Tampa, FL (October 8, 2024) – Coordinating a Salvation Army disaster response to a hurricane is like putting a puzzle together. There are many pieces that need to be turned over and aligned so that they can be placed correctly to complete the picture.
With what could be the largest single Salvation Army response to a Hurricane in Florida since Hurricane Andrew made landfall in south Florida thirty-three years ago, those puzzle pieces are again coming together.
Throughout the state of Florida, Salvation Army locations are mobilizing in preparation for what could be a historical response to Hurricane Milton. Thirty canteens are on standby including 10 from Texas who are in route to Florida.
In the Salvation Army Disaster Warehouse located in Tampa, Florida, relief supplies are being prepared for delivery to impacted areas. This would include water, food boxes and clean up kits and other supplies essential to the relief efforts. Evacuations are also taking place in Salvation Army facilities in the potential impact areas in order to keep residents and staff of those facilities safe and out of harm’s way.
“While we are making preparations to respond in the aftermath of the storm, we also need to take precautions to be safe and make sure that our personnel and their families are safe”, said Steven Hartsook, Salvation Army Florida Emergency Disaster Services Director. “We know that from Hurricane Helene, our personnel can be impacted by a storm”.
