Samaritan’s Purse is responding to overwhelming needs following the catastrophic damage from Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina, Eastern Tennessee, Georgia, and Florida. .
The Category 4 storm made its historic landfall with 140mph winds along Florida’s Big Bend region, leaving an enormous path of destruction that flattened homes and inundated communities. More than 100 lives were lost across multiple states, and search and rescue efforts are ongoing.
Samaritan’s Purse disaster relief specialists arrived in Georgia and Florida on Friday afternoon to begin assessments. Two Disaster Relief Units, tractor-trailers stocked with tools and equipment, also departed North Carolina on Friday to serve as a base of operations for volunteer teams.
Additionally, the N.C.-based organization is responding in Western North Carolina through disaster relief as well as setting up a field hospital unit in the parking lot of the Watauga Medical Center to provide oxygen for patients who have no power at home.
“Samaritan’s Purse responds to help with storms and crises around the world every day, but now the storm has hit in our own backyard. Hurricane Helene slammed western North Carolina and the surrounding area, as well as Georgia and Florida. Homes have been flooded and some even washed away, trees are down, and tens of thousands are still without power,” said Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan’s Purse. “Our hearts go out to all those who have lost so much and we want to help as many as we can in Jesus’ Name.”
Volunteers from across the country will assist families in Western North Carolina; Eastern Tennessee; Perry, Florida; the greater Tampa area; and Valdosta, Georgia. By securing tarps on damaged roofs, removing downed trees, and cleaning out waterlogged homes, volunteers will remind families that even in the midst of tragedy, God has not forgotten them.
As news of the devastation continues, Samaritan’s Purse will continue monitoring other Hurricane Helene hard-hit areas in the U.S. and assess communities where the needs are overwhelming. Chaplains with the Billy Graham Rapid Response team are also deploying alongside Samaritan’s Purse to provide spiritual relief and comfort to people who are hurting.
