Yesterday as I was driving to church, I started.

Yesterday as I was driving to church, I started hearing a slight squealing sound coming from under my hood (it went away after a few seconds). As I was turning the last corner, the steering wheel became difficult to turn and the battery light lit up on the dashboard. I replaced the battery after church, and when I started the van, the squealing sound was back, much louder, and more continuous. I saw a small amount of smoke coming from the engine compartment, so I promptly turned off the ignition. A friend and I are thinking the van might need a new belt. Any help would be most appreciated - thank you!