Contact: Erik Ogren, Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, 704-577-2109, eogren@bgea.org

CHARLOTTE, N.C., April 19, 2011 /Christian Newswire/ -- The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team of crisis-trained chaplains is being dispatched to four areas of North Carolina that have been hit hard by the tornadoes that roared through the state over the weekend. More than 20 people were killed in eastern North Carolina, with more than 100 injured and tens of millions of dollars in damage, according to news reports. 

The chaplains will be working in and around the areas of Raleigh, Fayetteville, Sanford and Windsor, N.C. Windsor is the county seat of the devastated Bertie County. This marks the second deployment to Windsor in seven months, following a deployment last October after floods from Tropical Storm Nicole swamped the town of 3,000.

The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team is deploying in coordination with Samaritan's Purse, the international Christian relief organization headed by Franklin Graham, who is also president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.

"All of us have been stunned at how quickly homes, possessions, businesses -- and most tragically, precious lives -- have been lost. In the blink of an eye, so many people have been plunged into grief and crisis," said Preston Parrish, executive vice president of ministry at BGEA. "Our hearts ache with the victims of this storm right here in our home state, and we are working to come alongside them with the hope and comfort of Christ."

The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team is a nationwide network of chaplains across 40 states that are specifically trained to deal with crisis situations. Since the ministry was launched in 2002, it has deployed following more than 100 natural and man-made disasters, including hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, fires and shootings. For more information on the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team, visit www.billygraham.org/rrt or www.facebook.com/BGRapidResponseTeam.

NOTE: Those wishing to help support the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team's deployment in North Carolina may use their cell phone to text "RRT" to 85944 to make a $10 donation.