BOONE, N.C., March 21, 2016 —Samaritan’s Purse, an international Christian relief organization, is deploying a tractor-trailer stocked with relief supplies to East Texas—where towns have been submerged by record-breaking flooding. Initial reports estimate that 4,400 homes have received flood damage with more than 800 homes severely damaged or completely destroyed.
The N.C.-based organization will enlist volunteers from across the country to help families clean out their flood-damaged homes and will focus their efforts in Deweyville and Orange, Texas. Teams will tear out damaged drywall, remove flooring, clear debris and spray chemicals designed to stop mold growth.
“This flood has devastated entire communities in Texas,” said Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan’s Purse. “They need our help, and we want to be there for them. We want to show them there is hope beyond this storm.”
The disaster relief unit is a tractor-trailer stocked with heavy-duty tarps, generators and other tools that will aid in the cleanup efforts. This unit will serve as the command center and will be based at Mauriceville Assembly of God Church in Orange, Texas.
INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITY: Tim Haas, manager of U.S. Disaster Relief for Samaritan’s Purse Todd Taylor, assistant manager of U.S. Disaster Relief for Samaritan’s Purse, on the ground in Texas Samaritan’s Purse volunteers On-site media contact Kaitlyn Lahm (828.406.0365)A team of chaplains from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association’s Rapid Response Team has also been deployed to the disaster area. They will be working alongside Samaritan’s Purse to provide emotional and spiritual encouragement to flood victims.
For more information about how you can help or to volunteer with Samaritan’s Purse, go to www.spvolunteernetwork.org. Donations to help with the flood relief efforts can be made at www.samaritanspurse.org.
Samaritan’s Purse has helped more than 29,000 families in 35 U.S. states following floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, fires and ice storms. Currently the organization’s U.S. disaster teams are responding to the massive flooding in Louisiana, and recently provided aid to victims of the deadly tornadoes in Mississippi and wildfires in California.