If you’ve watched any TV lately, you have seen the debris piled in front of houses in countless neighborhoods in Louisiana. The Louisiana Flood of 2016 is of historic proportions. Many areas of Louisiana received half of their normal yearly rainfall in a 24–36 hour period of time. It made for unprecedented flooding.

Houses flooded – – even whole neighborhoods – – that had never flooded before. Most residents didn’t have flood insurance because their lenders didn’t require it and no one had ever experienced it.

Now they are “gutting out” their houses, A term often referred to as “mud out.”

Here’s the way it works generally.

First, everything in the house has to be removed. According to the level of flooding this also means that all furniture and appliances are now worthless.

Second, baseboards and carpet, as well as hardwood flooring is removed. Even doors have to be discarded.

Third, drywall is cut out a foot above the water line. If the house has wood paneling all of the paneling is removed. This is necessary because of the “wicking”  propensity of wood and drywall.

Fourth, insulation in the outer walls is removed. Depending on the depth of the water, electrical wiring may have to be removed as well.

Fifth, because of the serious danger of mold and mildew the house must be chemically treated to prevent mold.

Workers in this kind of environment usually wear a mask and protect their hands with thick rubber gloves.

Finally, when all this is done the drying out process begins and only then can the homeowner begin the rebuilding process.

If you would like to see the detailed process and some important precautions, you can check this: https://lanecorley.files.wordpress.com/2016/08/mudout-guide-for-homeowners-2.pdf

The “gutting out” process is in full swing in Louisiana, with a Southern Baptist Disaster Relief leader saying that the folks in this flood are way ahead of the process because of what we learned in Hurricane Katrina and because of the resiliency of the people of Louisiana.

But it’s also because of something else. Churches moved in quickly to touch their neighborhoods. People didn’t stand around; they got involved with the people of their community.

David Hankins, the Executive Director of the Louisiana Baptist Convention, Called churches “the best disaster relief organizations in existence.”

Most people reading this blog are Christians who are deeply involved in the work of their local church.

We need to remember who we are and to whom we belong and what we can accomplish for the glory of God.

May God bless your church and it’s ministry.

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