The Salvation Army in Kansas and Western Missouri Responds in Relief of Colorado Flooding

(Kansas City, September 18, 2013) —The Salvation Army, Kansas and Western Missouri Division, is sending an emergency disaster services (EDS) team to Colorado to assist with relief efforts after days of deadly flash flooding in the state. Salvation Army Officer Lt. Lynn Lopez and EDS volunteer Kay Mollett, both from Emporia, Kansas, will leave for Denver early Wednesday morning in a Salvation Army disaster vehicle, also known as a mobile canteen. The canteen will be stocked with food and water to provide meals to flood survivors and first responders. It will join eight other Salvation Army mobile canteens currently serving those affected by the flooding in Colorado.

"What we're going to do when we arrive is assist in any manner that we can," said Lt. Lopez. "We've been praying for the people of Colorado, where so many lives have been devastated and both Kay and I are honored to be called upon to help.” The team from Emporia will remain in Colorado for 7-10 days.

The flooding has impacted parts of 17 counties in Colorado, damaging or destroying thousands of homes and killing at least eight people. So far, The Salvation Army, using 8 Canteens and 734 hours of employee and volunteer labor, has provided 18,296 meals, 13.279 snacks, 183,893 drinks to Colorado first responders, law enforcement and evacuees.

In the past 24 hours, The Salvation Army expanded services into Weld, Morgan and Logan Counties in response to the growing need for assistance across flood impacted areas of Colorado.

As flood waters move across the state, The Salvation Army prepares to provide for those areas to be hit in the days ahead. Additional Salvation Army emergency disaster personnel called in to manage increased needs arrived from Utah, Wyoming, Montana, California, Arizona, New Mexico and Washington.

The Salvation Army prepares to move into Disaster Assistance Centers, scheduled to being operating in Boulder, Weld and Larimer Counties in the next 48 hours.

The Salvation Army is currently providing disaster relief at the following locations:

Boulder

• Deployed to provide meals to newly evacuated survivors at the Coors Event Center.
• Providing meals to first responders, law enforcement and rescue workers at the Boulder County Incident Command Post.
• Providing support to evacuees at the Mapleton YMCA.

Ft. Collins

• The Salvation Army will continue to serve meals at long-term shelter Timberline Church, where personnel served more than 800 meals yesterday and even cared for evacuees’ pets.

Longmont

• Providing support to St. Vrain Memorial Community Center and Mead High School.

Jefferson County

• Providing support to National Guard at the Arvada Fire Training Center.

Weld County

• Serving first responders and law enforcement at the Miliken Fire Department.

How to Help:
Monetary donations are needed to help The Salvation Army help those affected during the days of storm ahead and during long-term recovery. The Salvation Army uses 100% of your disaster donations in support of local disaster relief operations.

To give, visit www.imsalvationarmy.org or call 1-800-SAL-ARMY (1-800-725-2769) and designate “Colorado Floods.” You may also text GIVEHOPEIM to 80888 to donate $10 to The Salvation Army.*

Donations by mail may be designated “Colorado Floods” and sent to:

The Salvation Army
P.O. Box 60006
Prescott, AZ 86304

In–kind donations for the Colorado Flood are not currently being accepted outside the disaster area. However, these gifts are vitally important to your local Salvation Army. To give items locally, visit www.SATruck.com or call 1-800-SA-TRUCK.

For the latest EDS updates, visit http://disaster.salvationarmyusa.org/.

* A one-time donation of $10 will be added to your mobile phone bill or deducted from your prepaid balance. Message and Data Rates May Apply. All charges are billed by and payable to your mobile service provider. Service is available on Verizon Wireless, AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile. All purchases must be authorized by account holder. By participating you certify that you are 18 yrs or older and/or have parental permission. Donations are collected for the Salvation Army and subject to the terms found at igfn.org/t. Privacy policy: igfn.org/p. **Text STOP to 80888 to stop; Text HELP to 80888 for help.

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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