The death toll from Hurricane Helene rose to at least 133 Monday and is likely to rise higher with at least 600 unaccounted for, according to state and federal officials. The storm caused widespread devastation across large swaths of the U.S. Southeast over the weekend, and rescue efforts are currently ongoing in multiple states, while millions are without power or cell service.

In the mountain city of Asheville, N.C., at least 35 people were killed as rescuers struggled to reach the isolated area. The Associated Press reported Monday that “supplies were being airlifted to the region,” with Buncombe County Manager Avril Pinder stating that her staff “has been making every request possible to the state for support.” Most roads to the town have been washed away by floodwaters or are blocked by mudslides. The state was hit with the worst flooding in a century, with an estimated two feet of rainfall in some areas.

Deaths have also occurred in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and Virginia. Georgia Governor Brian Kemp (R) reported that most of the 200,000 residents of Augusta are currently without power. South Carolina experienced its deadliest tropical storm since 1989, with at least 30 fatalities reported so far in the state.

The town of Perry, Florida found itself near the eye of the hurricane on Thursday night, leaving widespread damage in its wake. “We have power. We don’t have electricity,” remarked Marie Ruttinger, a parishioner at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Perry. “Our God has power. That’s for sure.”

Disaster relief organizations such as Samaritan’s Purse are swiftly coming to the aid of those affected by the storm. On Monday, Edward Graham, chief operating officer for Samaritan’s Purse, joined “Washington Watch with Tony Perkins” to discuss what his organization is doing on the ground, including in their own backyard of Boone, N.C.

“I was just across the street at an employee’s house,” he remarked. “… We grew up in the same church and [the storm] completely destroyed [the] bottom floors of their homes … and we’ve got a lot of employees with homes like that. … Our headquarters [are] here, but we’re already [out] volunteering. … [W]e’re also set up in Asheville [where] my grandfather’s ministry started. [The] Cove, the Billy Graham Training Center, is there. So we have volunteers that are housed there, and they’re already going out. We’re [also] in two places in Florida, Tampa and Perry. And then we’re also in Valdosta, Georgia. … So the volunteers are already going out and we’re getting after it. But this one’s a little different because it hits home.”

As to what the public can do to help those in need, Graham encouraged prayer and volunteer work.

“I’m a firm believer in the power of prayer,” he underscored. “I’m here today and I’m a product of prayer. [I]f you [are] interest[ed], I’d really love for you to volunteer. We have so many locations. We have thousands of work orders that come out of this and all these locations. So if you live somewhere nearby or you’re wanting to travel, go and sign up at our website at SamaritansPurse.org, or you can go to SPvolunteer.org and you can get on there and it will show you how to get involved in these locations.”

Graham went on to share about the experiences of those who survive storms and those who volunteer to help them.

“There’s also a lot of survivor’s guilt,” he noted. “So when volunteers get to go out and help their neighbor, that maybe lost everything — it’s part of that process, being able to talk to them. But these homeowners are going to realize they’re not forsaken. They’re not forgotten about. God was not angry with them. God loves them. He loved them so much, he sent his only son. And that’s why Samaritan’s Purse goes [in] is to share the love of Christ. It’s not to do good work. We want to do great work and have great quality equipment, but it’s to share the gospel, and that’s what we appreciate — the opportunity.”

“This one hurts,” Graham acknowledged. “They all do. This one’s a little special and personal to us at Samaritan’s Purse, but we’re … going to take care of our staff, and we’re going to go out and serve the community in the name of Jesus Christ.”