Truman Sosobee was evacuated with little time to spare when flood waters poured through his neighborhood in Hiram, Georgia, on Monday night. Thankfully, his wife was already safe at the house of a nearby relative.

When the Sosobees returned home late Tuesday they found that flood waters had risen to within eight inches of the ceiling, and their dog of 15 years was missing. Only a few items could be salvaged.

The Sosebees, who have been married for 43 years, wondered if they could ever live there again.

“We felt pretty helpless,” Truman said. “But then two ladies walked up to us in the front yard and told us about Samaritan’s Purse and how they were helping flood victims. So I got in the car and went to sign us up.”

The Sosebees’ home was one of more than 10,000 in the metro Atlanta flooded by days of torrential rain from a storm system that saturated the ground from Alabama through Georgia and into eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina.

Samaritan's Purse responded by sending two Disaster Relief Units to Georgia. One set up a base at West Ridge Church in Dallas, a town about 32 miles northwest of Atlanta. The second unit is at First Baptist Church in Woodstock, a community about 30 miles north of downtown Atlanta.

Once the command posts were established, volunteers began clearing mud and debris from flooded homes, applying anti-mold treatments, and helping to salvage victim’s personal belongings. Some three hundred local volunteers have signed up to help with the massive relief effort.

“Flood victims are overwhelmed by the amount of work to be done and Samaritan’s Purse is committed to working alongside these residents, helping them return to their homes,” said John Pryor, U.S. Disaster Relief Manager for Samaritan’s Purse.

The Sosebees were among the first families we helped. We removed their belongings, and then stripped sheetrock off the walls to allow the home to dry out so repairs and rebuilding can begin.

WAYS YOU CAN HELP

PRAY:

For the people impacted by the flooding, and for our staff and volunteers as they bring help and comfort.

GIVE:

$22 can provide a volunteer in Georgia or another U.S. disaster site with meals, camp lodging, showers, and other services for a day. Please visit our donation page to give.

GET INVOLVED:

Volunteers are needed to help with this response. Please click here to sign up.

Samaritan's Purse , United States , DR Extranet , U.S. Disaster Relief , Responding to Georgia Floods