Hurricane Florence caused severe damage in the Carolinas in September 2018, primarily as a result of freshwater flooding. Florence dropped a maximum total of 35.93 inches (913 mm) of rain in Elizabethtown, North Carolina, becoming the wettest tropical cyclone recorded in the Carolinas.
Operation BBQ Relief proudly served it’s 2,000,000 meal during this deployment.
Multiple days of heavy rain caused flash flooding Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania.
The Carr fire began on July 23, and burned more than 218,000 acres. It caused evacuations of over 36,000 people in the surrounding communities.
The Substation fire burned approximately 80,000 acres.
On Tuesday evening, a tornado ripped through the small town of Eureka, KS for a second time in less than two years. By Wednesday afternoon, Operation BBQ Relief volunteers were on the ground preparing hot BBQ meals for those affected and the first responders helping in the community. The first meals were served within 18 hours of touchdown. Thank you to our dedicated volunteers who were able to respond in record time to help those in need.
On March 19, 2018, a tornado touched down just north of Wellington, AL, and cut an East-bound path of destruction for over 34 miles through towns and across mountains to the Georgia state line.
The tornado strengthened to an EF-3 as it entered Jacksonville, AL, its 140 mph winds damaging buildings across the entire Jacksonville State University campus. With a 2000-yard max width, the tornado produced significant damage to the surrounding areas as well.
Led by Territory Director, Jerry Stitzel, and backed up by Lynn Gorham Entrekin, OBR set up a deployment site to serve Southside, Jacksonville, and the surrounding areas. OBR served the one hot BBQ meal that matters 1875 times to displaced families and emergency responders.
Heavy rains caused Ohio River flooding in Aurora, Indiana.
An EF2 tornado damaged over 60 homes in Malden, Missouri.
Multiple fires broke out late evening October 8 and early morning October 9. High winds and dry conditions caused the wildfires to spread rapidly. The fires caused at least 40 deaths and hundreds missing. OBR joined forces with Guy Fieri to feed those affected by the wildfires and first responders in the Santa Rosa community and surrounding area. OBR was able to do this with the help of the Salvation Army and other groups delivering the meals.
Hurricane Irma was classified as a Category 4 hurricane when it made landfall in Florida on Sept. 10, 2107. Although downgraded over time, Irma caused widespread damage via storm surges, high winds, and rainfall, causing power loss, flooding and major damage. OBR deployed to Southwest Florida and spent 9 days, serving 126,400 meals. In addition, FedEx assisted by flying meals to the Florida keys. This deployment followed one of the largest deployments in OBR history, Houston and Southeast Texas after Hurricane Harvey.
