Responding to Deadly Floods in Valencia, Spain
On October 29th, Valencia and the surrounding region received 12 inches of rain in a span of hours, causing widespread flooding. Over 200 people have died, thousands are currently without homes, and livelihoods have been lost. But as churches become vital hubs of support for their communities, hope is spreading amidst the wreckage.
Many families are still waiting to get back into their homes which are either destroyed, inaccessible, or filled with debris, mud, and sewage.
Samaritan’s Purse has been been providing essential supplies, helping restore ruined homes, and working alongside churches to support the worst affected.
Samaritan’s Purse swiftly responded to this disaster. Where homes haven’t been destroyed, the damage from mud, sewage, and water requires significant work to make them liveable again.
Our team have been distributing food, pressure washers, cleaning equipment, shovels, boots, and other supplies, as well as directly supporting local church partners to meet the needs of the worst affected. In the meantime, churches have become centres of refuge, where people can stay overnight, find food and clean water, and receive prayer.
“Empowering churches to do this work is so vitally important because they have become hubs for the community. They are also offering encouragement and prayer,” said Noemi Williams, one of the Samaritan’s Purse team.
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Pastor William’s Story
“It is true, we really survived a catastrophic occurrence,” Pastor William recounted. He leads a church in Alfafar—one of the worst-hit areas in Valencia.
“The water came into our church. It came up to our hips. Somehow, we got out of the church and went to my son’s house. But as we got there my son had to get out of his house, which got absolutely destroyed by the floods moments after. Only by God’s grace we are alive now.”
Despite their personal loss, however, Pastor William and his family were determined to get the church cleared out and cleaned up so that they could serve their community at this critical time. God opened the door for us to support their work, and now, thanks to their tireless efforts, their church is being used to serve the community with food, clean water, and prayer.
“We are so grateful to Samaritan’s Purse, who have equipped us with pressure washers, fuel, pumps, hoses, and prayer. You really are like the Good Samaritan in the Bible!” Pastor William said. “Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your work. You meet us in the midst of our stress and anxiety.”
Samaritan’s Purse has helped clear out and clean homes, schools, and churches.
Pressure washers are in high demand as they help victims properly clean their homes.
“Please, continue to pray for us, that the Lord continues to hold and strengthen us, because we see that the local community needs the help of our church. Thank you.”
If you feel moved to support our Spain response, and future international crisis responses, you can give a shelter kit or hygiene kit to people in crisis through our 2024 Gift Catalogue. Simply select Gift #10 or #11.
Donate a Hygiene Kit or Shelter Kit
Please continue to join us in praying for all those impacted as they mourn the lives that have been lost and begin to rebuild their communities. Pray for the peace and hope of Christ to fall upon the broken-hearted at this time.
Can provide all the essentials for a hygiene kit, restoring dignity to victims of crisis and showing them that the Lord has not forgotten them.
Will help meet the needs of vulnerable children after crisis, such as refugees or street children, reassuring them that God loves them.
Equips us to help displaced families settle in new countries while we also share the promise that God will be with them.
