The Salvation Army Assists Thousands in Path of Irene

August 28, 2011
Christie Sutton |

The Salvation Army Assists Thousands in Path of Irene

Alexandria, Virginia (August 28, 2011) – As Hurricane Irene made landfall on the North Carolina coast yesterday, The Salvation Army was providing food, supplies and spiritual and emotional care to evacuees across the region.  Thousands across eastern North Carolina were being fed and cared for at shelters by Salvation Army feeding teams.  The Salvation Army also has mobile feeding units prepared to aid survivors of the storm throughout the northeast following this morning’s landfall.

“Though the North Carolina coast weathered the storm fairly well, we want to emphasize the seriousness of the storm and our cooperation with local officials and agencies,” said Major George Hood, National Community Relations Secretary for The Salvation Army in the U.S.  “With more than 2.5 million people under evacuation orders The Salvation Army remains committed 24/7 to providing those impacted with the basic services they need to get through this difficult period.”   

The Salvation Army has already served some 15,000 meals to first responders and evacuees in New Jersey and nearly 11,000 meals, food and drinks in Greenville, Washington, Elizabeth City and Morehead City in the Carolinas.  In Norfolk County, VA, The Salvation Army has served nearly 2,000 meals and snacks and provided lodging to 250 people.  Similar activities are taking place up and down the East Coast. In total, The Salvation Army has 370 canteens and five mobile feeding kitchens along the eastern seaboard. Collectively, these units can provide several hundred thousand meals per day when operating at full capacity.  Also, The Salvation Army is standing up a broad range of services, in coordination with local, state and federal governments, including supporting shelter operations and evacuations.

Salvation Army locations in the Caribbean and Bahamas are focused on response and recovery efforts in the wake of Hurricane Irene.  In addition to helping evacuees cope with the stress and damage of the storm, response units in the U.S. Virgin Isles and Puerto Rico are providing those affected with gift cards to buy food, clothes and other supplies.  In addition, representatives of The Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Service Team have are continuing to work with the Bahamas National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to survey and assess the damage on the islands of Acklins and Mayaguana.

On Thursday, Commissioner William Roberts, the National Commander of The Salvation Army, declared Hurricane Irene a national disaster, which puts all units on alert status throughout the United States.  This placed all divisions of The Salvation Army ready to assist by preparing staff, equipment and supplies to respond to the storm. The Salvation Army is urging all residents in the path of Irene to heed the advice of public officials and prepare with an emergency disaster plan.

The most critical need right now is for monetary donations, which can be made online at www.SalvationArmyUSA.org, by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY or by texting the word “STORM” to 80888 to make a $10 donation through your mobile phone.* For more information on The Salvation Army’s preparation and response to Hurricane Irene, please visit www.disaster.salvationarmyusa.org, www.twitter.com/SalArmyEDS, http://blog.salvationarmyusa.org/, www.facebook.com/salvationarmyusaor www.twitter.com/salvationarmyus

About The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army annually helps more than 30 million Americans overcome poverty, addiction, and economic hardships through a range of social services. By providing food for the hungry, emergency relief for disaster survivors, rehabilitation for those suffering from drug and alcohol abuse, and clothing and shelter for people in need, The Salvation Army is doing the most good at 7,600 centers of operation around the country. In the first-ever listing of “America’s Favorite Charities” by The Chronicle of Philanthropy, The Salvation Army ranked as the country’s largest privately funded, direct-service nonprofit. For more information, visit www.SalvationArmyUSA.org. Follow us on Twitter @SalvationArmyUS and #DoingTheMostGood.

Our Mission

The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.
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