branch.

“If they have damage to their home, they’re going to need repairs. We’ll be calling on the community to help with repairs [in the] longer term,” she said. “We provide case management that helps people get back on their feet to pretty much how life was before the storm…We are a resilient group. We know how to get together to help the community recover.”

Convoy of Hope

Convoy of Hope shared its experience in a compelling timeline detailing what volunteers did and witnessed. The global organization first served the people of St. Vincent and Grenada, then Jamaica, and on into Texas.

The ministry made stops in smaller Texas communities surrounding Houston, such as Corrigan (population 1,478), Livingston (population 5,784), and Humble (population 16,336). Their efforts focused on food, water, and other necessities since grocery stores could not open.

American Red Cross

The southern Texas chapter of the American Red Cross reported over 500 volunteers and staff offering 24-hour support as Texans fight without power. With organization reports of “725 people in 18 emergency shelters,” its efforts concentrated on critical shelter for households in Red Cross-managed facilities.

Texans on Mission

The evangelical outreach, formerly known as Texas Baptist Men, partnered with Send Relief and provided up to 15,000 meals each day during the Hurricane Beryl relief effort. In one regional city, Wharton, Texas (population 8,736), they’re prepared to deliver 5,000 meals daily.

“Send Relief has supported SBDR’s efforts with funding and other resources, and we’re preparing for this year’s hurricane season as volunteers gear up to do what they do best, offer help and hope in Jesus’s name,” said Coy Webb, crisis response director.

Samaritan’s Purse

The relief ministry launched by Franklin Graham and the Billy Graham Evangelical Association deployed its teams across southeast Texas. Working with numerous local churches, Samaritan’s Purse helped clean up city streets and neighborhood homes.

“U.S. Disaster Relief volunteers are getting to work in Brazoria County this week in southeast Texas where Hurricane Beryl toppled large trees and dumped nearly a foot of rain. Our teams are cleaning up debris, cutting up trees, patching damaged roofs, and mudding out homes,” stated a post on its website.

The Great Commission Moves Across Texas

CoreLogic, a global property analytics company, estimates Hurricane Beryl caused nearly $1.5 billion of insurable flooding and wind damage losses. And that was before it hit Texas. Their report continues that damages could reach $3.5 billion in the Lone Star State.

That startling price tag from Hurricane Beryl and Alberto in mid-June already exceeded 2023 damages, which was the least costly U.S. hurricane season in close to a decade.

The utility company chiefly responsible for energy in the majority of impacted areas, CenterPoint Energy, advised that Hurricane Beryl’s impact was greater than anticipated. A couple of days after Beryl made landfall, over 1.3 million customers still didn’t have power.

“The storm veered off the originally expected course and more heavily impacted the company’s customers, systems, and infrastructure than previously anticipated, resulting in outages to more than 2.26 million customers at its peak,” the utility said to CNN.

To support these ministries and help those impacted by Hurricane Beryl, consider the following:

• American Red Cross: Donate by visiting redcross.org, calling 1-800-RED-Cross (800-733-2767), or texting REDCROSS to 90999
• Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center: If you’re in the area or have loved ones who are, there is an urgent need for blood donations.
• Houston Food Bank: Food and monetary donations are accepted, and the organization seeks volunteers.
• Salvation Army: Visit helpsalvationarmy.org or call 1-800-SAL-ARMY.