As Hurricane Dorian made landfall this last weekend, it leaves a wake of Bahamians in desperate need of help.

Samaritan's Purse says, "[It] is airlifting its DC-8 cargo plane stocked with critical supplies to the BahamasHurricane Dorian pummeled the island—leaving thousands of people without basic necessities."

David Bock, International Disaster Response Manager at Samaritan's Purse, says it is not going to be easy to land that plan of supplies: "The issue is that the airstrips are underwater."

"We're having a challenge of figuring out which airstrip we're going to be landing in."

The first planeload includes emergency shelter material, household water filters, and two community water filtration units specially designed to turn salt water into drinking water.

"This will be a big issue as most of the island is flooded and the normal water sources will now be salty. .. Water is a necessity for life, so that will be a  key part," says Brock.

"This work is being done in Jesus' name."

In a release, Samaritan's Purse says, "Canadian members of Samaritan’s Purse’s Disaster Assistance Response Team are already en route to begin assessments immediately after the storm passes. Key Canadian personnel and Disaster Relief Unit tractor trailers, packed with chainsaws, generators, tools, and supplies, are on standby to assist recovery efforts along the U.S. coast as needed."

"We also really need your prayers," says Brock. "Time is of the essence. ... Those first few hours and days are so key to survival and their capacity to survive."

Brock says they will evaluate the long-term needs for Bahamians, but "are definitely committed to providing aid for the next number of weeks."

In addition to providing for the practical needs of Bahamians, Brock says, "Our teams are trained to go and provide items but also to come with that heart of evangelism. To be able to provide a listening ear and spend time with them.

"People have been traumatized and this is a big part of who we are Samaritan's Purse, not just that we are bringing items, but also bringing spiritual healing - being able to pray with people. We frequently work with churches and that's what we're looking to do in the Bahamas as well."