Samaritan’s Purse is airlifting its DC-8 cargo plane stocked with critical supplies to the Bahamas after Hurricane Dorian pummeled the island—leaving thousands of people without basic necessities.
The first plane load includes emergency shelter material, household water filters and two community water filtration units specially designed to turn saltwater into drinking water.
“Samaritan’s Purse has been watching and preparing to respond to Hurricane Dorian. We are loading our DC-8 with supplies that we plan to take down as soon the storm clears, and it’s safe to land,” said Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan’s Purse.
“Families in the Bahamas are suffering and millions of others are bracing for Dorian’s impact as the storm continues to move. Please join me in praying for everyone affected by this hurricane, and for our teams as we respond in Jesus’ Name, ”continued Graham.
The storm’s slow crawl toward the East Coast persists, but most forecasting models indicate that the eye of the storm will not make landfall. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) projects Dorian will turn north and curl back out into the Atlantic. Yet, only a slight shift in the official forecast would bring the center of the storm closer to the coast according to the NHC.
While the eye may not make landfall, if its current projected path holds, the East Coast — from Florida at least through North Carolina — will still feel the damaging effects of the wind, rain and storm surge.
“Life-threatening storm surges and dangerous, hurricane-force winds are expected along portions of the Florida east coast through mid-week, and storm surge and hurricane warnings are in effect,” the NHC posted on its website.
As the N.C.-based organization responds internationally, the U.S. disaster relief teams are ready to mobilize.
Tractor-trailers known as Disaster Relief Units are packed with chainsaws, generators, tools and supplies; key personnel are standing by to begin assessments immediately after the storm passes; and connections have been made with local officials and church partners in areas that may be damaged.
Southern Baptist Disaster Relief (SBDR) volunteer teams have also been activated.
“Several SBDR teams from across the nation will be headed toward the coastline and will be equipped to respond to any situation Dorian leaves in the aftermath,” said Sam Porter national director of SBDR with the North American Mission Board (NAMB). “We will be there to serve survivors in their recovery.”
— CNJ staff report
BP news was used in this report.