Rapid Response Team Deploys to Louisville

Chaplains serving alongside Samaritan's Purse

August 9, 2009 - The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team (RRT) deployed August 9 to Louisville, KY, where intense thunderstorms have caused major flooding and damaged hundreds of homes.

Torrential rain pelted Louisville August 5 when a strong thunderstorm — also packing hail and high winds — stalled over the area. Parts of the city received three inches of rain for two straight hours. The downpour was so intense that the airport received an inch of rain in 15 minutes.

RRT chaplains are working alongside a team from Samaritan's Purse. Staff and volunteers began helping home owners Monday afternoon, removing mud, debris and belongings from affected houses.

They will be working in a 10-15 block radius of Carlisle Avenue Baptist Church, where homes were flooded with up to four feet of rain water. The church was a former collection center for Operation Christmas Child.

Please pray for the people of Louisville who are dealing with the flooding, and for the chaplains as they attempt to bring hope to the victims of the storm.