BOONE, N.C., Sept. 7, 2017 —In the aftermath of Hurricane Irma's catastrophic rampage across the Caribbean, Samaritan's Purse is deploying its DC-8 cargo jet loaded with urgently needed supplies to the island of St. Maarten. Local authorities have reported that 95 percent of the island's houses have been damaged with 60 percent uninhabitable. The plane will carry essential items such as hygiene kits, blankets and rolls of heavy-duty plastic sheeting for emergency shelter to distribute to more than 2,000 families.
Friday morning, the DC-8 airplane will depart from Greensboro, North Carolina, arriving in St. Maarten within hours.
WHENFriday, Sept. 8, 10 a.m. (media arrival 9 a.m.)
WHEREMission Aviation Services Greensboro 701 N Terminal Service Road Greensboro, NC 27409
On-site media contact:Scott Knuteson, 770.317.0499
MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES Interviews with Disaster Relief Team members, including team leader Dave Holzhauer Live shots from tarmac as plane departsA 14-member Disaster Assistance Response Team will be on the ground leading Samaritan's Purse response efforts and distributing supplies to storm victims. To schedule an interview with team leaders in St. Maarten, call Kaitlyn Lahm at 828.406.0365.
Samaritan's Purse responds to the physical and spiritual needs of individuals in crisis situations. Led by Franklin Graham, the organization works in more than 100 countries to provide aid to victims of war, disease, disaster, poverty, famine and persecution. Its U.S. Disaster Relief teams are currently working in five locations in Texas to help survivors of Hurricane Harvey. They are also ready to respond immediately in Florida if needed.
For more information or to donate toward relief efforts, visit samaritanspurse.org.
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