• Thomas Richmond

Florida Divisional Response to Hurricane Idalia

Lakeland, Florida (August 30, 2023) - The Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services is staged and ready to deploy to the impacted areas across the State of Florida after Idalia made landfall this morning.

Eight Emergency response teams have been activated and are staged at The Salvation Army in Lakeland, Florida. Eight additional teams will begin serving in their local communities later today as well as help is requested.

"As we know the impacted areas are safe for our teams to enter in North Florida, we will be placing them in the areas where the need is the greatest." said Steve Vick, Incident Commander for The Salvation Army Emergency Services Incident Management Team in Florida.

The public can help The Salvation Army by donating through the following ways:

• Mail: Mail checks to The Salvation Army, P. O. BOX 1959, Atlanta, GA 30301; Please designate Disaster Relief - Hurricane Idalia on all checks
• Online: helpsalvationarmy.org
• Phone:1-800-SAL-ARMY
• Text-To-Donate: Text STORM to 51555 to donate to the Hurricane Idalia disaster relief efforts.
• Venmo: Venmo is accepted as a payment option for online giving through helpsalvationarmy.org
• Corporate Matching Gifts: Refer inquiries to disasterdonations@uss.salvationarmy.org or tyra.gore@uss.salvationarmy.org.
• Stocks/Securities: Refer all inquiries to the Divisional Resource Development Director
• Donor Care (confirm a financial gift): Call 877-267-8409 or e-mail interchange@uss.salvationarmy.org

Remember that a cash contribution is the most effective and most efficient way to help disaster survivors. With cash donations, The Salvation Army can purchase what disaster survivors need.

Financial contributions are easy to get to the disaster area. Supplies can almost always be purchased locally at the disaster site and provide savings in multiple ways.

Money used to purchase needed items locally can support regional and state economies. This helps local businesses and workers who have suffered losses in the wake of Hurricane Idalia.