• Philip Burn

The Salvation Army in Central Texas Responding to Memorial Weekend Floods

Dallas, Texas (May 25, 2015) – Following intense Memorial weekend storms, record flooding has devastated areas of Central Texas. The Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services teams are working closely with local partners to provide assistance to individuals who have been displaced from their homes.

An estimated 1,000 homes have been flooded in Hays County, Texas, where the Blanco River at San Marcos crested at just over 43 feet, rising an incredible 31 feet in the space of 24 hours. The mobile kitchen from The Salvation Army Austin Area Command, in coordination with the San Marcos Service Center, provided meals at the San Marcos Activity Center, 501 E. Hopkins Street, on Monday. More than 1,000 meals have been served over the last two days. Four pallets of water will be delivered by The Salvation Army at the request of the City of Blanco.

Emergency shelters previously activated to accommodate flood evacuees have now closed in Corpus Christi and Wichita Falls as flood levels recede. The Salvation Army mobile kitchens from San Angelo, DFW Area Command, Big Spring, and Midland provided 852 meals, 1969 beverages and 96 snacks on Sunday in Wichita Falls.

In Houston, The Salvation Army continues to assist at the American Red Cross Shelter (Lone Star Community Center, 2500 Lone Star Parkway, Montgomery, TX 77356) serving 146 meals, 301 beverages and 98 snacks on Sunday.

As statewide response continues The Salvation Army is appealing for financial donations to help support relief efforts. To make a donation please go to htttp://tsatx.org/floodandtornadorelief

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.

About The Salvation Army: The Salvation Army, an evangelical part of the universal Christian church established in 1865, has been supporting those in need in His name without discrimination for 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 spent is used to carry out those services in 5,000 communities nationwide. For more information, go to www.salvationarmyusa.org.