Franklin Graham’s Samaritan’s Purse deployed Disaster Relief Unit #3 to Appleton, Wisconsin, less than 24 hours after an EF3 tornado devastated the region on July 27, bringing volunteer teams to help affected families recover from the destructive twister.
The tornado struck Appleton and surrounding communities of Menasha and Neenah around noon on July 27, with estimated peak winds of 140 mph. The twister tore through residential neighborhoods for more than 20 minutes, destroying homes, uprooting trees, and leaving thousands without power before dissipating over Lake Winnebago, according to the National Weather Service.
Samaritan’s Purse, the international humanitarian organization led by Franklin Graham, responded immediately to the crisis. The relief organization’s Disaster Relief Unit #3—a tractor-trailer equipped with supplies and equipment—arrived in Wisconsin on Wednesday, July 29, and established operations at Alliance Church of Appleton, which also served as the base for Samaritan’s Purse’s response to tornadoes in nearby New London earlier in 2026.
Volunteer teams are now serving affected homeowners by helping recover personal items, cleaning up debris, cutting fallen trees, and tarping damaged roofs. Chaplains from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association Rapid Response Team accompany the volunteer crews to provide spiritual encouragement and share the Gospel with families experiencing sudden loss.
Samaritan’s Purse has established a pattern of rapid tornado response across the United States. In May 2026, the organization deployed to Mississippi after EF2 and EF3 tornadoes devastated Lincoln and Lamar Counties. In 2023, following deadly tornadoes in Kentucky, Samaritan’s Purse built New Hope Acres, a 60-home subdivision for families who lost their homes, demonstrating the organization’s commitment to long-term recovery alongside immediate relief efforts. Since 1998, when Samaritan’s Purse equipped its first Disaster Relief Unit, staff and volunteers have helped more than 84,000 families impacted by natural disasters, according to the organization’s fact sheet.
The Wisconsin tornado marked the fourth EF3 tornado to strike Wisconsin in 2026, the highest number of tornadoes rated EF3 or stronger to hit the state in a single year, according to CNN reporting. Governor Tony Evers declared a state of emergency for the affected region, and relief organizations including Convoy of Hope have also mobilized to assist families in the Fox Valley.
Sources
- Samaritan’s Purse — deployment details, timeline, volunteer activities, and historical relief statistics
- National Weather Service — tornado classification, timing, wind speeds, and duration
- CNN — tornado classification context and 2026 Wisconsin tornado frequency data
- Facebook/Franklin Graham — confirmation of Samaritan’s Purse leadership and tornado response announcement
