The Rev. Franklin Graham, CEO of Samaritan’s Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, spent time in Valdosta, Georgia, on Monday with former President Donald Trump to offer help and comfort to those affected by the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene.

While the official death toll as of Monday afternoon exceeded 125, officials said hundreds more people may have died on Monday afternoon, Fox News reported.

Roads, bridges, homes and businesses have been destroyed, and many of those stranded are waiting for deliveries.

Fox Corporation begins collecting donations to benefit the American Red Cross in response to Hurricane Helene

Samaritan’s Purse operates in the states of Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee, the organization told Fox News Digital on Monday.

“This building behind us represents hundreds of thousands of people who have lost homes, businesses, friends and loved ones,” the Rev. Graham said in remarks Monday.

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“It will take an army of volunteers and people to respond, and at Samaritans’ Purse we want to always respond in Jesus’ name. We want people to know that God loves them and cares for them.”

He added: “Sometimes when a storm like this comes, people think, ‘Well, maybe God is angry with us, maybe this is His judgment?’ NO. God loves us. How do I know this? Because the Bible tells us that God loves us and cares for us.

Graham also said, as he shared with Fox News Digital, “Yes, there are storms in life, but God will see us through those storms as we put our faith and trust in His Son, Jesus Christ.”

He thanked the former president “for coming and helping bring attention to this city, this state and this region that has lost so much.”

Specialists from Samaritan’s Purse arrived Friday afternoon to begin the assessment, Fox News Digital reported.

Two disaster relief units – tractor-trailers loaded with tools and equipment – also departed Friday from North Carolina, where Samaritan’s Purse is headquartered, to serve as a base of operations for volunteer teams, the group said.

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The organization also provides disaster relief services in Western North Carolina.

A field hospital unit will be set up in the Watauga Medical Center parking lot to provide oxygen to patients who don’t have electricity at home, it said.

Crews continue to work to clear debris, restore power and supply supplies to areas affected by the storm.

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According to FOX Weather, the Category 4 hurricane made landfall in the Big Bend area of ​​Florida late Thursday evening with winds of 140 mph and a devastating storm surge.

As the storm swept across the United States, Helene left widespread destruction in its wake, from the Sunshine State to Georgia to the Carolinas and the Tennessee Valley.

Original article source: Reverend Franklin Graham and Samaritan’s Purse are helping those affected by Hurricane Helene