CHARLOTTE, N.C., March 27, 2021 – Already deployed to two locations in Alabama after last week’s severe storms, the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team (BG-RRT) has deployed crisis-trained chaplains to three additional locations (Southside and Pelham, Alabama, and Newnan, Georgia). Chaplains will offer emotional and spiritual support alongside Samaritan’s Purse after deadly tornadoes devastated the area on Thursday.
At least five people were killed in Thursday’s tornadoes and widespread damage to homes, trees and power lines was reported.
“The state of Alabama was still reeling from last week’s tornadoes and now to get hit with another destructive storm system has a lot of people hurting and overwhelmed,” said Josh Holland, assistant director of the BG-RRT. “Our crisis-trained chaplains want to be there to visit with people, allow them to share their experiences and to share the hope and peace that only God can provide.”
In addition to the five tornado deployments in Alabama and Georgia, BG-RRT chaplains are also serving after historic flooding in Breathitt County, Kentucky, and in Boulder, Colorado, after a mass shooting at a grocery store.
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 540 disaster sites across the globe, including shootings, floods, hurricanes, wildfires and tornadoes.
– 30 –
MEDIA CONTACT:
Blake Freeland
bfreeland@bgea.org
