Deployments Since 2011

Combining our skills as competition cooks, caterers and chefs to provide meals to those affected and first responders of disasters in the United States. Since 2011 our volunteers and teams have deployed for 394 days in 26 states after 66 disasters.

  • When a disaster strikes, we evaluate multiple factors: size, destruction, people affected and services affected.  Based on what we learn, we determine whether or not to deploy and the estimated size, duration and needs.  At that time, notifications go out to our volunteers and state leads and we begin executing our standard operating procedures.
  • Operation BBQ Relief is surrounded by an incredible group of volunteers and supporters across the country who spring into action when disaster relief is needed.
  • If you have not already done so please sign up as a volunteer and follow us on Facebook and Twitter. You can also help by donating.

Deployments 2011 – 2021

Deployment Map New Placeholder
Deployment Map New

2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
Distribution Center

Download PDF

North Dallas, Texas (Tornado) / 1,450 Meals Over 2 Days

On the night of October 20, 2019, a severe storm system moved across the Southeast United States, spawning 10 tornadoes and causing damage across Texas. The worst of the damage was around Dallas, TX, where an EF3 tornado created a 15-mile path…

Grand Bahama Island (Hurricane) / 88,515 Meals Over 15 Days

Operation BBQ Relief responded after Cat-5 Hurricane Dorian caused major damage in The Bahamas. We set up our field kitchen in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, and worked with local small-craft pilots for initial meal flights and the crew of the Miss…

Tulsa, Oklahoma (Flood) / 7,950 Meals Over 7 Days

Oklahoma had seen a lot of rain from May into June.  But a June 6th storm dumped more than 4 inches of rain on Tulsa within three hours, causing widespread flooding along the already swollen Arkansas River.  Roughly 600 Tulsa area homes and…

Linwood, Kansas (Tornado) / 2,000 Meals Over 2 Days

On the evening of May 28, 2019, a mile-wide EF-4 tornado ripped through Douglas and Leavenworth counties in Kansas, packing winds of up to 170 mph. Luckily there were only 18 reported injuries, but numerous homes were damaged or destroyed…Linwood,…

Dayton, Ohio (Tornado) / 15,172 Meals Over 6 Days

A severe storm system including tornadoes hit the Dayton, Ohio, area late evening on May 27, 2019, leaving approximately 68,000 households and businesses in the state were without power. The weather service issued 36 tornado warnings across…

Franklin & Alto, Texas (Tornado) / 1,960 Meals Over 3 Days

On April 13, 2019, OBR was cooking and serving The One Hot Meal That Matters just a few short hours after a tornado hit the towns of Franklin and Alto, Texas. We received a call from the Franklin’s Emergency Manager that help was needed and…

Freeport, Illinois (Flood) / 3,681 Meals Over 4 Days

Heavy rain and quick snow melt atop still-frozen ground forced runoff into rivers and creeks across the Midwest during the second week of March 2019. Historic flooding along the east bank of the Pecatonica River (cresting at 16.45′, the highest…

Fremont, Nebraska (Flood) / 15,830 Meals Over 18 Days

Heavy rains caused widespread flooding. In Nebraska, flood records have been shattered in 17 places.