Samaritan’s Purse on the Ground in Texas Responding to Dallas-Area Tornadoes

BOONE, N.C., April 4, 2012—Samaritan's Purse is responding to help Texas tornado victims whose homes were damaged or destroyed by storms that hit the Dallas/Fort Worth area on Tuesday, April 3. A Samaritan's Purse assessment team deployed within hours of the storms and is working with local officials and church partners in the affected areas to see how the organization can help the devastated communities. The team is also meeting with church partners in Arlington and Lancaster to find strategic sites to serve as Samaritan’s Purse command centers for coordinating volunteer efforts.

Additional staff and a convoy of heavy equipment and vehicles departed from the Samaritan's Purse U.S. Disaster Relief headquarters in North Wilkesboro, N.C., early this morning. The convoy of heavy equipment includes two disaster relief tractor-trailer units loaded with tarps, chainsaws, generators and other emergency supplies; two flat-bed trailer trucks carrying skid steer loaders to help with the clearing of heavy debris; and four additional trucks. The convoy is set to arrive around midnight tonight.

INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITIES

• INTERVIEW via Skype, Phone or In Person

◦ Tony McNeil, Samaritan's Purse program manager who is on the ground managing relief efforts in Lancaster, Texas

◦ Tommy Belisario, Samaritan's Purse program manager who is on the ground coordinating and managing relief efforts in Arlington, Texas

Last month, Samaritan's Purse responded to tornadoes in Henryville and Madison, Ind.; Harrisburg, Ill.; West Liberty, Ky.; and Charlotte, N.C. The organization coordinated volunteer crews who worked to patch roofs, cut trees, clear debris and assist some 240 households in their greatest time of need.

Samaritan's Purse is a North Carolina-based international Christian relief and evangelism organization headed by Franklin Graham that responds to disasters and other emergencies across the nation and around the world. Last year, Samaritan's Purse helped more than 3,200 households affected by storms in 10 states through the efforts of more than 20,000 volunteers.

To volunteer with Samaritan's Purse, go to www.spvolunteernetwork.org. Donations to help storm victims can be made at www.samaritanspurse.org.

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CCONTACT: Karina Petersen 828.278.1081 kpetersen@samaritan.org