Samaritan’s Purse, a humanitarian aid ministry, is actively providing relief efforts for victims of Hurricane Helene in its home state of North Carolina. Edward Graham, the COO of Samaritan’s Purse, emphasized the importance of prayer in the aftermath of storms like Helene and Milton. In addition to sharing the gospel with volunteers, Samaritan’s Purse has coordinated significant relief efforts, including the largest civilian airlift operation in U.S. history. The organization has completed 210 missions delivering emergency supplies.
Edward Graham and his family, who are based in Boone, North Carolina, were directly impacted by Hurricane Helene. Inspired by their experiences in the cold, Samaritan’s Purse is working to bring generators and heaters to North Carolinians as temperatures drop. Hurricane Helene, which made landfall in Florida on Sept. 26, is the second-deadliest storm to hit the U.S. mainland since 2000. There have been 95 verified storm-related fatalities in North Carolina so far, with 42 in Buncombe County alone.
Despite the waning national attention on the hurricane aftermath due to the upcoming presidential election, Samaritan’s Purse continues its relief efforts. Edward Graham stressed the importance of individuals stepping up to help those affected by the hurricanes. He encouraged people to visit the organization’s website to sign up and volunteer. Most relief missions on Samaritan’s Purse are flown from an airfield in Boone, emphasizing the community effort involved in the relief operations.
The Rev. Franklin Graham expressed gratitude for the collaborative efforts of various groups and volunteers in providing assistance to those affected by Hurricane Helene. He emphasized the importance of continuing the relief efforts and not taking attention away from the ongoing work that needs to be done. Samaritan’s Purse is calling for volunteers to assist in the long-term relief efforts, not just immediate relief. Volunteers are currently serving victims of Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton across several states in the southeastern U.S., including North Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, and Florida.
