• Philip Burn

The Salvation Army Providing Critical Services in North Texas Following Severe Weather

Dallas, TX (May 11, 2015) – After a weekend of damaging weather in North Texas, including tornadoes, severe thunderstorms, high winds and flash flooding, The Salvation Army is providing assistance in several communities and stands ready to respond across the state. The State Operations Center in Austin has been activated and a Salvation Army Liaison has been available to coordinate with other State Agencies and Voluntary Agencies in multiple response efforts.

Sunday, May 10, saw response from Salvation Army disaster teams in Abilene, Corsicana, and Tyler. The Abilene Corps was called to provide assistance in Cisco, Texas by the local emergency management agency at 9:00 AM. Staff provided emotional and spiritual care, meals, hydration and snacks to first responders and survivors. The disaster canteen (mobile kitchen) remained on the scene on Monday morning and will stay as long as necessary.

In Corsicana, The Salvation Army was requested to open an emergency shelter by the local Fire Chief at 10:00 PM. The Corsicana Corps provided shelter, snacks and emotional and spiritual care for 16 people following extensive flooding in the area and remain on stand by for this evening. “We opened up the Fellowship Hall as a shelter after receiving the call to help,” said Sgt. Toby Romack, Corps Officer in Corsicana. “There were a number of stranded motorists who had been caught on flooded roads and several other people who were flooded out of their homes and had nowhere else to go. The Salvation Army is here to provide help to those in our community when they need us most.”

A tornado struck the East Texas city of Van late on Sunday evening destroying several homes and forcing some residents to evacuate due to a gas leak. The Salvation Army in nearby Tyler has activated its mobile kitchen and is providing support to first responders and survivors in Van. 

With the continued threat of severe weather forecast for the upcoming week The Salvation Army remains on standby and ready to respond where needed.

If you are interested in learning more about The Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services (EDS) in Texas, or to become a local disaster volunteer, please visit: www.disaster.salvationarmyusa.org.

For the most up-to-date emergency disaster services news from The Salvation Army in Texas, please visit: www.disaster.salvationarmyusa.org and follow latest updates on Twitter @SalArmyTXEDS and Facebook at www.facebook.com/SalArmyTXEDS.

About The Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services:
“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.” While every disaster is unique and creates its own special needs, the core of The Salvation Army's disaster program consists of several basic services. And while these services address many of the typical needs of a disaster survivor, Salvation Army disaster relief is also flexible. Our services are adapted to the specific needs of individuals and communities and scalable according to the magnitude of the disaster.