Humanitarian aid organization Samaritan’s Purse will begin working on relief and recovery efforts in Mississippi today after deadly tornadoes left a path of destruction 100 miles long on Friday night. The storms flattened homes, tossed vehicles, uprooted trees, cut power, and killed more than 25 people. According to Samaritan’s Purse, the organization has prepared two disaster relief units to be placed in two separate locations where relief supplies and equipment will be distributed.
President and CEO of Samaritan’s Purse, Franklin Graham, shared on Facebook early Saturday an urgent prayer request from Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves who said, “The loss will be felt in these towns forever. Please pray for God’s hand to be over all who lost family and friends.”
The disaster relief units, which are tractor trailers full of essential supplies and equipment, will be located in Rolling Fork in the western part of Mississippi at Lake Washington First Baptist Church and in Armory, Mississippi which is near the Alabama border at First Assembly of God Amory.
Volunteers from Samaritan’s Purse have already been on the ground in Mississippi since Saturday assessing the damage and identifying the needs of the communities. Beginning today, volunteers will be putting tarps on damaged roofs, cutting up damaged or fallen trees, and clearing debris from yards, homes, and streets. Billy Graham chaplains will also be in the communities to provide spiritual comfort and emotional support to those impacted by the storms.
Samaritan’s Purse is asking for prayers for the people of Mississippi. On their website they write, “Please pray for the families impacted by this storm, the local first responders who are helping, for local churches as they minister to communities, and for our volunteers and staff as we begin serving homeowners in coming days.”