By SARAH CULTON

Sarah.culton@leaderpub.com

 

When flooding began in Groves, Texas on Tuesday, Aug. 29, Pastor Joe Worley didn’t think he would be operating a temporary shelter for victims of Tropical Storm Harvey.

However, when he received a call from the fire chief at 9 p.m. asking them to take in evacuees, Worley and his staff answered the call.

“I said, ‘Give me an hour,’” Worley said. “By 10 o’ clock, we had an initial team ready and we were taking in people.”

Worley’s church, First Baptist Church in the 4000 block of Grant Avenue in Groves, served as a temporary shelter for those displaced by Harvey for several days after the initial flooding. Worley and other First Baptist Church members stepped up to care for the victims those nights and in the time since.

To date, the church has given 10,000 meals to Harvey victims and first responders, sent rescue boats to more than 200 people and housed more than nearly 500 people over the course of relief efforts.

The first night of Aug. 29, the church housed 377 evacuees from flooded homes. Initially only expecting 50 evacuees, Worley had only prepared 50 cots for those staying. Many people stayed in chairs or on the floor the first night.

“The first wave of people came, and it was 50,” Worley said. “Then 50 people turned into 75. Seventy-five turned into 100,” Worely said. “It just got worse throughout the night.”

Though he and his staff were initially overwhelmed, Worley said they rose to the occasion because they had compassion for victims and that it was the right thing to do.

“Everyone was just cold and wet. We had to help them,” Worley said. “It doesn’t matter who you are, where you’re from or what you believe in. When you are that cold and that wet, everyone looks the same, and they need help.”

After the first night, the church managed to run the shelter relatively smoothly and helped to relocate each evacuee, Worley said.

Since the temporary shelter at the church shut down, Worley and his church members have continued to service those impacted by Harvey and National Guard responders through financial assistance and delivered meals.

Despite all he’s done, Worley said he cannot take any credit. He said his staff and church members are the true heroes as they have given so much of themselves to the community in the aftermath of Harvey.

“I didn’t do all this. These people rallied in the moment and organized in the moment,” he said. “It was just everyday people out there helping.”

Worley said he was not surprised that members of his flock stepped up to help the community, as it something that he has seen time and time again in his 22 years as a pastor.

“It’s always the strength of community that gets things done,” Worley said. “This is the third hurricane I’ve seen, and it’s a testament to the community that they came together like this.”

Worley said he and his church will continue to support those affected by Harvey.
“Our door is always open, people know we are here for whatever they need,” he said.