Serving After Disaster: A Note From Water Mission’s CEO and President

A special message from Water Mission CEO and President George C. Greene IV, PE.

In 1998, before Water Mission was founded, my parents initiated an impromptu disaster relief effort responding to overwhelming needs in Honduras as a result of Hurricane Mitch. The experience opened their eyes to the global water crisis affecting a quarter of the people on the planet. The reality of this situation broke my parents’ hearts and ultimately led them to sell their for-profit business and start Water Mission.

Over the last 23 years, our primary focus has been loving our “global” neighbors who are primarily outside of the United States in developing countries with more fragile infrastructures. This past September, Hurricane Helene dumped an estimated 40 trillion gallons of rain, resulting in an unprecedented level of destruction in eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina. It brought many fellow US citizens to their knees. 

The French Broad River, which runs through Asheville, North Carolina, crested at 24.5 feet above its normal level. People in the region expected the storm to bring excessive rain and high winds but were caught completely off guard when conditions deteriorated into a 100-year storm event and flooding beyond anything imaginable.

Water Mission immediately mobilized our Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART), bringing much-needed emergency water treatment systems and emergency generators. Our initial focus was ensuring access to safe water by installing emergency water treatment systems at churches and civic centers where relief supplies were being made available.  

Our DART members also set up a generator distribution program as there were many rural homes in the area where people relied on well water but did not have the power to turn their pumps on. By providing emergency generators, folks were able to get their pumps running and water flowing in their homes. The ability to flush their toilets again and plug in their refrigerators had a huge impact in helping people get back on their feet and start to rebuild. 

In mid-October, I had the opportunity to visit impacted areas with my father, Dr. George Greene III—Water Mission’s co-founder—and my two boys, 16-year-old George V and 14-year-old Thomas. While it was hard to witness the destruction and ensuing pain that the people in the region were enduring, it warmed my heart to see the impact that Water Mission was having.   

Since my visit, our disaster response effort has expanded. As local schools re-open, we are installing water treatment systems so kids have access to safe water. We are also supporting a program installing ultraviolet light water disinfection systems in homes, clinics, and applications where needs present themselves.

As a Christian ministry, we are called to love our neighbors. Over the last 23 years, that has historically manifested itself in loving our “global” neighbors living closer to the margins. With this relief effort in North Carolina, I’m grateful for the opportunity that we have had to love our “next-door” neighbor in their time of need.  

This impact would not be possible without your partnership.

Thank you and God bless,
George C. Greene IV
CEO and President
Water Mission

P.S. Water Mission’s response to Hurricane Helene has been our largest US-based disaster relief effort in the history of the ministry. We thank you for making it possible, and we invite you to prayerfully consider how you can partner with us in 2025 to serve even more families in need around the world.

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