• Shelley Henderson

Preparations Continue in the Carolinas as Hurricane Dorian Churns in Atlantic

Photo:  Captain Wanda Long prepares food for local emergency operations center

Charlotte, N.C. (September 2, 2019)--Preparations for disaster service are being made in the Carolinas as The Salvation Army closely monitors Hurricane DORIAN. A mandatory evacuation has been ordered for Coastal Counties in South Carolina, and some Salvation Army units have been requested to provide local support for first responders, emergency management officials, and residents who are in the path of the storm. In Raleigh, North Carolina, and Columbia, South Carolina, Salvation Army liaisons have been dispatched to the state emergency operations center (EOC) to coordinate with other human services agencies and government partners.

The Salvation Army’s partnerships begin well before a disaster. Year-round, The Salvation Army coordinates with community partners and state and local government, planning how to work together to meet the immediate needs of survivors and ensure public safety.

“We are part of the solution,” said Mike Patterson, emergency disaster services director for The Salvation Army of the Carolinas. “One organization cannot do it all, but serving together we can use our strengths to help people when disaster strikes.”

At the local EOC in Beaufort, South Carolina, Salvation Army Captain Wanda Long’s personal mission is to ensure the local emergency management personnel take time to eat. The meals The Salvation Army provides to the local EOC are served buffet style, but she realized early on that some officials could not take time to make a plate.

“They have so many things they need to do, and taking five minutes away to make a plate of food is not possible for many of them. I make a plate for them and bring it to them so they can continue their work,” said Captain Long. “It is a small thing, but if I can take a few minutes to serve them then I’ve been helpful. If they don’t eat, they are going to run out of steam!”

In the days ahead, The Salvation Army all over the Carolinas will remain ready to respond to the immediate needs of the community no matter what path the storm takes. We pray for the people in the Bahamas who were impacted by this devastating storm and for those who are still in DORIAN’s path.

The Salvation Army encourages all residents in both South Carolina and North Carolina to stay informed as their local officials provide guidance.  State emergency information is available at www.scemd.org and www.readync.org.