CHARLOTTE, N.C., April 23, 2020 – The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team (RRT) has deployed crisis-trained chaplains to Polk County, Texas, to provide emotional and spiritual support after tornadoes devastated the area Wednesday evening.
“Strong storms tore through Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana overnight, leaving at least six people dead and doing lots of damage,” Franklin Graham said on his Facebook page. “Join us in praying for all of those facing devastating loss. So much can change in the matter of a few seconds as these tornadoes touch down.”
The National Weather Service said there have been at least 26 tornadoes as part of the storm system. At least 20 people were injured in Polk County.
“As we received reports of another string of tornadoes, we are saddened to hear of the devastation and loss of life due to storms in Texas. Billy Graham Rapid Response Team chaplains are on their way to the hardest-hit areas to serve the community alongside Samaritan’s Purse,” said Jack Munday, international director of the RRT. “Our thoughts and prayers are with those whose homes have been damaged and destroyed and especially for those who have experienced great loss.”
Thursday’s deployment is RRT’s fifth tornado response in the last two weeks, having gone to four different states in the southern part of the U.S. after storms on Easter Sunday.
For more information on the ministry, including videos, photos, news articles and an interactive map of former and current deployments, visit 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 450 disaster
sites across the globe, including shootings, floods, hurricanes, wildfires and
tornadoes.
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