Georgia Baptist Disaster Relief teams prepared to go back into areas suffering from damage brought on by Hurricane Ivan Sept. 17.

Volunteers had already been stretched thin in assisting relief efforts stemming from Hurricanes Charley and Frances in Florida.

Georgia Baptist Disaster Relief Director Jim Richardson stated that teams from various conventions who had been staying in Perry were directed back into central Florida Sept. 6. The teams had been assisting in cleanup from Frances and Charley, but were pulled out when it appeared Ivan was going to be the third hurricane to strike Florida in a month's time.

When Ivan appeared to be headed to the Sunshine State, teams were pulled back once again, this time relocating to Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton.

As of press time, Richardson said that Georgia Disaster Relief was presently assessing how to meet the needs of those affected throughout the Southeast. He said teams were prepared to move as early as Sept. 17.

To date, approximately 500 Georgia Baptists have volunteered in the cleanup effort to the hurricanes in Florida.

For more information on disaster relief, contact Richardson by calling 1 (800) RING GBC or email at jrichardson@gabaptist.org or Kim Collins at 1 (800) RING GBC ext. 254.