• Leslie Galban

The Salvation Army Continues to Provide Relief in Flooded Regions of Southeast Texas

Dallas, Texas (March 19, 2016) – The Salvation Army continues to provide relief in flooded regions of Southeast Texas through assistance centers, fixed feeding sites, and roving catering trucks.

Earlier this week, Texas Governor Greg Abbott declared 21 counties disaster areas due to severe rain and flooding. The AP reported the following counties: Angelina, Erath, Gregg, Hardin, Harrison, Hood, Jasper, Jefferson, Liberty, Madison, Marion, Newton, Orange, Parker, Sabine, San Augustine, Tyler, and Henderson, Shelby, Smith and Walker.

At this time, The Salvation Army continues to coordinate with local and state emergency management as well as other voluntary agencies to meet the needs of the communities impacted by the flood waters. Both the State EOC and the Orange County EOC have reduce their activation level to normal operations.

The Salvation Army’s disaster warehouse in Beaumont remains prepped with clean-up kits, food boxes and other emergency supplies ready for distribution as needed. Beginning Monday, March 21, The Salvation Army in Orange will be host to an Assistance Center and Fixed Feeding Site providing food & hydration, emergency cleaning supplies, family food boxes, hygiene kits and packing boxes. This location (2286 MacArthur Drive) will also accept donated clothing.

Assistance and continued support is available in Newton at The Salvation Army Assistance Center & Fixed Feeding Site at 509 Main Street, Saturday from 9am to 3pm. This site is providing food & hydration, emergency cleaning supplies, family food boxes, hygiene kits, donated clothing and packing boxes. Over the weekend, this assistance center and feeding site will be moved to join the operations in Deweyville, at the high school in order to better serve the community.

Currently in Deweyville, The Salvation Army has a fixed feeding site at Deweyville High School (171 TX-12). In addition to a catering truck, food & hydration, and emergency cleaning supplies are also available. Services will expand once the Newton Assistance Center is joined with the Deweyville site.

Lt. Jeremy Walker of The Salvation Army Bryan/College Station Corps was deployed soon after the first signs of flooding. Lt. Walker shared, “This disaster has been unique since it is so wide spread and has affected multiple surrounding counties. Each day, we have been able to listen to people’s stories and share God’s love through a meal, cleaning supplies, and an encouraging word. Our rapid response unit from Bryan/College Station manned by our corps’ volunteers has been able to serve meals, snacks and hydration to residents and first responders in regions severely impacted by the flood waters. Our unit is capable of going into areas where our mobile kitchens cannot reach, and when we see someone smile, we know it has provided comfort, relief, and has blessed them.”

Donations to support the ongoing Salvation Army response efforts can be made by texting STORM to 51555, or by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY, or online at give.salvationarmyusa.org/texasfloodsandtornados

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.