BG-RRT Press Kit
CHARLOTTE, N.C., April 16, 2023 – The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team (BG-RRT) has deployed to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, after massive flooding wreaked havoc on the area causing impassable roadways, damaging over 1,000 homes and forcing water rescues.
“As we see the many lives impacted because of this flooding in Fort Lauderdale, our hearts are heavy for those who have suffered great loss,” said Josh Holland, international director of the BG-RRT. “Our crisis-trained chaplains will be there to provide emotional and spiritual care as the area begins the long recovery process.”
The team of crisis-trained chaplains is working in conjunction with disaster relief organization Samaritan’s Purse to help meet the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of those impacted by the severe storms.
In addition, BG-RRT has deployed to west-central Minnesota, after one law enforcement officer was killed and two other officers were injured Saturday night while responding to a domestic disturbance call. The Pope County Sheriff’s Office said the incident happened in Cyrus, which is 90 minutes west of Saint Cloud, Minnesota. Four specially trained law enforcement chaplains will be ministering to the police department and the community.
BG-RRT chaplains are now providing emotional and spiritual support in six locations:
- Fort Lauderdale, Florida (flooding)
- Cyrus, Minnesota (officer shooting)
- Adamsville, Tennessee (tornado)
- Wynne, Arkansas (tornado)
- Little Rock, Arkansas (tornado)
- Ukraine (conflict)
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.
Media Opportunities:
- Interviews with:
- Josh Holland, international director for the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team
- Chaplain coordinators on the ground in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Cyrus, Minnesota
- For B-Roll, photos and media inquiries, please contact Christine Batchelder at cbatchelder@bgea.org, (704) 724-6851.
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 700 disaster sites across the globe, including shootings, floods, hurricanes, wildfires and tornadoes.
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Media Contact:
Christine Batchelder
cbatchelder@bgea.org