Salvation Army Continues to Deliver Disaster Relief Services and Shelter in Response to Chicago Area Floods

Chicago, IL ( April 19, 2013) —The Salvation Army continues to assist Chicago and suburban flood victims with clean-up efforts as residents begin returning to their flood damaged homes.

A canteen continues to serve about 150 first responders and emergency personnel responding to the flooding in Albany Park at the corner of Albany Street and Lawndale Avenue. The Salvation Army is also working with the City of Chicago to provide emergency overnight shelter at its Mayfair Community Corps Center. Those wishing to access shelter should call Alderman Margaret Laurino’s office at 773-736-5594 or 311.

On Thursday, April 18, The Salvation Army dispatched five mobile canteens and crews to numerous locations, including the Albany Park community of Chicago, Elmhurst, and the villages of Franklin Park and Stone Park. The Salvation Army also assisted with sandbags in Algonquin.  
As of this afternoon, The Salvation Army has supplied 1,000 meals, 1,200 snacks and 1,600 beverages to first responders and flood victims.

The Salvation Army is in constant communication with city, suburban and state emergency personnel, and will continue to provide support as needed and requested.  The Salvation Army is collaborating with the Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications, the Chicago Fire Department, the Franklin Park Office of Emergency Management Services and the Stone Park Police Department.

Additional canteens are on stand-by for immediate dispatch awaiting further requests from either the City Incident Command Center or suburban Emergency Management agencies. 

As the waters recede, The Salvation Army recommends flood victims heed the following safety measures to remain safe as they return to their homes:

• Return home only when officials have declared the area safe.
• Stay out of any areas of the house that remain flooded. Wet wiring is an electrocution hazard. Call the utility companies to have your power and gas turned off.
• During cleanup, wear protective clothing, such as rubber gloves, eye protection and rubber boots.
• Do not use water that may be contaminated to wash dishes, brush teeth, prepare food, wash hands, make ice or make baby formula.
• Do not mix bleach with ammonia.  This produces dangerous, toxic chlorine gas.

The Salvation Army will continue to distribute updates throughout the flood relief efforts as additional information becomes available.  For up-to-date information, please contact Melanie Scofield, Director of Communications at 708-289-9047 (cell) or 773-205-3254 (office).

How to Help

The most effective way to support The Salvation Army response in the Chicagoland area is by making a financial contribution:

• Call 1-800-SAL-ARMY or
• Go to https://donate.salvationarmyusa.org/metropolitan/flood.
• Donors may also give by mobile phone. *Text CHICAGOFLOOD to 41444 to donate.

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About The Salvation Army

The Salvation Army, an evangelical part of the universal Christian church established in London in 1865, has been supporting those in need in His name without discrimination for more than 130 years in the United States. Nearly 30 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year through the broadest array of social services that range from providing food for the hungry, relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter to the homeless and opportunities for underprivileged children. 82 cents of every dollar The Salvation Army spends is used to support those services in 5,000 communities nationwide. For more information, go to www.salvationarmyusa.org.

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