BOONE, NC — Samaritan’s Purse sent a Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) along with more than 24 tons of life-saving supplies to the Caribbean. The N.C.-based organization stood up an Incident Management Team over the weekend as Hurricane Beryl began to strengthen, preparing to respond to the storm. Less than 24 hours after the hurricane made landfall, the Samaritan’s Purse DC-8 cargo plane departed Greensboro, NC. with 600 rolls of tarp, 3,000 solar lights, a desalination water unit, 300 collapsible jerry cans, and a mobile medical unit. In addition to these emergency relief supplies, the cargo plane also transported 13 disaster response specialists to Grenada.

This rapid deployment and mobilization of humanitarian aid and resources is aimed at providing critical support to the island communities and families anticipated to be the most affected by the storm. Most importantly, Samaritan’s Purse is deploying to bring help and the hope of Jesus Christ to families who are grappling with severe loss in the aftermath of the storm.

“Hurricane Beryl pummeled the Windward Islands, and left thousands of families in need of emergency relief, ” said Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan’s Purse. “We started building out pallets of cargo before the hurricane even made landfall and are now on the way with life-saving aid. Please join me in praying for the families who are in the path of this storm, and for our Samaritan’s Purse staff who will be serving them.”

Hurricane Beryl, which made landfall in Grenada as a Category 4 hurricane—the earliest on record—quickly grew in strength to a Category 5, bringing devastating floods, high-wind damage, and power outages to the Windward Islands. Samaritan’s Purse is preparing to distribute emergency shelter material and to set up water filtration systems in areas that have been heavily damaged and are now without access to clean water. The organization is coordinating with local church partners in the area that Samaritan’s Purse has worked with through its project Operation Christmas Child.

About Samaritan’s Purse

Based in Boone, North Carolina, Samaritan’s Purse responds to physical and spiritual needs of individuals in crisis situations—especially in locations where few others are working. Led by President and CEO Franklin Graham, Samaritan’s Purse works in more than 100 countries to provide aid to victims of war, disease, disaster, poverty, famine and persecution. For more information, visit SamaritansPurse.org.

Media Opportunities

• Interview Edward Graham, chief operating officer for Samaritan’s Purse
• Interview Ken Isaacs, vice president of programs and government relations for Samaritan’s Purse
• Interview Aaron Ashoff, deputy director of international projects for Samaritan’s Purse
• Interview DART staff from the ground available in the coming days
• High-quality photos and B-roll available upon request in the coming days
• Media Request Form

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