SAMARITAN’S PURSE RESPONDS TO DEADLY TORNADOES
Three Disaster Relief Units En Route to Texas and Mississippi
BOONE, N.C., Dec. 28, 2015—Immediately following the outbreak of deadly and destructive tornadoes in Texas and Mississippi, international Christian relief organization Samaritan’s Purse sent experts to assess the situation. Now, heavy equipment and three disaster relief unit—tractor-trailers loaded with relief supplies that serve as mobile command centers—are on the way.
“These storms have devastated hundreds of families in Texas and Mississippi,” dijo Franklin Graham, presidente de Samaritan’s Purse. “Our hearts go out to those whose lives have been turned upside down this Christmas season. We are praying for the victims, and want to come alongside to help and share God’s love with them in their time of need.”
In Mississippi, the disaster relief unit—packed with relief supplies including heavy-duty tarps, generators and chainsaws—will base at Ashland Baptist Church in Ashland. Currently, Samaritan’s Purse is working to determine where the additional two disaster relief units will base in the Greater Dallas area.
Utilizing its extensive network of volunteers, the North Carolina-based organization will work to save personal belongings and tarp damaged roofs. Teams will use skid-steer loaders, chainsaws and other equipment to clear debris and remove fallen trees. All of the efforts will be focused on bringing comfort and hope to those whose homes have been damaged or destroyed by the storms.
INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITY:
- Tim Haas, manager of U.S. Disaster Relief for Samaritan’s Purse
- Todd Taylor, assistant manager of U.S. Disaster Relief on-site in Texas for Samaritan’s Purse
- Bruce Poss, program manager on-site in Texas for Samaritan’s Purse
- Jonathan Blevins, program manager on-site in Ashland, Mississippi, for Samaritan’s Purse
A team of chaplains from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association’s Rapid Response Team is also deploying alongside Samaritan’s Purse. These chaplains work to share the love of Christ, providing spiritual and emotional care to victims and families.
Samaritan’s Purse is an international Christian relief and evangelism organization led by Franklin Graham. Since 1998, Samaritan’s Purse has helped more than 29,000 families in 35 U.S. states following floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, fires and ice storms. Earlier this year the organization helped people after floods in Texas, Kentucky and Florida; wildfires in California; tornadoes in Oklahoma; and ice storms in Tennessee.
For information on volunteering or to donate to Samaritan’s Purse relief efforts, visit www.spvolunteernetwork.org o www.samaritanspurse.org.
