CHICO, Calif., Nov. 15, 2018—Samaritan's Purse is on the ground in Northern California preparing to aid families impacted by the Camp Fire. Already the most deadly and destructive wildfire in state history, it continues to scorch Butte County. The North Carolina-based organization has prepositioned disaster response specialists and a tractor-trailer stocked with relief supplies, alongside Billy Graham Evangelistic Association chaplains. The crisis-trained Rapid Response Team chaplains are currently offering spiritual and emotional care to people impacted by the fire. Samaritan's Purse teams are standing by and ready to begin relief and recovery efforts as soon as authorities permit them to enter the communities that have been ravaged by the fire.
"My heart breaks for families who have lost homes and loved ones in the California wildfires," said Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan's Purse. "We want to come alongside them in the midst of this tragedy and remind them that God still loves them. Please pray for the first responders and all of the families who have been impacted."
Samaritan's Purse will mobilize volunteers from across the country to sift through the ashes of destroyed homes—searching for jewelry, coins or other keepsakes that may have survived the flames. Regardless of monetary value, discovered items often become invaluable to families who have lost everything.
This response comes less than three months after Samaritan’s Purse helped more than 200 families recover from the Carr Fire in Redding, California.
INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITIES Lorenzo Torres, program manager of U.S. Disaster Relief for Samaritan's Purse, on the ground in Chico, California Luther Harrison, vice president of North American Ministries for Samaritan's PurseFor more information about how to volunteer with Samaritan's Purse, go to spvolunteer.org.
ABOUT SAMARITAN'S PURSESamaritan's Purse is an international Christian relief organization that has helped more than 42,000 families in 37 U.S. states following hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, fires and ice storms. Currently, Samaritan’s Purse has six Disaster Relief Unit tractor-trailers and teams in four states helping families recover from Hurricanes Florence and Michael.