Hurricane Helene Relief

A message from Samaritan’s Purse:

Hurricane Helene hit Florida along the Big Bend on September 27 at Category 4 strength, making it the strongest storm to hit the area in recorded history. Despite weakening to a tropical storm, Helene later tore through Georgia and the Carolinas, dumping extreme rainfall and causing flash flooding, particularly in places like Asheville, North Carolina. The town of Boone, North Carolina—home to Samaritan’s Purse international headquarters—and a large swath of surrounding communities have been particularly hard-hit with toppled trees, flash flooding, road damage, and a crippling lack of power and water.

“Samaritan’s Purse responds to help with storms and crises around the world every day, but now the storm has hit in our own backyard. We would be grateful for your prayers for all those affected by this storm.”

FRANKLIN GRAHAM, PRESIDENT, SAMARITAN’S PURSE

With so many communities devastated by the storm, Samaritan’s Purse is responding in full force across North Carolina, Georgia, and Florida—bolstered by additional support from our Canadian affiliate office.

Our U.S. Disaster Relief teams are on the ground in five of the hardest-hit areas in Helene’s path. We are partnering with local churches to field volunteer teams who are helping hurting homeowners in Jesus’ Name. Volunteers are mudding out homes, cutting downed trees, tarping damaged roofs, and removing debris to help families get through this historic crisis.

In addition, this past weekend, we airlifted food and water to Lees-McRae College in Banner Elk. Using one of our Samaritan’s Purse helicopters, we flew in basic necessities to this devastated area, now isolated by flooding and subsequent road closures.

We are also assisting three area hospitals—Charles A. Cannon, Jr. Memorial Hospital in Avery County, Ashe County Hospital, and Watauga Medical Center. At Cannon Memorial, Samaritan’s Purse is deploying a 20-bed Emergency Field Hospital designed as an emergency room triage unit. The facility, requested by the Appalachian Regional Health System/UNC Health System, should be operational shortly; it will be staffed by our Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) medical personnel. At Watauga and Ashe, we’ve established field units to provide oxygen for patients who have no power at home.

“I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”

PSALM 121:1-2, ESV

Please pray for all communities along the path of this massive storm as they recover; pray for the safety of our volunteer teams in the field; and pray for the many Gospel opportunities we will have as we serve in Jesus’ Name.

You can read more updates on the hurricane relief here: samaritanspurse.org/article/pray-for-those-in-helenes-path