GUAYNABO, Puerto Rico – Send Relief crisis response experts and volunteers with Kentucky Baptist Southern Baptist Disaster Relief (SBDR) were already in Puerto Rico for a long-scheduled training session when Tropical Storm Ernesto rapidly developed into a storm that has caused widespread damage on the island.

“We came for scheduled disaster relief training with pastors and volunteers here in Puerto Rico,” said Coy Webb, Send Relief’s crisis response director. “Now, we’ve shifted to doing hands-on, on-the-job training.”

The team’s quick pivot came as strong winds knocked out power for nearly three-quarters of a million people, nearly half of the island, along with 235,000 losing their access to water, according to multiple sources.

“Send Relief and the Kentucky SBDR team are responding to help survivors and to share the hope of Christ with those affected,” Webb said, “from distributing bottled water and emergency food to cutting trees and repairing damaged roofs.”

Ernesto strengthened into a hurricane the day after it buzzed Puerto Rico, and projections from the National Hurricane Center have the storm tracking north through the Atlantic toward Bermuda before potentially skirting Newfoundland early next week.

Puerto Rico was devastated by a direct hit from Hurricane Maria in 2017 and has dealt with earthquakes and other significant storms during its journey to recovery over the last several years. The mountainous terrain across the island means heavy rainfall brings with it the dangers of landslides and flash flooding.

“Puerto Rico has seen its share of challenges such as natural disasters like hurricanes and earthquakes, to economic crisis and bankruptcy,” said Jonathan Santiago, director of Send Relief’s Puerto Rico Ministry Center. “It only takes the wind and water from a tropical storm to create chaos for an already struggling people.”

Jorge Santiago (no relation to Jonathan) moved to Puerto Rico in 2017 just before Maria hit. With help from Send Network, he planted One Church Comerio as he ministered to those in need following the storm.

On Wednesday morning, he went out with a group of men from his church to help open roads so people could travel to hospitals and other emergency outlets. He spent Thursday cutting downed trees with Send Relief and Kentucky SBDR volunteers.

Now, they’re using a power generator to help their neighbors at their church building, providing showers, laundry and a place for survivors to charge their cell phones.

“The Lord is strengthening us as we are putting a lot of hours to serve the people of Comerio,” said Jorge. “The church is in a good spirit of serving, and I have found God doing His work as He connects me with people that I did not know before.”

As Send Relief and SBDR volunteers move about the island to meet needs, they have had opportunities to be the hands and feet of Jesus.

“With almost half the island living in poverty, Send Relief looks to bring the hope of Jesus by meeting tangible needs,” Jonathan said. “Yes, we cut trees to open access to main roads, fix roofs so families have a safe place to sleep and provide emergency water and food. But at the end of the day, it’s all about the gospel. It’s about letting people know that, regardless of our circumstances, we have a God who loves and cares about their situation and their suffering. And that’s why we are here.”

As they have been serving in the wake of Ernesto, Webb said that people have been able to tell a difference in the way they go about meeting needs.

“I saw Jesus in you even before you shared with me that you are followers of Christ,” as Webb said one survivor put it to him.