Moving Storm Victims from “I Felt Forgotten” to “Now I Have Hope!”
Stories of Survival, Strength, and Restoration
Our Canadian disaster relief team has wrapped up its work in Florida, handing off remaining work orders to our US counterpart, and leaving a legacy of God’s love.
“The best Christmas gift I will ever receive”
Samaritan’s Purse teams always make it a priority to present each homeowner with a Bible after finishing a clean-up job. But in one instance, they didn’t have the opportunity before leaving to help the next family in need.
Fortunately, chaplains from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association follow up with families whenever possible, and they were able to hand Jacob* his Bible on behalf of the volunteers who worked on his property.
He happily took it in his hands and declared, “This Bible is the best Christmas gift I will ever receive!” Inside the front cover, each volunteer had signed his or her name with the same hands that had helped mop up Jacob’s home after Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
At a different house, volunteers were having a hard time connecting with the homeowner. Stacey* would send out a friend to speak with the team instead, and it became clear that she had misconceptions about the orange-shirted volunteers. The team persevered, and Stacey began to appear and have conversations with them. Soon, conversations led to prayer, and prayer led to giving Stacey her Bible.
“In time, and with hard work, love, and compassion, the homeowner began to change her mind about us, and was so thankful for the work we did on her property,” said Canadian disaster relief specialist Andy Northup.
*Name changed
Note: This story was published Dec. 6, 2024.
“It’s just not humanly possible”
Disaster relief deployments are filled with God moments—times when He shows up in surprising ways to meet unexpected needs. One volunteer, whose role was to lead groups working on storm victims’ properties, described how she saw Christ at work.
“God always gave me the right volunteers at the right time,” she said. “If I needed a toilet removed, electrical work, chainsaw work—you name it—that very day, a person with that skill was on my team.”
She continued: “More than that, I had times when I needed someone to ‘stand’ with a homeowner, and sure enough, there was someone on my team who had wrestled with the same problem, the same loss. Only God could line it up—it’s just not humanly possible.”
Some of the ‘right volunteers at the right time’ have been youth from local churches and schools. “Through the youth, we have seen compassionate care given to homeowners, and prayers that come from a deep well in the hearts of this generation,” said Andy. “Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12).
*Name changed
Note: This story was published Dec. 6, 2024.
A Legacy of God’s Love
God has blessed our hurricane response in Florida through your donations and prayers, and the hard work of our dedicated volunteers. Thank you for supporting this ministry in Jesus’ Name.
“Our teams pointed people beyond the darkness around them, to see the light of hope that is in Christ,” said Andy. “Because of that, many homeowners have come to faith.”
Note: This story was published Dec. 6, 2024.
“A long night on death’s door”
As a team of Samaritan’s Purse volunteers got to work on one home, a neighbor popped by to see if some of them could help with a leaking water line. Several volunteers accompanied Paul* over to his property, and as they did, they heard his story of survival.
With Samaritan’s Purse Canada’s Disaster Relief Unit (DRU) in the background, a large group of volunteers prepares for a day of work by praying first. We’re grateful to Calvary Chapel in St. Petersburg, Florida, where our DRU has been stationed since our response began.
Paul had decided to ride out Hurricane Milton as it descended on his home in Florida. But he was shocked that in minutes, floodwaters from the massive storm surge rose to his chin. He shared how he spent the night with his head tipped back so he could breathe. Miraculously, the water eventually receded, leaving Paul incredulous that he’d survived the night.
In light of his close call, our volunteers spoke with him about their faith in Jesus Christ. And later, when a chaplain dropped by to visit Paul, they led him in a prayer of salvation.
“A long night on death’s door made him think about his life and what was important,” said Andy Northup, a Samaritan’s Purse Canada disaster relief specialist. “The team could have said, ‘Sorry, we cannot deviate from our agenda,’ but because they did, this man’s life has changed forever!”
Helping Neighbors Forgive and Forget
Following terrible crises, God uses the presence of Samaritan’s Purse volunteers and disaster relief experts as a healing balm for hurting people. Hearts are softened toward Him, and toward each other—and that was the case for neighbors Dan* and Shelley.*
One volunteer team had been working on Shelley’s home, and presented her with a Bible before they moved on from her property. The team had prepared the way for Rapid Response Team chaplains from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association to take the next step in ministering to her.
What a homeowner alone could do in months, our groups of volunteers do in hours. Praise God for each volunteer, and his or her heart to serve in Jesus’ Name!
As the chaplains spoke with a tearful Shelley, her neighbor walked over. While one chaplain led Shelley to Christ, the other learned from Dan that there had been a long-standing conflict between the two homeowners. Chaplains were able to mediate, and soon Shelley and Dan forgave each other. The two hugged, and a new era of peace and good will began. Praise God for the Gospel at work!
Clinging to Jesus Through Heartbreaking Loss
As volunteers pulled up to one property, they noticed a child’s swing hanging from a tree in the yard. The group began their work, and as the day progressed, they got to know the homeowner, Sharon,* a little better. They chatted with her at breaks, over lunch, and while they were cleaning up her house. In time, they learned that the swing had belonged to her grandchild who had passed away.
The generosity of our supporters keeps our volunteers equipped with the necessary tools for each disaster relief job—from chainsaws to trolleys.
“She said she just could not bear the idea of taking down the swing,” said Andy—and amazingly it was spared in the monster storms.
“The hurricanes, while bothersome, were nothing like the loss of her little granddaughter,” Andy added. “She said Jesus has held her close through it all, and the Samaritan’s Purse team was just another example of God’s love and care for her.”
*Name changed
Note: This story was published Nov. 21.
Reaching out to storm victims “during some of the worst times in their lives”
Volunteer crews and Canadian disaster relief specialists continue to touch the lives of hurting homeowners—from the atheist to the elderly—near Tampa Bay, Florida.
“It was a day they will never forget”
When volunteers show up for a day of disaster relief work, they never know what surprising moments God has in store. As one team served a 90-year-old couple whose home had been hit by Hurricane Milton, it became clear that the pair had a deep faith in Jesus Christ—and not only them, but also many of their loved ones who were visiting that day.
When the work was finished, family members gathered around as Samaritan’s Purse volunteers presented Ronnie* and Elsa* with a Bible signed by all of them. As the couple was gifted God’s Word, the entire group broke out in worship songs—praising the Lord for His goodness in the midst of hardship.
A homeowner receives a Bible signed by the Samaritan’s Purse volunteers who helped clean up her hurricane-stricken house in Florida.“The homeowners said it was a day they will never forget, and it was the same for the volunteer team!” said Andy Northup, the Canadian disaster relief specialist who is leading Samaritan’s Purse Canada’s response in Florida.
“Dozens of homeowners have both seen and heard the Gospel this past week,” Andy added. “God is so compassionate and full of grace—and I would say a large spoonful of humor.”
God warmed the heart of one homeowner who described himself as an atheist. Over the course of two days—with Samaritan’s Purse volunteers and Billy Graham chaplains coming and going from his property—he went from refusing a Bible and prayer, to receiving both with gratitude. Praise God!
“Today I was going to end it all, and then you called”
Emotions can run high on disaster deployments, and this day was no different. A group of volunteers was waiting to hit the road, ready to spend the day mudding out two homes, but both jobs were cancelled last-minute.
The team leader frantically called one, two, three more homeowners, but with no success. Finally he reached Tracy* who was ready for the team to work on her property right away.
As the team leader spoke with Tracy, he was shocked to hear her say, “Today I was going to end it all, and then you called.” With weak knees, he recalled how two cancelled jobs and several unanswered phone calls had led them to her that day. It was a powerful lesson in Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”
Staff and volunteers begin the day with prayer, asking God to direct their steps and conversations as they serve storm victims.Please pray for Tracy, and other homeowners who are at their wits’ end dealing with sopping wet drywall, mold issues, and storm debris. Thank you for supporting disaster relief efforts in Jesus’ Name.
Text of Thanks
Homeowners are often overwhelmed by the Christ-like kindness of Samaritan’s Purse disaster relief volunteers. Likewise, our volunteers are often blown away by the gratitude of the property owners they have the honor of helping. This week, our team received two text messages of thanksgiving shared below:
“I just wanted to thank all of you again for the hard work you did at our house earlier this week. It has been such a weight off our shoulders to have that tree cut down. I wear a prosthesis, and I am not always steady on it and I was afraid to try to walk around the yard, but now I am able to safely walk around. This has meant so much to us…Just remember how much it means to all the people you help during some of the worst times in their lives. Thank you for everything.”
Disaster relief work includes removing flood-damaged drywall and lumber, spraying to prevent mold, cutting down fallen trees, and removing other debris.
“I want to thank everyone for the work they did, the Bible you gave me, and the follow-up that the chaplains also did. What a beautiful, beautiful thing that you did for me…God bless you all with loving arms. May the light of Jesus Christ surround all of you and protect you forever and a day.”
Behind every volunteer is someone like you who is praying and giving toward these efforts—thank you.
*Name changed
Note: This story was published Nov. 18.
An Orange Wave of Hope and New Life in Christ
Alex joyfully receives a Bible signed by our volunteers. We praise God that Alex trusted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
Dozens of orange-shirted volunteers in St. Petersburg, Fla.—where our Canadian Disaster Relief Unit is deployed—cleaned the flooded home of Alex Apeidra, a widowed father of four. Alex lives without legs or hands due to a surgery complication.
An army of orange shirts work in Alex’s home.
When Hurricane Helene struck, 16 inches of water poured into his small home. It was the first time Alex’s house had flooded in 47 years. “I lost everything,” he said. “It’s a catastrophe.” Three of Alex’s adult children, who live blocks away, also had homes devastated. “We’re all in trouble,” Alex told us.
But our army of volunteers gave Alex hope. “I’m sure glad you guys are here. That’s the best thing that could have happened to me,” he replied. As Alex watched the team work, he saw something even better—God’s love. “I’m not real into the church, but this has gotten me believing in a lot of things that I didn’t believe in before,” he said. We praise God that Alex trusted Jesus in repentance and faith!
Please continue praying for Alex, his family, and so many hurting Florida residents who will need our support for months to come.
Our team prays with Alex as they finish work on his home.
Note: This story was published Nov. 7.
“When we are busy working in the home, God is busy working in the homeowner”
Four weeks after Hurricanes Helene and Milton pummelled Florida with torrential rain and 285-kilometer winds, Samaritan’s Purse Canada continues to lead volunteers in clean-up efforts that point people to Jesus Christ.
Answered Prayer For A New Bible
The astonished look on Julia’s* face said it all. Just that morning, she’d prayed to God for a new Bible, and now—hours later—she was being handed one.
Inside the cover were the signatures of several Samaritan’s Purse volunteers who’d been cleaning up her damaged home. Whenever a disaster relief team finishes a job, they present a Bible to the homeowner as a token of God’s love.
Canadian disaster relief specialist Andy Northup explained how they didn’t expect to make the trek to Julia’s house that day, but circumstances were such that they traveled the distance to her doorstep.
“We had 800 work orders at the time,” he said. “The team should not have had to drive too far for work, but God in His wisdom, love, and care delivered a Bible to this lady who had cast her cares upon Him that morning.”
God is using your support and prayers to reach thousands of people like Julia. One volunteer said it well: “When we are busy working in the home, God is busy working in the homeowner.”
Note: This story was published Nov. 5.
“Today Salvation Has Come To This House”
Chainsaws roared in Mary’s* backyard. Hurricane Milton had torn apart trees on her property, and Samaritan’s Purse volunteers were there to clear debris.
Mary was quiet, but appreciative as the team finished the job and then presented her with a Bible. Little did they know that God was preparing her heart through their acts of service.
When chaplains from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association arrived later that day, they shared the Gospel with Mary and she responded.
“Turns out she was completely floored by this group of orange-shirted Christians who worked so hard for free,” said Andy. “The Spirit of God used the team to open this lady’s heart to be led to faith in Christ!”
Through your gifts, disaster relief volunteers represent Jesus as they’re in and out of the homes of hurting people. And every so often they get to say like He did, “Today salvation has come to this house” (Luke 19:9).
Note: This story was published Nov. 5.
Walls Come Crumbling Down
When hurricanes and other disasters collide with people’s lives, walls can come down in more ways than one.
In Florida, one of our volunteer teams spent two days helping a family that adhered to a different religion. It was eye-opening for them to witness a team of Christians laboring to make their home safe. And as the hours progressed, walls came down.
“When the Bible presentation was about to take place, the wife broke down in tears, and then so did her husband, and then the team,” said Andy.
For a woman who had never seen her husband cry before, the impact was great. She said she’d start reading the Bible, and so would her children.
“They are not sure what to do with Jesus, but we know He really shook their world in the last couple of days,” said Andy. “The team planted and watered and we can trust God will make it grow, ‘for we are God’s fellow workers’” (1 Corinthians 3:9).
Note: This story was published Nov. 5.
Love arrives after Hurricanes Helene and Milton
Samaritan’s Purse Canada disaster relief specialists lead dedicated volunteer teams to offer love, hope and help to hurting Florida residents.
The calls flood into our Canadian Disaster Relief Unit deployed to the Tampa area of Florida. Ever since the double hit of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, the phones have not stopped ringing.
Homeowners continue to call. Families desperately need help—many are overwhelmed by the daunting destruction caused by dual, violent storms.
Our dedicated team of phone volunteers offers gentle comfort and assurance—we will be there, and we will not leave you. As of mid-October, over 700 families have called for help, and the phones keep ringing.
In answer to the wall of water that swamped homes across Tampa Bay, each morning, an orange tide of volunteers rises early to help. They load trucks with tools and safety gear, pray for God’s strength, and go out in Jesus’ Name.
“Just the fact that you are here is an answer to prayer,” said Sharon as a team of volunteers put a tarp on her shredded roof.
Pray for the millions of families still reeling from Hurricanes Helene and Milton. As our six-site response continues throughout the Southeast (three in North Carolina, two in Florida, and one in Georgia), pray that our volunteers will show hurting homeowners the love and hope of Jesus Christ. As of Oct. 14, more than 1,300 homeowners had been helped so far between these eight relief bases.
Note: This story was published Oct. 15.
Samaritan’s Purse Canada in Florida After Devastating Hurricanes Milton and Helene.
One of our Disaster Relief Units from Ontario arrived in St. Petersburg, Florida, on Friday. Samaritan’s Purse continues to work across the Southeastern United States.
A Samaritan’s Purse Canada relief team arrived in St. Petersburg in Florida earlier today, less than two days after Hurricane Milton tore through the state. Before Milton, city residents were already facing the devastation of Hurricane Helene just two weeks earlier.
Storm surge, violent winds, and torrential rain damaged tens of thousands of homes and left millions of people without power.
Our team was already working in St. Petersburg before Hurricane Milton struck and caused mass evacuations. We are now continuing to help hurting families by cleaning flooded homes, tarping damaged roofs, removing debris, and sharing the hope that only Jesus can bring in crisis.
Your prayers and support are critical. “People here have been through so much loss in these past weeks,” said Andy Northup, leading the Canadian team. The destruction is massive. Families will need help for a long time to recover. We are glad to be here in Jesus’ Name and remind residents that God has not forgotten them.”
Note: This story was published Oct. 11.
As the hurricane hits the Gulf Coast of Florida, Samaritan’s Purse is prepared to respond in Jesus’ Name.
Milton unleashed torrential rain and ferocious winds across Florida after making landfall Wednesday evening, Oct. 9, near Siesta Key, south of Sarasota. The deadly and powerful storm, which entered the state as a Category 3 hurricane and left as a Category 1 on Thursday morning, spawned tornadoes and caused severe flooding. The Tampa area, spared a direct hit from the eyewall of the storm, nonetheless received 9 inches of rain over a 3-hour period on Wednesday. Millions are without power. St. Lucie County has reports of damage from tornadoes.
Samaritan’s Purse has assessors on the ground today.
Hurricane Relief Will Soon Resume in Florida
To ensure the safety of our volunteers and staff, Samaritan’s Purse has suspended all operations at our Helene relief locations in Perry and Tampa/St. Petersburg, Florida. Work is scheduled to resume later this week.
Shortly after Helene swamped the Big Bend region of Florida in late September, Samaritan’s Purse deployed two Disaster Relief Units to the Sunshine State. Volunteer teams have since been serving devastated homeowners by clearing strewn debris, cutting fallen trees, and tarping damaged roofs—all the while sharing the love of Jesus Christ.
Please, join us in praying for those in the path of Hurricane Milton. May God provide peace and safety for those enduring this latest storm.
Note: This story was published Oct. 9 and has been revised as of Oct. 10.
Samaritan’s Purse is responding in six locations across four states after Hurricane Helene devastated parts of the Southeast.
Helene tore a deadly path through the mountains of western North Carolina, dumping extreme rainfall and causing catastrophic flash flooding. Several locations received 20 inches of rain or more over a four-day period. Some towns are in ruins. There are toppled trees everywhere; roads, bridges, and driveways are washed out; homes and businesses have been destroyed by flooding and landslides. Many homes remain without power or running water.
We are providing relief throughout Watauga County, North Carolina—home to Samaritan’s Purse international headquarters in the town of Boone. The response also extends to include neighboring counties in North Carolina and eastern Tennessee.
So many of our neighbors are hurting. We’re thankful that we can respond and help in Jesus’ Name.
Southwest of Boone, rivers raged outside their banks causing widespread destruction in and around Asheville, North Carolina. Our relief response there extends around Buncombe County, which includes Asheville, Black Mountain, Montreat, and Swannanoa. On Oct. 7, we will open a third base in the hard-hit town of Burnsville, to include Mitchell and Yancey Counties, also in western North Carolina
At our sites across North Carolina, we are doing tree work, mudding out homes, removing debris, and tarping roofs. Heavy equipment is being used to clear private driveways and private roads. In some areas, we are also offering water and potable water to the community.
“Our hearts break for all those who have been devastated by Hurricane Helene. People have lost their homes, roads are washed out, millions are without power, and some have even lost loved ones—so many of our neighbors are hurting. We’re thankful that we can respond and help in Jesus’ Name. Please pray for these families and for our teams that are working in some of the hardest-hit areas across the Southeast.” —Franklin Graham
Samaritan’s Purse is coordinating relief flights to help those in desperate need throughout the flooded mountain towns of North Carolina.
Numerous communities in the rugged mountains of North Carolina and far eastern Tennessee are cut off by Helene’s devastation. Samaritan’s Purse is coordinating airlifts to some of these locations—delivering basic necessities to those in dire straits using our own helicopter as well as the aircraft of other organizations. We praise God that, through dozens of flights so far, we have been able to deliver food, water, medical kits, and other relief to those isolated by the storm.
We also are responding to the destruction caused by Helene in Florida and Georgia. We have U.S. Disaster Relief bases in Perry, Florida, where the hurricane made landfall with Category 4 strength, and in Tampa where thousands of houses are flooded. South Georgia was also slammed. We have set up a base in Valdosta. Our locations in Florida will close Sunday, Oct. 6, in advance of Tropical Storm Milton. They are scheduled to reopen on Oct. 11.
Volunteers are urgently needed in all of our locations. Please continue to pray for all those affected by the storm and for our teams as they serve as the hands and feet of Jesus.
More than 225 storm-related deaths have been reported so far. Katrina is the only hurricane with a higher mainland U.S. death toll over the past 50 years. Please pray for families who have lost loved ones.
