Samaritan’s Purse is responding in five locations across four states after Hurricane Helene devastated parts of the Southeast.
President Donald Trump and Franklin Graham were in Valdosta, Georgia, today and saw devastation from Hurricane Helene. Samaritan’s Purse is at work there and President Trump said, “We’ve seen you at many different sites over the years, and you do a fantastic job!”
Helene tore through western North Carolina, dumping extreme rainfall—more than 2 feet in some areas—and causing terrible flash flooding. Some parts of the region are in ruins. We are providing relief in the mountains of Watauga County, North Carolina—home to Samaritan’s Purse international headquarters in the town of Boone. The town and surrounding communities have been particularly hard-hit with toppled trees, flooding, road damage, and a lack of power and water. This response extends to include neighboring counties in North Carolina (Ashe, Avery) and eastern Tennessee (Johnson), and our church base is Alliance Bible Fellowship in Boone.
Samaritan’s Purse volunteers are helping in Watauga County, North Carolina.
Southwest of Boone, rivers also raged outside their banks causing widespread destruction in the Asheville, North Carolina, area. Long stretches of interstate artery I-40 are shut down, after sections washed out. Our response there is focused on Buncombe County, which includes Asheville, Black Mountain, Montreat, and Swannanoa. Our base is the Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove.
Samaritan’s Purse President Franklin Graham said on Facebook, “Samaritan’s Purse responds to help with storms and crises around the world every day, but now the storm has hit in our own backyard. Hurricane Helene slammed western North Carolina and the surrounding area, as well as Georgia and Florida. Homes have been flooded and some even washed away, trees are down, tens of thousands are still without power. We would be grateful for your prayers for all those affected by this storm.”
