Samaritan’s Purse President Franklin Graham Dedicates New Manufactured Homes To Storm Victims In Mississippi
(Source: Samaritan’s Purse)
SAMARITAN’S PURSE IS PROVIDING STORM-RATED MANUFACTURED HOMES TO RESIDENTS OF THREE MISSISSIPPI TOWNS AND SURROUNDING AREAS WHERE TORNADOES CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE IN LATE MARCH.
Josh Hatcher and his two children were determined to move forward in their new place – a new manufactured home in Aberdeen, Mississippi – after fire destroyed their original house in February. But about a month later, on March 24, a powerful twister wrapped their latest home around a large oak tree. Their belongings were scattered across a field and into the woods.
“It was heartbreaking, mainly because you want to do everything you can for your kids,” Josh said, describing the moment they returned to the ruins of their home. “Right there at that moment, I knew there was nothing I could do.”
Josh is finally getting some good news, though, as he was recently approved to be one of dozens of Mississippi homeowners who will soon receive a replacement manufactured home provided free of charge by Samaritan’s Purse.Josh joined Samaritan’s Purse President Franklin Graham in Amory, Mississippi, on May 19 to celebrate the brand-new manufactured homes we’re providing to families with homes irreparably damaged by the storms. Josh will receive one of our new three bedroom homes.
Nicole Pargo is one homeowner our volunteer teams helped in the days after the storm. She said the tornado struck in a flash- beginning with rapid lightning strikes and ending moments later with her huddled in a closet. Windows shattered. Her roof just tore away.
When she found out she was approved to receive a new, two bedroom home from Samantha’s Purse, she couldn’t believe it.
“I went and celebrated. I was happy,” she said. “Everything was free. I’m not used to that. “I’m not used to people giving. I’m so glad that we have angels on earth like you’all are angels.”
The Samaritan’s Purse manufactured home replacement program will provide units to homeowners without insurance or other means to replace their destroyed homes. The new manufactured home units, in two and three-bedroom configuerations, offer a plethora of enhanced features for storm safety and durability, including stronger roofing and floor joists, tempered glass, and thicker walls. They are rated for Wind Zone 111, which means they can endure wind speeds up to 110 mph – the average “mobile home” (built prior to 1976 HUD Code) was built for winds up to 70 mph. Additional enhancements include fibreglass insulation, continuous vinyl flooring, more durable decking material, and 10 times the amount of tie-downs to stabilize the homes during severe weather.
During the dedication, Pastor Justin Myers of First Assembly of God in Amory, our host church, lauded Samaritan’s Purse for our relief efforts. “Thank you for what you’ve done for us,” he said.
“Well, we give God all the glory. We thank God that we have great people,” Graham replied.
