Learn More About Serving on a Samaritan's Purse DISASTER ASSISTANCE RESPONSE TEAM

A DART provides water, food, shelter, and medical care to victims of war, poverty, famine, disease, and natural disaster while sharing the hope of Jesus Christ.

Day 1: 16:02

Disaster Strikes

Day 1: 17:17

Incident Management Team Assembles


Day 1: 20:45

Advance Team Deploys

A small team arrives on the ground within 24 hours of the crisis to assess the greatest needs and prepare for a strategic response.


Day 1: 23:07

First-Wave Response Planned

Speed is critical after a disaster. The Incident Management Team works around the clock to identify initial needs based on news reports, intel from church partners, or other information. We immediately start planning a strategic response.


Day 2: 10:31

DART Formed

A DART is often made up of people from across the globe. Our Incident Management Team alerts DART members of urgent needs and builds the team based on the skill sets needed for each deployment.

DART doctor an nurse help a wounded child
Tarps being prepared for transport in the Bahamas
A DART member fills a water jug
food distributions

Day 2: 14:45

Cargo Trucked to the Hangar

Our warehouses are stocked with supplies ready for immediate deployment.


Day 2: 21:40
Loading the DC-8 with supplies

DC-8 Loaded

Our cargo plane’s capacity is equivalent to four tractor-trailers of cargo. It’s also specially configured for 32 passengers, allowing us to quickly get the right supplies and people on the ground.


Day 3: 06:00

Personnel Arrive at the Hangar


DC-8 cockpit interior
Day 3: 07:00

DC-8 Takes Off

Day 3: 07:15

Advance Team Reports Additional Needs

Our Incident Management Team makes rapid decisions to meet the greatest needs, often planning secondary airlifts before the first has even arrived. In-country procurement channels are established and additional DART members are deployed. The North Carolina-based Incident Management Team continually communicates with the field team using SAT phones and other devices when other communication channels are down.


Day 3: 17:34

DC-8 Lands in Country

Prior to landing in country, the advance team works with local government officials to secure customs permissions. They also secure housing and make preparations for the larger team to arrive.


Day 3: 18:51

DC-8 Cargo Unloaded


Day 3: 19:46

Cargo Transferred to Trucks


Day 3: 19:58

Supplies Trucked to Hardest-Hit Areas


Day 4: 06:00
DART members start each day with ddevotions and prayer

Devotions & Prayer

My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19

The DART begins each day with God’s Word and prayer, seeking His will, provision, and direction.

The Word of God is filled with His promises that we can rely on for our every need. It is our source of strength, wisdom, direction, and encouragement. Franklin Graham
Day 4: 08:00

Base of Operations Established

Once a base of operations has been determined, each team member focuses on their specific tasks. From grading a site for an Emergency Field Hospital to setting up Wi-Fi, each team member’s role is critical.

DART members unload a truck filled with supplies
DART Members making plans for the emergency field hospital
Construction worker building with the asssistance of a nurse
IT support sets up WiFi for the base of operations
DART members setting up the emergency field hospital
A Biomed Tech sets up medical equipment to be used in the emergency field hospital
Day 4: 08:37

Ground Work Begins

Each response is different, but the urgency is the same.

Drone shot of a fully functioning emergency field hospital

Emergency Field Hospital Built

When local medical infrastructure is destroyed, we deploy an Emergency Field Hospital and tailor it to meet the needs caused by the disaster. Once this unit arrives on-site, our team works around the clock to build the field hospital, with a goal to begin treating patients within 24 hours or less. At its maximum capacity, the Emergency Field Hospital spans nearly an acre of land and includes an emergency room, two operating theaters, a laboratory, and more.

supplies being transfered from an airplane to a truck

Relief Supplies Distributed

When earthquakes, hurricanes, tsunamis, and other crises hit, we send in emergency shelter material, hygiene kits, household water filters, solar lights, and other critical supplies.

Set up of a water filtration system

Clean Water Points Established

When disasters wipe out clean water sources, we respond with water filtration units capable of serving 10,000 people each day.

A DART member fills a woman's bag with food and cooking supplies

Food Distributed

When people are hungry, we feed them—often airlifting emergency food rations to prevent acute malnutrition in children and assembling food kits for families who are suffering.

The length of each disaster response is different. From three weeks to six months, we stay as long as there are urgent needs that we can meet in Jesus’ Name. DART members are backfilled as needed, with the standard deployment length lasting three weeks.

Are you passionate about the Gospel and ready to serve?

We bring physical relief and the message of the Gospel to hurting people after a disaster. Is there a sense of urgency? Yes, there is!” Edward Graham Chief Operating Officer, Samaritan's Purse
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