Samaritan's Purse sends its Disaster Relief Unit to Windsor, Ontario in response to flooding

Christian disaster relief organization will recruit volunteers & help with flood recovery

CALGARY, Oct. 4, 2016 /CNW/ - Samaritan's Purse Canada has sent one of its specially equipped Disaster Relief Units  to Windsor, Ontario and will recruit volunteers to clean-up homes in response to flooding. The city of Windsor and neighboring town of Tecumseh have welcomed the assistance.

"We have been monitoring the situation to gather information about the damage, and we are in contact with churches and other non-government partners in the area to provide a coordinated response," said Brent Davis, Samaritan's Purse Canada's response director.

The Christian relief and development organization has driven its southern Ontario-based Disaster Relief Unit to Windsor and is now meeting with local homeowners and recruiting and training volunteers.

The Disaster Relief Unit is a tractor trailer outfitted with essential disaster recovery equipment including generators, pumps, hand tools, and safety gear for volunteers. It also serves as a volunteer coordination center, and is equipped with a self-contained office, communications system, and other supplies.

Environment Canada says 200 millimeters of rain fell in the Windsor region in a 24-hour span Thursday, more than double the 94 mm of rain Windsor-Essex usually receives in all of September.  As a result, thousands of homes have been flood-damaged in Windsor and Tecumseh.

Anyone who needs assistance or wants to volunteer to clean-up flooded homes can call 1-866-628-6565. "We are very happy to have Samaritan's Purse come to assist our residents," said Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens. "Their long experience with Canadian disaster relief will be a big help to people struggling to recover from this flood."

Samaritan's Purse has other Disaster Relief Units based in New Brunswick and in Calgary.

In recent years, the non-profit organization has responded to a wide variety of natural disasters including the catastrophic 2016 wildfire in Fort McMurray, Alberta, flooding in New Brunswick, Quebec, southern Alberta and in British Columbia. Its "sister" organization, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association of Canada, often helps by providing specially trained chaplains to comfort and pray with disaster victims. Billy Graham Rapid Response Team chaplains will be in Windsor and Tecumseh.

Samaritan's Purse also responds to international disasters including the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, the 2011 earthquake/tsunami in Japan, Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines in 2013, and the 2015 earthquake in Nepal. The Calgary-based charity is continuing to assist in Nepal.

Donations Needed
To support Samaritan's Purse's disaster relief efforts, please visit SamaritansPurse.ca (click on "Donate") or call 1-800-663-6500.

About Samaritan's Purse Canada
Samaritan's Purse is a Christian relief and development organization that takes its name from Jesus Christ's biblical story of the Good Samaritan. Like that Good Samaritan, who found a beaten man and helped restore him, we aid victims of war, disease, disaster, poverty, famine, and persecution. Besides disaster relief, our work includes collecting and distributing gift-filled Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes, providing safe water, teaching vocational skills, and providing agricultural supplies and training to families in the developing world. Learn more at SamaritansPurse.ca.

SOURCE Samaritan's Purse Canada

Media Inquiries: Frank King, News Media Relations Manager, Samaritan's Purse Canada, 403-990-0161 (mobile) or [email protected]