BOONE, N.C. — Bruce Poss remembers deploying years ago.

"Volunteered until 2009 and worked with another organization for five years before coming to Samaritan's Purse," Poss said.

 

What You Need To Know

Samaritan's Purse volunteers are deploying to areas affected by last week's tornadoes

Bruce Poss, North American ministries director, helps with mobilizing relief efforts

Clay Steelman has deployed to Arkansas

 

He worked to make sure as many people ate as possible during disasters. He misses deploying. It's something he held close to his heart and did for decades. Poss recently became the North American ministries director. Now, he helps with mobilizing staff.

"These disasters will take months if not years to recover from. It's nice to be on the beginning of that," Poss said.

Volunteers have everything they need to respond at a moment's notice to a natural disaster. Trucks are filled with tools, and they have enough to fix anything. They also have Bibles to give out to every family.

 

Related

'Doing what we can': Raleigh blood donation center helps tornado victims

In Kentucky, Biden says federal gov. will pay for 100% of initial recovery

'Destruction everywhere.' Crews search for the missing after devastating tornadoes

 

On Saturday, trucks left their location in Wilkesboro and headed to areas like Arkansas and Kentucky to help.

"They are saying 200 miles they were on the ground — that's a very rare occurence," Poss said. 

Clay Steelman was on one of those trucks. He is in Arkansas. 

"There's trees laying on homes. There's homes that have been shifted off foundations. There are several homes that have to be tarped. Windows have been blown out," Steelman said.

Steelman said this tornado is especially hard because of all the Christmas decorations under the debris.

If you would like to help Samaritan's Purse, you can visit the group's website.