CHARLOTTE, N.C., Feb. 24, 2021 – Unprecedented winter storms swept through Texas last week, causing significant damage across the state. The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team (BG-RRT) has deployed chaplains to provide emotional and spiritual care alongside Samaritan’s Purse in Austin and Houston.
Accumulated ice downed trees and power lines, leaving many without electricity, heat, and clean water as temperatures dipped into the single digits.
“We have a long history of ministry in Texas and it would be hard to find another state in recent years that has gone through as many natural disasters with hurricanes, tornadoes and now this unprecedented ice storm,” said Josh Holland, assistant director of the BG-RRT. “Even beyond the physical damage to homes and property, we know that the emotional toll that these storms took on people is significant as they spent extended periods of time without power and heat. Our crisis-trained chaplains will be in Austin and Houston to talk and pray with people who are recovering after these tragic winter storms and to let them know that even in the most difficult times that God loves them and is with them.”
The BG-RRT is also deployed to Marion County, Oregon, after an ice storm hit the Pacific Northwest.
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.
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Media Contact:
Blake Freeland
bfreeland@bgea.org
