Volunteers are helping families recover after historic flooding wreaked havoc in Fort Lauderdale communities.
On Wednesday, April 12, historic rainfall inundated the Fort Lauderdale area—turning streets into rivers and trapping families within their homes. A 93-year-old resident, Paul Peloquin, was one of the many people with no way to escape.
Gerthel E. Smith, Paul’s caregiver, was with him for the duration of the storm. She shared, “It was raining, raining raining—nonstop. I watched the water rising, coming higher and higher. Before you knew it, the water was coming in.”
One of our volunteers gives Gerthel a hug at the Bible presentation ceremony.
During one hour of the storm, Fort Lauderdale received a month’s worth of rain. In total, nearly 26 inches of rain fell during the multiday downpour. Emergency services were overwhelmed, and hundreds of homes and businesses were surrounded by several feet of water.
Samaritan’s Purse deployed staff to Fort Lauderdale over the weekend and a Disaster Relief Unit—a tractor-trailer stocked with tools and equipment—arrived Sunday, April 16. The next day, volunteers began removing soiled belongings, pulling out waterlogged carpet, cutting sheetrock, and spraying homes to prevent mold growth, all so families can safely live in their homes.
His Backyard Looked Like a Pond
In Paul’s home, the water level reached 18 inches. “The front yard was like a lake. Water was everywhere. The whole house was full of water—everywhere,” Gerthel said. It took nearly two days for the water to drain from his home. During that time, Gerthel sloshed through the house trying her best to care well for Paul.
Samaritan’s Purse volunteers took the time to pray with Paul as they cleaned out his home.
Along with Gerthel, many neighbors look out for Paul. A next-door neighbor informed Samaritan’s Purse that he needed help immediately. This neighbor also shared that she and many others in the neighborhood were praying for Paul to come to know Jesus as his Savior.
Rich Morris was the first Samaritan’s Purse staff member to visit Paul’s home. Morris shared, “His backyard still looked like a pond. I knew we had to go help him.” The next morning, Morris led a team of volunteers to Paul’s home.
While the volunteers worked on his home, they also took time to sit with Paul and minister to him. Paul often asked volunteers and staff if they could continue to visit him every day—he thoroughly enjoyed their company. “The volunteers help me take my mind off of the bad things. I’m very grateful for all of them giving up their time and their abilities to come here,” Paul said.
The Change Was Instantaneous
As volunteers worked, chaplains with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association arrived to his home. Chaplain Christine McKinley asked Paul if he knew that he shared a name with a famous man in the Bible. She explained what the Bible shares about his life, “He was a renegade, killing good people, but God instantly changed him,” she said.
Rapid Response Team chaplains pray for Paul. We praise God he received Christ as Lord and Savior!
Paul, the homeowner, admitted, “I was a renegade too.” McKinley shared how God could also transform his life instantly through the Gospel—Paul was ready for that change. He prayed with the chaplains and placed his trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. Rejoicing filled his home as volunteers praised God for saving the very first homeowner on the first day serving in Fort Lauderdale.
Morris, full of joy after serving at Paul’s home shared, “It was a huge God moment to know that we came in to show the love of Jesus and for him to see that and decide to believe in God. That’s the best thing that could happen.”
The change in Paul was instantaneous—his countenance changed completely. “Every time we took something outside, he sang to us—Jesus loves me and other songs. That was not the Paul I spoke with yesterday. Everything was lifted for him,” Morris said.
Both Paul and Gerthel were grateful for the help of the volunteers but sad to see them go. Estella shared about her time with the volunteers, “It was a wonderful experience. I loved it. It was so great.”
Volunteers removed ruined sheetrock from Paul's home.
God used each volunteer’s physical labor, conversations, and friendly smiles to reveal His love for Paul and answer the many years of prayers from his neighbors.
Each day, Samaritan’s Purse volunteers continue to serve families in Fort Lauderdale who are overwhelmed and unsure where to start. The volunteers help with the physical needs but also show the love of God and remind homeowners, like Paul, that God loves them and has a greater purpose in the storms of life.
Please continue to pray for our response in Florida.
Samaritan’s Purse is helping in Jesus’ Name in Fort Lauderdale.
