Billy Graham Rapid Response Team Deploys to Southeast in Wake of Deadly Tornadoes
Chaplains on the Ground in Tennessee Today
CHARLOTTE, N.C., February 6, 2008 -- Following the massive tornadoes that devastated portions of the Southeast last night and this morning, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association has deployed the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team of chaplains to the region. A lead team will be on the ground today to assess the situation and the need for chaplains across the affected states. A chaplain will also be assigned to Union University, where several students were trapped in a dorm during the tornado.
“Our chaplain coordinators will be on-site today in Tennessee and will review the situation in consultation with local churches and other aid organizations,” said Jack Munday, director of the Rapid Response Team. “From there we will increase and spread out our deployment into the Southeast region as needed.”
He continues, “We are praying for the victims and families affected by these tornadoes. There will be a lot of physical need resulting from last night. There will be emotional and spiritual needs as well.”
The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team was developed following the attacks of September 11, 2001. It has since grown into a nationwide database of more than 2,300 chaplains and ministry volunteers who are specifically trained to deal with crisis situations.
Dating back to its inception, the Rapid Response Team has deployed 20 times, with 11 of those deployments taking place in 2007. Most notably, the Rapid Response Team’s deployments in 2007 included Blacksburg, Va. following the shooting on the campus of Virginia Tech, Minneapolis following the collapse of the I-35 bridge, and San Diego following the wildfires in October and November.
For more information on the Rapid Response Team, visit www.billygraham.org/rapidresponse
