Historic Flooding: Billy Graham Chaplains Respond After Hurricane Debby Devastates Georgia

Hurricane Debby tore through the eastern United States last week, leaving a path of destruction. The storm brought relentless rain and fierce winds, claiming eight lives and leaving devastation behind. Savannah, Georgia, bore the brunt of this natural disaster, with over 20 inches of rain submerging the city. The Ogeechee River swelled beyond its limits, breaching four dams in Bulloch County and drowning entire neighborhoods.

In the aftermath, as the waters began to recede, the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team (BG-RRT) moved swiftly. Their chaplains descended upon Savannah, not with tools for rebuilding, but with words and prayers for healing. Their mission: to offer emotional and spiritual support to those grappling with the storm’s aftermath.

“Officials have called the flooding from Hurricane Debby in this area ‘historic,’” Franklin Graham shared on social media. The situation is dire; first responders saved 150 people from flooded homes, yet the challenges remain steep. Graham urged prayers for the affected families, many of whom now face the daunting task of rebuilding their lives.

Josh Holland, the international director of BG-RRT, emphasized the chaplains’ role in providing solace to those in need. “Hurricane Debby wreaked havoc on many communities along the East Coast,” he said. “Our crisis-trained chaplains will be there to pray with and listen to those affected by this storm in the coming days, to remind them as the book of Isaiah says, that God will be with them as they ‘pass through deep waters.’”

The chaplains aren’t working alone. They coordinate efforts with Samaritan’s Purse, a humanitarian aid organization, ensuring that physical and spiritual needs are met as Georgia begins the long road to recovery.

In the shadow of this tragedy, faith and compassion emerge as the bedrock for those navigating the storm’s aftermath.