SAMARITAN'S PURSE DEPLOYS TO CENTRAL TEXAS AFTER CATASTROPHIC FLASH FLOODS CLAIM 80+ LIVES
The international Christian relief organization deployed a Disaster Relief Unit stocked with tools and relief equipment from its Southwest Ministry Center in Coppell, Texas. Samaritan's Purse is assessing the hardest-hit areas and volunteers are ready to help families start to recover as soon as it is safe to do so.
'During a holiday weekend that was supposed to be filled with celebration, Texas families are now facing unimaginable loss after these devastating floods,' said Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan's Purse. 'Our hearts break for them. On Sunday, I joined Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem by phone from Alaska to read Scripture and pray for families who were gathered at a church in Texas awaiting word about their missing children and loved ones. Please join me in continuing to pray for all those who are grieving and for our teams on the ground who are responding in Jesus' Name.'
Samaritan's Purse will deploy alongside Rapid Response Team chaplains with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association to provide hope and comfort to families who are hurting.
Edward Graham, chief operating officer for Samaritan's Purse, will be on the ground in hard-hit Texas this week—coordinating relief efforts and sharing the love of Jesus Christ.
MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES
Based in Boone, North Carolina, Samaritan's Purse responds to physical and spiritual needs of individuals in crisis situations–especially in locations where few others are working. Led by President and CEO Franklin Graham, Samaritan's Purse works in more than 100 countries to provide aid to victims of war, disease, disaster, poverty, famine and persecution. For more information, visit SamaritansPurse.org.
View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/samaritans-purse-deploys-to-central-texas-after-catastrophic-flash-floods-claim-80-lives-302499053.html
SOURCE Samaritan's Purse
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


CBS News
3 hours ago
- CBS News
Texas National Guard continues flood response with Czech team joining effort
Kerrville, Texas – With about 100 people still missing after devastating floods, the Texas National Guard and local officials leading recovery efforts received additional international support this week when a specialized detachment from the Czech Republic arrived ready to help. Sixteen civilians and four cadaver dogs from a Czech search and rescue team landed Sunday in Texas on a U.S. military flight from Ramstein Air Base in Germany. National Guard Bureau Chief General Steve Nordhaus coordinated the team's arrival and met the team leads in person on Tuesday while he was visiting Kerrville, Texas, for updates on response efforts. "Thanks for being here, Texas and the Czech Republic were partners right from the beginning in 1993 and what just an amazing partnership," Nordhaus told the team leads at the Kerrville-Kerr County Airport. The Texas and Nebraska National Guard have since 1993 shared a military relationship with the Czech Republic as part of the National Guard Bureau's State Partnership Program that pairs states with countries to train together. There are over 100 partnerships with about 115 countries around the world, according to the National Guard, and the one with the Czech Republic was one of the first after the initiative began in 1991. The Czechs providing support in the wake of floods in Texas follows assistance the Texas National Guard gave last year when the Czech Republic experienced severe flooding. When a flood hit Ostrava in the Czech Republic in September 2024, a Texas Air National Guard unit training in Europe diverted an MQ-9 Reaper drone to Ostrava to provide aerial assessments for recovery efforts. In Texas, about 230 members of the Texas National Guard are currently supporting response efforts. According to the Texas National Guard, members of the guard rescued over 500 people in the initial 24 hours after the flooding began. About 360 of those were evacuated using UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters. During a Black Hawk flight over the Guadalupe River Tuesday, Texas Governor Greg Abbott pointed out to Nordhaus flood-impacted areas, explaining where the water rose at a terrifying speed – prompting urgent evacuations – and emphasizing how intensive the search will remain for the roughly 100 people still unaccounted for. After the flight, both Abbott and Nordhaus spoke to members of the Guard who have assisted in rescue and recovery efforts since the floods began on July 4. One of the air rescues came on July 4 when two Guard helicopters evacuated 130 children from Camp Mystic, a summer camp severely impacted by floods that led to the deaths of at least 27 campers and counselors. The 130 rescued the day of the flood by the guard were evacuated from Camp Mystic and taken to higher ground, according to Captain Connor Garrison, who led one of the aircraft and recounted the mission to Nordhaus and Abbott. "I appreciate you, I couldn't be prouder," Abbott told Garrison and other members of the Guard. The Texas National Guard is receiving support from other states like Arkansas, Arizona and North Dakota, which are providing additional personnel or equipment. For instance, North Dakota has sent down one of its own MQ-9 Reaper drones to help survey debris scattered along the still swollen Guadalupe River.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Alabama firefighters update Texas relief effort
LEANDER, TX (WKRG) — A team of fighters from Mobile, Saraland and Tuscaloosa posted one of their first updates since arriving in flood-ravaged areas of central Texas. CEO of company managing Mobile Arena indicted on federal charges A post from the Alabama Task Force One Facebook page shows several images of firefighters on the scene in the Big Sandy Creek area near Leander, Texas. Pictures show firefighters making their way across rough terrain with dogs, several downed trees, and a washed over landscape where floodwaters have receded. The post says, 'The team faces significant challenges from the terrain, heat, and humidity, but they are making considerable progress.' 1 person dead after being struck by train in Theodore: Mobile PD Members of Alabama Task Force One left Mobile Thursday and arrived in Texas Friday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Bodies of Mobile woman, granddaughter found after Texas floods, family friends devastated
UPDATE (8:30 p.m.): The bodies of Ileana and Mila Santana were recovered this morning after the Texas floods in Kerr County. Close family friends, Alan Smith-Toro and Zaida Smith, tell News 5 that even though they are devastated by the recent news, they are thankful to finally have the closure that they prayed for. 'At least there's a little closure, I guess, for them to lay their loved ones down the proper way,' said Smith-Toro. Smith-Toro told us that even in this hard time, the family is thankful that the Santanas can all be laid together peacefully now. 'Everybody's just heartbroken,' said Smith-Toro. 'The boys are still numb and kind of trying to make their adjustments on everything,' he continued. The family was making funeral and cremation arrangements today in Texas. As of now, Eddie Sr. and Ileana's funeral will be held in Puerto Rico. Camille and Mila's will be held in Texas. Smith-Toro said Eddie Jr. and Michael are taking it one day at a time, though this closure only marks the beginning of the family's grief. 'They're staying with high spirits. I know they appreciate all the love and help and support from everybody,' said Smith-Toro. 'They're going to need even more love and support going forward. I don't want to say the hard parts over with because it's not.' Smith-Toro said family and friends have been keeping up with the Santana's home in West-Mobile during this difficult time. 'My mom, neighbors and different people will go and cut grass and do things at Eddie Sr. and Ileana's. (It's) just the little things that take some of the pressure off,' said Smith-Toro. MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG) — The bodies of a Mobile woman and her granddaughter who were reported missing in the Kerr County, Texas floods have been found, according to a family friend. Alabama Tax Free Weekend: time to stock up Ileana Santana and 5-year-old Mila were found on July 15 after they went missing on July 4. According to family friends, Ileana and her husband, Eddie Sr., were visiting their son, Eddie Jr., his wife, Camille, and their granddaughter, Mila, over the Fourth of July weekend. Around 4 a.m. on July 4, the cabin that the family was staying in began to flood. Eddie Jr., the sole survivor, was able to get out of the cabin through a hole and was rescued around 8 a.m. Federal funding freeze could impact Mobile County Public Schools Camille's body was found on July 8 and Eddie Sr.'s body was found on July 11. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.