CHARLOTTE, N.C., Oct. 15, 2018—In the wake of Hurricane Michael’s devastating force, the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team has deployed crisis-trained chaplains in Florida and Georgia. The powerful storm, which made landfall on Wednesday as a Category 4 hurricane, caused extensive damage throughout the southeast, ripping off roofs, flooding homes and toppling trees.
“Michael was an almost unprecedented storm, developing quickly and ferociously, and in its path it has left despair, broken dreams and suffering,” said Jack Munday, international director of the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team. “Our desire is simply to be there for people as they begin the process of rebuilding their lives following this tragedy, encouraging them and offering God’s hope and comfort.”
The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team is deploying in coordination with Samaritan’s Purse, the Christian disaster relief organization also headed by Franklin Graham. Together the two ministries will address the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of those who have been affected.
“It came ashore violently, leaving a path of absolute destruction,” said Graham on his Facebook. “Pray for those who have lost everything to the water and wind of Michael.”
The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team continues to have a widespread presence in the Carolinas following Hurricane Florence, with chaplains working in the communities of New Bern, Wilmington and Jacksonville, North Carolina, and in Horry County, South Carolina. Approximately 100 chaplains have prayed with and comforted more than 7,000 people in those four areas since the devastating storm hit in mid-September.
For more information on the ministry, including videos, photos, news articles and an interactive map of former and current deployments, visit www.billygraham.org/rrt. Updates can also be found at www.facebook.com/RRTChaplains.
About the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team
The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team was developed by Franklin Graham
and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association following the attacks of
Sept. 11, 2001. It has since grown into an international network of
chaplains in the U.S., U.K., Canada and Australia who are specifically
trained to deal with crisis situations. They have deployed to more than
300 disaster sites, including shootings, floods, hurricanes, wildfires
and tornadoes.
Media Contact
Lisa Moseley
(704) 401-2116
lmoseley@bgea.org