Katrina twisters roll through north Georgia

Georgia Baptists were among those affected by twisters spun off by the winds of Hurricane Katrina Aug. 29-30, suffering extensive structural damage and the loss of one life.

On the same day Katrina slammed into the Gulf Coast, high winds spawned a tornado in the Roopville community of Carroll County. Later that evening after midnight, another twister touched down in Helen.

Butch Hoyle

Moments after Kenny Durrough and his daughter, Bethany, arrived home a tornado slammed into their house, above. Storms in Carroll and White counties Aug. 29-30 resulted in structural damage and the death of one Georgia Baptist. The Durroughs are members of Roopville Road Baptist Church in Carroll County.

Teams from Georgia Disaster Relief provided cleanup services at both sites.

Craig Eidson, who attended Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church in Carrollton with his wife and three children, died from injuries sustained while checking on chicken houses moments before the storm hit. The chicken houses belonged to his father, Benny Eidson, a member of Roopville Road Baptist Church.

Steven Peeples, pastor of Roopville Road, reported that the home of church members Kenny and Tricia Durrough was destroyed in the Carroll County twister. Kenny and the couple's daughter, Bethany, had just arrived home when Kenny looked outside and saw shingles swirling in the wind. He and Bethany took refuge in the half-bath in the center of the house to survive.

Across the road Doyal and Ann Shirey, Tricia's parents, lost the roof of their house. In all sixteen individuals were ministered to by Disaster Relief members with the Georgia Baptist Convention. GBC Disaster Relief was headquartered during the cleanup at Roopville Road Baptist Church.

In White County, First Helen member Mac O'Kelley is still dealing with the cleanup process following a tornado's romp through Alpine Amusement Park, of which he is president. Damage included the destruction of the park's Ferris wheel.

"This is the park's seventeenth year here and we've never experienced anything like this," said O'Kelley.

Salvation among ministry

In Roopville, disaster team member Sandy Jackson, a member of Brookwood Baptist in Lawrenceville, experienced what often happens when providing help during times of crisis.

While cleaning up debris around the home of a couple, Jackson struck up a conversation with the wife, who invited Jackson into her home to see storm damage. It was while in the house that an evangelistic opportunity opened up and Jackson prayed with the woman to receive Christ.

"After she prayed, our team leader came up and prayed with us again in her house," said Jackson. "We went outside to share with others and her husband. A local preacher came up and said how for years they had been trying to reach them but the people would literally just not open the door if church people came."

Sherri Brown

Elaine Bryant passes out clean-up request forms in Pascagoula, Miss. Bryant handles operations for the West Metro Association clean-up and recovery unit. She collected more than 300 requests the first day.

Sherri Brown

Lines of displaced residents formed to pick up a meal at First Baptist Church, Pascagoula.

Sherri Brown

Paula Cooper, from Mars Hill Church, Watkinsville, packs boxed meals to be passed out on a serving line.