At least 22 people were injured when a violent twister ripped through Jonesboro, Arkansas, on Saturday evening. While the widest part of the tornado—estimated as an EF-3 with 140 mph winds—hit the business side of town, more than 100 homes were damaged, with many losing their roofs.
The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team (RRT) has six crisis-trained chaplains offering a listening ear and prayer to the Midwestern community that’s located on the northeastern side of Arkansas. They’re serving alongside Samaritan’s Purse volunteers, who’s repairing damaged houses.
Even with the outbreak of COVID-19, the area has already initiated a quick response with neighbors helping neighbors. Both the Rapid Response Team and Samaritan’s Purse are following CDC guidelines to mitigate risks of the virus, along with careful measures like social distancing.
More Billy Graham chaplains are on the ground in Cremona, Italy, and New York City fighting the pandemic and serving at Samaritan’s Purse emergency field hospitals. In early March, the Rapid Response Team deployed to a deadly outbreak of tornadoes, caring for the communities of Nashville, Mt. Juliet and Cookeville, Tennessee.
“As our nation and world are in crisis with COVID-19, we are saddened that many residents of Jonesboro, Arkansas, also lost their homes as a result of the tornado that hit Saturday evening,” said Josh Holland, RRT’s assistant director. “The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team is sending crisis-trained chaplains to offer God’s comfort and hope to the community during this time of great loss.”
Please be in prayer for the community of Jonesboro, Arkansas, and all those fighting COVID-19.
Worried about the coronavirus? Call the BGEA Prayer Line at 888-388-2683.
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