Samaritan’s Purse staff and volunteer teams in western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee are working to repair and rebuild hundreds of homes that were damaged or destroyed during Hurricane Helene. We are also replacing hundreds of mobile homes. Other initiatives include supporting churches as they repair damage to their buildings. As Samaritan’s Purse continues to…
Our Ministry
Bringing Help and Hope After Helene
Bringing Help and Hope After Helene “I've never experienced God's love like that.” Hurricane Helene turned the Cane River, usually about 40 feet wide, into a raging, swollen behemoth that swallowed houses, cars, utility poles, and huge chunks of land on both sides of its gluttonous path as it charged downstream. But when the storm swept through…
A Plumber Gets His Livelihood Back After Hurricane Helene
WATCH VIDEO ABOVE | Dumitru’s story after Helene When Hurricane Helene hit North Carolina in September 2024, Dumitru and Dina Gyska lost everything they depended upon for their livelihoods. Dumitru’s efforts toward building his year-old plumbing business were shattered in a matter of minutes as floodwaters and debris swept through his property in Buncombe County.…
Crisis & Disaster Response
Gifting Vehicles to Hurricane Helene Survivors
“It’s all yours! Congratulations, sir!” James Roberts could hardly believe the words spoken to him by an employee of Hendrick Automotive Group. Thanks to Samaritan’s Purse partnership with the Charlotte auto dealer, a 2024 Toyota Tacoma crew cab 4 x 4 is now his. It was just three months ago that the Marshall, North Carolina,…
Crisis & Disaster Response
JD Vance Joins Edward Graham in Helene-Ravaged North Carolina
Vice President Elect JD Vance visited western North Carolina today where the remnants of Hurricane Helene churned through the Appalachians causing catastrophic flooding in late September. Vance joined Samaritan’s Purse COO Edward Graham in Buncombe County (Asheville area) where they met with local residents affected by the deadly storm, which dumped as much as 30…
Samaritan’s Purse Dedicates First Home in Hurricane Helene Rebuild
In the same front yard where Hurricane Helene’s floodwaters tore through their quiet western North Carolina neighborhood, Benny and Keeva Messer stood on June 2 praising God for a brand-new home built in Jesus’ Name, from the foundation below to the shingles above. “Today we are going to celebrate and rejoice,” said Luther Harrison, vice…
Crisis & Disaster Response
First Mobile Homes Given to Hurting Families After Helene
Lidia Gomez escaped with her family as floodwaters, mud, and debris filled their Buncombe County, North Carolina, community last September. When they returned in the wake of Helene’s destruction, their mobile home was unrecognizable—filled with water and pierced by a tree that had crashed through the roof. In the following days, the home became filled…
Media
Hurricane Helene Response Press Kit
Press Releases Fact Sheets & Bios Photos B-roll Hurricane Helene Response Samaritan’s Purse continues to help families recover from Hurricane Helene across western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee in Jesus’ Name. Volunteer teams and staff are actively working to repair and replace hundreds of homes that were damaged or destroyed—providing safe, permanent housing solutions as…
Crisis & Disaster Response
Pack Animals Gifted to Carolina Organization Helping with Helene Relief
A February storm had softened the ground considerably and loosened the roots on an old poplar tree. Wind gusts finished it off. Mike and Michele Toberer were hours out of town when the timber fell and broke a large opening into a fence holding their mules. Three of them escaped into the highway. “That was…
Media
Press Release Samaritan’s Purse Dedicates First, Newly-Built Home for Family Impacted by Hurricane Helene
Samaritan’s Purse Dedicates First, Newly-Built Home for Family Impacted by Hurricane Helene BOONE, N.C., May 30, 2025—Samaritan’s Purse plans to dedicate the first of many newly built homes in western North Carolina on Monday, June 2 for Benny and Keva Messer. The Messer family, like hundreds of others, lost nearly everything when floodwaters from Hurricane…
