• Cyrondys Jackson

ALM Emergency Disaster Services Feeds St. Charles Parish Residents

(St. Charles Parish, Louisiana-) Weeks after Hurricane Ida tore through Louisiana, power crews from across the United States continue their tireless efforts to restore electricity to the region.  

Just 30 minutes outside of New Orleans, Louisiana, residents of St. Charles Parish are still without power, and many of them are slowly beginning the painstaking process of clearing debris, tarping roofs, removing furniture, and even preparing to have their homes demolished due to damage and flooding.  

On Saturday, a crew from The Salvation Army’s Emergency Disaster Services team served more than 400 hot meals and provided water to residents and utility crews in St. Charles Parish. As of September 11, 2021, 82 percent of St. Charles Parish’s residents remain without power. Hurricane Ida disaster response teams arrived in New Orleans on August 30th and continue to provide much needed disaster relief and emotional and spiritual support to Louisiana residents. The Salvation Army has served 122,872 meals and distributed 101 cases of water to those affected.  

“Everything we do is to better people’s lives and continue to spread the love of Jesus Christ,” said Major Jim Edwards, ALM Division Incident Commander.  

The St. Charles Parish crew served Louisiana smoked sausage and green beans to people as they stopped by to thank the relief team for “checking in” on them. Temperatures on Saturday reached 90 degrees, but the heat and humidity did not stop neighbors from bringing neighbors, and multi-generational families, who rode out the storm together, from sharing their stories of previous storms, and surveying damage to the community they call home.  

In just one day, 17 units distributed 12,500 meals provided by the Baptist Kitchen, as well as providing cleaning and hygiene kits to those in need.  Relief efforts will continue, as The Salvation Army crews assess areas across Louisiana.  

To make a financial donation to support ongoing Hurricane Ida relief efforts, go to helpsalvationarmy.org or call 1-800-SAL-ARMY. For the latest disaster response information, go to www.disaster.salvationarmyusa.org.