In the wake of deadly tornadoes that swept through parts of Mississippi and Alabama, relief organizations are working quickly to respond to the needs of affected communities. Two such organizations, Samaritan’s Purse, and Operation Blessing have deployed teams to the area to assist with recovery efforts.
According to reports, multiple tornadoes touched down in Mississippi and Alabama on Friday night, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. Homes and businesses were destroyed, power lines were downed, and a number of people had lost their lives.
Samaritan’s Purse, an international Christian relief organization, announced that they were sending a team of volunteers to Lee County, Alabama to provide assistance to those affected by the tornadoes. The organization is working with local churches and other partners to coordinate their efforts and ensure that aid is distributed quickly and efficiently.
“Volunteers are scheduled to begin work Monday, March 27. Teams will help in Jesus’ Name tarping damaged roofs, cutting up fallen or damaged trees, and clearing debris from yards and homes,” Samaritan’s Purse said.
The President of Samaritan’s Purse, Franklin Graham, in a statement to CBN said that the majority of the region where the disaster took place is poor and without insurance, and so his organization is put in place to help in situations like this.
“I think sometimes God puts us in places like this so that we can be the insurance for them. And that’s what I mean, being the insurance, God has given us the funds, the resources, to be able to respond like this in a crisis,” Graham told CBN News.
“Right now we’re not preaching. Right now we’re just helping people clean up their homes, and cut trees off their houses. If a house is still standing but they lost their roof, we help tarp it so that they don’t lose any more of their valuables in their home,” Graham said.
Operation Blessing, another Christian relief organization, also announced that they were deploying a team to Mississippi to assist with recovery efforts. The organization is working with local authorities and other partners to provide assistance with cleanup and other needs.
In a report by CBN, Operation Blessing’s Bob Burke said; “When we arrived in Rolling Fork, we were struck with how abruptly the path of destruction began. The houses on the outskirts of town were virtually untouched, but once we seemed to cross an invisible line, the destruction got increasingly bad, to a point where there was only piles of debris in the center of town”.
As the recovery effort continues, residents of affected areas are being urged to exercise caution and stay alert for potential hazards. Emergency responders are working around the clock to clear debris and restore power, but the process is expected to take several days.