N.C.-BASED SAMARITAN’S PURSE RESPONDS TO DEADLY TORNADOES IN ARKANSAS, MISSISSIPPI, AND KANSAS
U.S. Disaster Relief Team Deploying to Bring Help to Devastated Communities
BOONE, N.C., April 29, 2014 — Following deadly tornadoes that ripped across the South and Midwest,
international Christian relief organization Samaritan’s Purse immediately began deploying disaster relief experts to the hardest-hit areas.
A Disaster Relief Unit was dispatched to Mayflower, Arkansas, Monday morning from the Samaritan’s Purse U.S. Disaster Relief headquarters in North Wilkesboro, N.C. Tuesday, two additional Disaster Relief Units were deployed to Louisville, Miss., and Baxter Springs, Kan. These tractor-trailers serve as command centers and are stocked with heavy-duty plastic, chainsaws, generators, and other tools and equipment. The organization is mobilizing volunteers to assist with the relief effort and will continue to monitor the severe weather situation to determine what may be needed in the coming days.
“Our teams were deployed as soon as we started receiving reports of the devastation in these areas,” said Franklin Graham, President of Samaritan’s Purse. “Many lives have been turned completely upside down by these storms. They need our prayers and support, and we’re going to do all we can to help them.”
Samaritan’s Purse will work with homeowners to remove debris, put tarps on damaged roofs, and help people salvage personal belongings. People interested in volunteering with the Samaritan’s Purse tornado relief efforts can visit www.spvolunteernetwork.org. Donations to help storm victims can be made at www.samaritanspurse.org.
INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITIES via Skype, phone or in person:
• Todd Taylor, Samaritan’s Purse Assistant Manager of U.S. Disaster Relief, who will be
managing relief efforts
• Disaster relief experts at Samaritan’s Purse headquarters in N.C.
• On-site media contact is Karina Petersen: 828.773.4666 (cell) kpetersen@samaritan.org
Since 1998, more than 83,000 volunteers have worked with Samaritan’s Purse to help some 28,000 families impacted by natural disasters across the U.S. These disaster relief teams work quickly to help disaster victims by providing emergency supplies, repairing, cleaning and rebuilding homes. Five disaster relief units, tractor-trailers stocked with tools and cleanup supplies, are ready to deploy when disasters strike. This year, Samaritan’s Purse has responded to help people impacted by ice storms in Augusta, GA; Moncks Corner, S.C.; High Point, N.C.; and Burlington, N.C. In 2013, the organization deployed to 17 disasters to help victims of floods, wildfires, ice storms, and tornadoes.
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