• Mark Jones

Salvation Army April 2011 Tornado Relief Efforts Continue In Hard Hit Areas

Jackson, MS - May 23, 2011 – Almost one month since the tornado outbreak across Alabama and Mississippi, survivors in hard hit areas continue to rely on The Salvation Army.  The Salvation Army is in the process of working with other agencies to identify recovery projects that will best help with relief efforts to meet long term needs. Pastoral care, which will become extremely important in the weeks and months ahead, will also be available.

To meet the immediate needs of tornado survivors The Salvation Army is currently operating 21 distribution centers across Alabama and Mississippi. Distribution Centers provide items like food, clothing, cleaning supplies and much more.  The following is a list of operating Disaster Recovery sites:

ALABAMA

Birmingham/Jefferson County (350 Industrial Blvd, B’ham, 35211) Monday-Friday

Guntersville/Marshall County (609 Blount Avenue) Monday - Friday

Guntersville/Marshall County (1336 Gunter Avenue – Service Center Office) Monday-Friday

Arab/Marshall County (428 North Main Street) Monday-Saturday

Fort Payne/Dekalb County (450 Gault Ave North – Service Center) Monday-Saturday

Scottsboro/Jackson, County (1501 E. Willow St – Service Center) Monday-Saturday

Cullman/Cullman County (103 3^rd Ave - Thrift Store) Monday-Saturday

Tuscaloosa/Tuscaloosa County (900 Skyland Blvd, Tuscaloosa, AL)

Anniston/Calhoun County (111 Town Center Drive – Ft. McClellan)

Russellville/Franklin County (204 Ash Ave. - Russellville Rec Center) Daily

Decatur/Morgan County (Corps building - 114 14^th Street, Decatur) Monday-Saturday

Huntsville/Madison County (Corps building -2114 Oakwood Ave) Monday-Friday 9AM-4PM

Jasper/Walker County (Thrift Store - 207 20^th St, Jasper, AL) Monday-Friday 9AM-5PM

Montgomery/Elmore & Autauga Counties (900 Maxwell Blvd, Montgomery - Social Services office) Monday – Friday 9AM-4PM

Oneonta/Blount County (333 Valley Road – Service Center) Monday-Friday 9AM-5PM

MISSISSIPPI

Meridian/Lauderdale County (120 6^th Av South – Social Services Office) Monday-Friday 9AM-4PM

Houston/Chickasaw County (114 Washington Street, Houston, MS – Service Center) Monday-Friday 11AM-5PM

Oxford/Lafayette County (2649 West Oxford Loop - Thrift Store)

Starkville/Webster County (407A Industrial Park Rd – Service Center)

Tupelo/Lee County, serving Monroe County residents (527 Carnation St - Tupelo Corps)

Smithville/Monroe County (Piggly Wiggly, 63436 Hwy 15N) Mon. & Wed. 10A-5P 

The Salvation Army is asking individuals to provide any form of identification and documentation of disaster related damage (disaster package received from FEMA after registering, an insurance damage report, or a licensed provider damage report).

The need for basic canteen operations continues to exist; however, the need is diminishing.The Salvation Army is using 4 canteens(mobile kitchens) down from 40 canteens at its peak. Canteens are currently operating in the following locations:

JEFFERSON COUNTY

4400 Campbell Lane, N.Smithfield, AL

MARION COUNTY

Phil Campbell United Methodist Church-Phil Campbell, Alabama (fixed feeding site)

TUSCALOOSA COUNTY

1^st and Crescent Ridge, Tuscaloosa

Salvation Army Tuscaloosa Corps -Greensboro/21^st St

Since April 27, The Salvation Army has served nearly 238,000 meals in affected areas across Alabama and Mississippi. The following information represents services provided to disaster victims by The Salvation Army across the Southeast:

• The Salvation Army has served 237,778 meals, 592,896 sandwiches, snacks & drinks.

• The Salvation Army has provided 54 Mobile Feeding Units (Canteens), 1 Field Kitchen capable of producing 20,000 hot meals per day, 1 Shower Unit, and 2 Satellite Communications trailers.

• The Salvation Army has distributed 43,000+ hygiene kits.

• The Salvation Army has supplied 6,500+cleanup kits.

• The Salvation Army has ministered through its Pastoral Care to 9,100+ individuals.

• The Salvation Army has begun helping with emergency Social Services in several locations.

• Salvation Army officers, employees and volunteers have served a total of 57,000+ hours

Donations are the best way to help tornado survivors and rescue workers. Monetary donations allow disaster responders to immediately meet the specific needs of disaster survivors.

The Salvation Army asks those who want to help to visit www.disaster.salvationarmyusa.org or call 1-800-SAL-ARMY (1-800-725-2769) and designate their gift "April 2011 Tornado Outbreak." Checks may be made out to: The Salvation Army Disaster Relief, P.O. Box 100339, Atlanta, GA 30384-0339.