“Evacuate now!” Around 3 p.m. on September 8, Stephen MacAuley was playing the piano in his Phoenix, Oregon, townhouse when he saw a police car drive by and heard an officer announce the emergency warning through a bullhorn. Stephen knew wildfires had been reported in the area, but he never thought they would reach his…
Media
COVID-19 Bahamas Response Press Kit
Media Resources Media Requests Press Releases Fact Sheets Approved Quotes Photos B-roll COVID-19 Bahamas Response Samaritan's Purse deployed an Emergency Field Hospital to Nassau after an increase in COVID-19 cases overwhelmed the local healthcare system. With more than 2,000 active cases across the islands, hospitals were inundated with patients suffering from the coronavirus. Samaritan's Purse…
50 Years of Ministry
Deploying Military Couples to the Frontlines of Disasters
At the 2019 Operation Heal Our Patriots Reunion in Dallas, Texas, we invited military couples to join our U.S. Disaster Relief efforts as part of our new Team Patriot project. Since the first Team Patriot teams deployed in August of last year, Samaritan’s Purse has sent more than 100 individuals to serve again on the…
Seeing God’s Hand in the Tornado’s Wake
Gene Housley’s clock read 12:35 p.m. when the power went out. Then the inside of his house was darkened by the shadow of the passing storm that struck Claremont, North Carolina, on Jan. 9. “All of a sudden it got black,” Gene said. “Black as midnight. I was in my chair, where I always sit…
Crisis & Disaster Response
Celebrating God’s Work in Selma; Tornado Cleanup Continues in Georgia
The storm system that swept across the southeastern U.S. on Jan. 12 spawned numerous tornadoes, leaving destruction and devastation in their wake. Parts of Alabama and Georgia took direct hits from the twisters. In the days following, Samaritan’s Purse volunteers were on the ground clearing trees from homes, patching damaged roofs, and cleaning up yards…
Crisis & Disaster Response
Finding Relief—and Family—in the Wake of Texas’s Wintry Mess
As Austin, Texas, resident Netsi Akalu opened the door to her home of ten years, several inches of water poured from the ceiling. With it, came a flood of emotions. “I saw that the water was coming from the ceiling, the living room, my bedroom, and my baby’s bedroom,” Netsi said. “Two and a half…
Crisis & Disaster Response
God Gets the Glory as Volunteers Bring Relief in Texas
Samaritan’s Purse is on the ground in Texas helping families in Houston and Austin recover from winter storms and record-low temperatures that cut off access to power, water and heat for thousands of families. Communities have returned to find flooded homes due to burst pipes and downed trees in the wake of the unusual weather.…
Samaritan’s Purse Responds to Flooded Kentucky
VOLUNTEER IN BREATHITT COUNTY, KENTUCKY Samaritan’s Purse is bringing relief to Breathitt County, Kentucky, in the aftermath of historic flooding across the eastern part of the state. Hundreds of homes were damaged or destroyed in what authorities say is the worst deluge in decades. Our Disaster Relief Unit 1—a tractor trailer packed with relief supplies…
Crisis & Disaster Response
This Kentucky Homeowner Isn’t Giving Up After the Flood
A couple hours passed one morning and Melissa Bryant found herself homeless. The floodwaters came suddenly and showed little mercy to her community in Breathitt County, eastern Kentucky. Her trailer home and everything in it, except for one small air-conditioning unit, was completely destroyed in the deluge. “The water was coming in so fast. It…
Crisis & Disaster Response
Rushing to Help Tornado Victims in Alabama
A violent storm system swept through the Southeast this week, spawning devastating tornadoes that ripped through neighborhoods, causing massive damage in five states. Samaritan’s Purse President Franklin Graham asked for prayer in the wake of the disaster as teams deployed to the area to assess needs and establish a response. “Please join me in praying…
