• Ashley Delamar

The Salvation Army Carolinas Increases Resources for Storm Response

Charlotte, NC (August 26, 2011) – The North and South Carolina Division of The Salvation Army has upgraded its readiness level as Hurricane Irene moves closer to the exposed coastline.  Experts say Hurricane Irene continues to develop as a strong Category 2 storm with rain, flooding, wind, and storm surge likely along the Carolina coast and inland. 

The Salvation Army has increased its fleet of staged and standby mobile feeding kitchen canteens to 23 units, an increase of 7 units from Thursday.  The staging and movement of mobile feeding kitchen canteens now extends to the west of I-95 with the coastal assignment of units from Winston-Salem, Greensboro, Waynesville, Hickory, and Greenville SC.  As Hurricane Irene approaches and passes South Carolina and emergency management officials determine local impacts, it is anticipated that Salvation Army mobile feeding kitchen canteens from the state will relocate to the North Carolina coast.  Additional Salvation Army mobile feeding canteens and teams from Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Kentucky and Tennessee are being relocated to inland areas of the east coast, including the Carolinas and Virginia in anticipation of impacts along the mid-Atlantic coast.

Further north in VA, The Salvation Army has 4 canteens traveling to southside Hampton Roads to assist with relief efforts.  Canteens are also positioned in Hampton and Williamsburg to assist with response in those respective communities.  In southside Hampton Roads effective Friday evening, the Army will move its men’s shelter from the low-lying area in downtown Norfolk to the Norfolk Corps Community Center near Virginia Beach Boulevard.  

Mobile kitchen canteen units are capable of serving approximately 1,000 meals per day.  At maximum deployment, Salvation Army mobile kitchen feeding canteens within North and South Carolina can feed in excess of 40,000 meals per day.

Major Willis Howell, Divisional Commander for The Salvation Army across North and South Caroline, states “As coastal Carolina residents and visitors are evacuating, The Salvation Army is moving closer to meet them in safe inland areas.  Staging equipment and personnel is a delicate balance between being close enough to quickly respond and avoiding areas of potential harm.  Just as we advise our coastal friends, we remind our Salvation Army personnel to be mindful of their personal safety and that of their families.” 

Once damage reports have been received and local needs have been determined, EDS teams will serve throughout the impacted region.  In the short-term aftermath of the storm, Salvation Army officers and staff will focus primarily on immediate needs providing food, hydration, and emotional and spiritual care to impacted individuals and families.

For the latest emergency disaster services news, please visit www.salvationarmycarolinas.org, www.disaster.salvationarmyusa.organd follow the EDS team on Twitter @SalArmyEDS. 

Interested parties may also visit:

http://www.facebook.com/salvationarmycarolinas

http://www.twitter.com/tsacarolinas.

Donation Methods:

Online:                     salvationarmyusa.org

By Phone:                 1-800-SAL-ARMY  (1-800-725-2769)

Text-to-Give:           Text "Storm" to 80888 to make a $10 contribution

By mail:                     Disaster Gift Processing Center

                                    P.O. Box 1959

                                    Atlanta, GA 30301

                                    Designation:  "2011 Hurricane Season"

Local:                        Monetary contributions designated for the storm can be accepted at any local Salvation Army facility.

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About The Salvation Army

The Salvation Army, an evangelical part of the universal Christian church 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. Nearly 30 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year through the broadest array of social services that range from providing 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. 82 cents of every dollar The Salvation Army spends is used to support those services in 5,000 communities nationwide. For more information, go to www.salvationarmycarolinas.org.