The Salvation Army Responds to Catastrophic Flooding
Media Contact:
Amy Burke
Media Relations Director
(414) 302-4300 x. 2291
(414) 333-5418 cell
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
(August 29, 2017) Continued rainfall from Hurricane Harvey presents extreme danger to the Gulf Coast. The Salvation Army in Texas is providing food and hydration to first responders and is preparing for massive feeding efforts for residents. In response to increased needs, The Salvation Army is activating emergency response teams across the country.
In the Central United States Territory, we have received an official request for five Emotional and Spiritual Care Specialists to go into Victoria, Texas. The Salvation Army in Milwaukee County has three chaplains on standby for deployment to Texas.
“The Salvation Army has activated all of its US and Canadian emergency disaster response assets. These units are able to provide food, shelter and emotional and spiritual care to those impacted by this ongoing devastating weather event,” said Major C Mark Brown, for The Salvation Army Texas Division.
The Salvation Army:
- Is procuring and staging truckloads of food boxes, clean up kits, comfort kits and other bulk distribution items in Dallas until down-range facilities are identified.
- Has a national network of trained disaster staff and volunteers and a fleet of more than 500 mobile feeding units that can be deployed.
- Is deploying 42 mobile kitchens and two field kitchens to Texas. Each of these Salvation Army mobile kitchens can serve an average of 1,500 meals per day.
- Has served approximately 3,000 meals, snacks, and drinks (reported service stats are on 24 hour delay).
- Is serving at emergency shelters throughout Texas, including in hard-hit Pasadena and flood-prone Houston.
- Has provided 400 cots to the City of Dallas for emergency shelter.
As communities become accessible, Salvation Army mobile emergency feeding and hydration vehicles and personnel are moving through the affected areas providing food, water and hot drinks, as well as emotional and spiritual support. This will continue until it is no longer needed.
How People Can Help
Response efforts to this hurricane and flooding are expected be costly and last for years. The best way to help after a disaster is to make a financial donation.
Online:
helpsalvationarmy.org
Donate By Phone:
1-800-SAL-ARMY
Text to Give:
STORM to 51555
Mail Checks to:
The Salvation Army
PO Box 1959
Atlanta, GA 30301
** Please designate “Hurricane Harvey” on all checks.
About The Salvation Army Disaster Services
The Salvation Army is uniquely positioned to serve those impacted by the storm, however long it takes, because they are there before, during, and after impact. Beyond serving immediate physical needs, they also meet the emotional and spiritual needs that are unique to catastrophic events. The Salvation Army:
- Delivers disaster relief to an average of 382,000 people annually.
- Serves every ZIP code in the United States and touches almost 25 million lives a year.
- Has served survivors of every major national disaster since 1900.
- Remains in communities until long-term recovery needs are met.
About The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army, established in London in 1865, has been supporting those in need in His name without discrimination for more than 130 years in the United States. Approximately 30 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year through a range of social services: food for the hungry, relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter to the homeless, and opportunities for underprivileged children.