CHARLOTTE, NC — The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team (BG-RRT) is deploying to Sarasota, Florida, after the area received between 12-20 inches of rain from Hurricane Debby. Coastal storm surge also contributed to flooding and damage to homes.

“We know that hurricanes bring strong winds and rain with them, but we often forget that the coastal areas impacted are also susceptible to rising waters from high tides and storm surge. All of those elements together bring catastrophic results to those in the path of the storm,” said Josh Holland, international director of the BG-RRT. “Along with the loss of property from Hurricane Debby, the storm also claimed the lives of five people in Florida. Our chaplains are deploying to this hard-hit area to provide emotional and spiritual care to those who are beginning to rebuild after sustaining tragic losses.”

Crisis-trained chaplains will arrive in Sarasota and begin providing emotional and spiritual care for those affected beginning on Sunday, Aug. 18. The BG-RRT deploys to natural disasters in coordination with Samaritan’s Purse, the Christian disaster relief organization also headed by Franklin Graham. Together the two ministries will address the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of those who have been affected.

BG-RRT chaplains are now ministering in six locations. Along with Sarasota, chaplains are also in:

• Savannah, Georgia (Hurricane Debby)
• Marion, Virginia (law enforcement ministry)
• Brazoria County, Texas (Hurricane Beryl)
• Spencer, Iowa (flooding)

Chaplains are also offering hope and providing emotional comfort and spiritual care to families who have been forced to flee their homes in war-torn Ukraine.

For more information on the ministry, including videos, photos, news articles and an interactive map of former and current deployments, visit the BG-RRT press kit or BillyGraham.org/RRT. Updates can also be found at Facebook.com/RRTChaplains.

About the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team

The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team was developed by Franklin Graham and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association following the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. It has since grown into an international network of chaplains in the U.S., U.K., Canada and Australia who are specifically trained to deal with crisis situations. They have deployed to more than 800 disaster sites across the globe, including shootings, floods, hurricanes, wildfires and tornadoes.

Media Opportunities

• Interviews with:
  • Josh Holland, international director of the BG-RRT
  • Chaplain coordinators in Sarasota, Florida
• B-Roll and photos (please use with credit to Billy Graham Evangelistic Association)
• Interview request form

Read more on Non Profit / Faith Based Organizations, and Disaster Relief on Missions Box.