A Disaster Relief Unit is en route to the Evergreen State. Samaritan’s Purse volunteer teams will soon begin serving reeling homeowners in Jesus’ Name across the flooded region.
Days of torrential rain in northwest Washington state have swollen a number of tributaries and rivers across the region, triggering massive floods that have deluged entire neighborhoods and stranded families on rooftops.
More than 100,000 people were evacuated in the Skagit Valley—roughly halfway between Seattle and the Canadian border—as more rains are expected in the coming days. The Skagit River and nearby Snohomish River both surged higher than previous set records. This 100-year flood in the mountainous region has washed out bridges and roads, and engulfed thousands of homes.
Samaritan’s Purse North American Disaster Relief and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association’s Rapid Response Team (BGEA-RRT) are deploying to Washington in response to the recent flooding. Hundreds of homes have been affected and many families are displaced as we approach Christmas.
Staff members arrived in the flooded area this morning and found the greatest need in Whatcom County, where we previously deployed in 2021. Additional pockets of damage were found further south, and, if needs arise in those communities, families can be served from the Whatcom County location. One of our Disaster Relief Units—a tractor-trailer filled with relief supplies and equipment—departed our West Coast Ministry Center in California on Saturday to begin the two-day drive to Washington. Our host church will be Sonlight Community Church in Lynden, also our previous host church for the 2021 response.
Volunteer teams will start work on Monday afternoon, Dec. 15. Overnight volunteers can begin arriving on Wednesday, Dec. 17.
Our army of dedicated volunteers will mud-out flooded homes, remove soiled drywall and flooring, and salvage belongings for families who have lost nearly everything in the floods. Homeowners will hear the Gospel of the Lord as our volunteers serve in His Name.
Please pray for communities in northwest Washington as they recover from these catastrophic floods and brace for more rain this week. Pray that many families would be comforted by God’s love as our volunteers serve in Jesus’ Name. Visit spvolunteer.org to sign up to volunteer as the hands and feet of Christ in Washington.
