CHARLOTTE, N.C., August 20, 2021 – Billy Graham Rapid Response Team (BG-RRT) chaplains are deploying alongside Samaritan’s Purse to Plumas County, California, part of the area destroyed by the massive Dixie Fire, as well as Haywood County, North Carolina, which suffered flash flooding earlier in the week.
As the Dixie Fire continues to burn—recently surpassing 700,000 acres—more than 650 residences have already been destroyed by what is now being called the largest recorded single wildfire in California’s history.
“The destruction caused by the massive Dixie Fire is heartbreaking. So many people are in despair after losing homes and possessions in these fires and our crisis-trained chaplains will be there to share the hope and peace that comes through Jesus Christ,” said Josh Holland, assistant director of the BG-RRT. “Our prayers continue for all of those who have been impacted by these wildfires, including the firefighters who are risking their lives to help contain them.”
For the past week, BG-RRT chaplains have been serving victims of the nearby River Fire, and will transition to Plumas County over the weekend.
In Haywood County, North Carolina, flood waters damaged homes and businesses when nearly nine inches of rain fell earlier this week. As many as 50,000 people were left without power during the storm.
“Our sincere prayers go out to the families impacted by the tragic flooding in Haywood County,” said Holland. “We also pray for first responders currently undergoing search and rescue efforts. We are deploying crisis-trained chaplains to share the hope and peace found in Jesus Christ even in life’s toughest times.”
BG-RRT chaplains are spread out across the country and beyond, serving at Samaritan’s Purse Emergency Field Hospitals in Haiti (earthquake) and Mississippi (coronavirus), and are also serving those who suffered from severe flooding in the Detroit, Michigan, area.
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 550 disaster sites across the globe, including shootings, floods, hurricanes, wildfires and tornadoes.
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Media Contact:
Blake Freeland
bfreeland@bgea.org
