N.C.-Based Samaritan’s Purse Rushes Tornado Relief to Georgia

TODAY: Franklin Graham's Relief Organization Mobilizes in Macon with Disaster Relief Unit, Emergency Supplies and Teams of Volunteers

BOONE, N.C., May 13, 2008—Samaritan's Purse immediately dispatched staff and equipment, including one of the organization's Disaster Relief Units, in the aftermath of the devastating tornados that ripped through the Macon, Ga., area.  Teams of volunteers were also mobilized to begin making emergency repairs to storm-ravaged homes.

Boone, N.C.-based international Christian relief organization Samaritan's Purse is focusing its response on Georgia, where at least half a dozen tornados damaged an estimated 6,000 homes. 

Samaritan's Purse is coordinating teams of staff and volunteers to help repair homes and remove debris.  Along with the Disaster Relief Unit, which will serve as a command center to direct its relief operations in the area, Samaritan's Purse has deployed tractor trailers to the area filled with supplies including heavy-duty plastic sheeting, construction equipment and building materials to help make emergency repairs.

"Our staff and volunteers are there to show the love of Jesus Christ to our neighbors in Georgia and help them recover from these terrible storms as quickly as possible," said Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan's Purse.

The tornado relief effort is just one of several major natural disasters Samaritan's Purse is responding to around the world.  Within hours of a 7.9 magnitude earthquake that crumbled buildings and killed thousands of people in the Sichuan Province of western China on Monday, Samaritan's Purse assisted in relief efforts.  Franklin Graham, who is president and CEO of both Samaritan's Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, is currently on a 10-day visit to China where he's meeting with government and church leaders.  When he learned about the devastating earthquake, Graham committed 1 million RMB ($150,000) to assist with the immediate disaster response.

Samaritan's Purse has also been helping in Myanmar where the United Nations estimates more than a million people who survived Cyclone Nargis are now at grave risk because of hunger and disease.  Samaritan's Purse currently has an airlift scheduled to transport some 20 tons of relief supplies from Bangkok, Thailand to Yangon, Myanmar.  This is the first of several planned flights.  The relief supplies include water purification systems, plastic for temporary shelter, blankets, clothing and mosquito netting. 

To donate to relief efforts visit www.samaritanspurse.org or call (828) 262-1980.