The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team (RRT) is in northeast Nebraska after historic flooding damaged hundreds of homes, swamped roadways and killed at least three people. Eight chaplains are expected in Fremont, Nebraska, by Friday.
In addition to heavy rain, the rising water is the result of snow melting and overflowing into rivers after last week’s bomb cyclone that brought high winds and blizzard conditions to the central U.S.
Flooding is expected to continue over the next few days, moving into southern Nebraska. Iowa, Wisconsin, Missouri and Kansas have also been affected by floodwaters.
“As the floodwaters rise, we realize that the depth of loss is affecting thousands of families in Nebraska and surrounding regions,” said International Director of the RRT Jack Munday.
Many towns have become chilly islands—and even Nebraska’s Offutt Air Force Base is battling flooding—as rivers crest at dozens of locations throughout the Midwest. Nebraska, Iowa and Wisconsin have all declared states of emergency as a result of the floods.
According to Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts, the record-breaking flooding is the state’s “most widespread flooding damage we’ve had in the last half-century.”
Countless people have evacuated from their homes and headed to shelters. Volunteers lined up thousands of sandbags over the weekend in an attempt to block overflowing water.
While Samaritan’s Purse is looking to see how they can aid the physical needs of devastated areas, the RRT chaplains are assessing the area to see how they can provide emotional and spiritual care to those hurting from overwhelming loss.
“As we respond to provide assistance in working with emergency management and churches, we would ask that you pray for the people affected,” Munday said.
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