• Philip Burn

31 Consecutive Days of Salvation Army Disaster Response in Texas

Dallas, Texas (May 28, 2015) – The Salvation Army in Texas has been providing disaster assistance for 31 consecutive days since response began on April 26 when a mile-wide tornado touched down in Johnson County.

Since that date, numerous tornadoes, damaging thunderstorms, and extensive flooding has required an extensive, ongoing response. Mobile kitchens at Salvation Army locations throughout the state remain on standby and are prepared for deployment as needed.

On Wednesday, The Salvation Army continued to provide housing and social service assistance to individuals and families that were displaced by the May 24 tornado that hit the Rockport Apartments in southwest Houston. Caseworkers have helped more than 60 households and provided food boxes to 120 families. Midwest Food Bank is a wonderful partner of The Salvation Army, filling and delivering food boxes ready for distribution during times of disaster. The Salvation Army is so grateful to our partners in ministry who help make a difference to so many in their time of greatest need.

In Central Texas relief efforts continue in San Marcos where flood survivors received meals, snacks, and hydration from The Salvation Army at the San Marcos Activity Center located at 501 E. Hopkins Street. A mobile kitchen also delivered lunch to some of the hardest hit areas of the city where homeowners are working so hard to salvage what they can. Members of the San Marcos community have responded by generously donating diapers, wipes, formula, toilet roll and hygiene items that are also available.  Additionally, Salvation Army self-contained clean up kits have been in great demand, containing a mop, sponge, face masks, gloves, bleach, all purpose cleaner, a broom, and small brushes, to aid the clean-up process.

One new area of concern in East Texas is the city of Henderson where heavy rainfall has resulted in severe flooding. In addition to the ongoing disaster work in Van Zandt and Smith counties The Salvation Army Tyler Corps is responding in Henderson and anticipated serving 400 meals on Wednesday evening.

The Salvation Army is appealing for financial donations to help support the ongoing flood and tornado relief efforts. To make a donation please go to http://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.