The Salvation Army Preparing to Respond to Tropical Storm Karen
Chris Raymer | chris_raymer@uss.salvationarmy.org
Atlanta, GA (October 4, 2014) - Salvation Army personnel throughout the Gulf Coast are closely monitoring Tropical Storm Karen which could potentially develop into Hurricane Karen as it approaches land. Salvation Army units throughout Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi are putting their combined fleet of 76 mobile feeding unit canteens on alert for immediate response.
"Depending on their size, our mobile feeding units can serve between 500 to 2,000 meals per day," said Florida Divisional Disaster Director Kevin Smith. "Right now, our priority is to get ready for the storm regardless of where landfall occurs. We have put our mobile feeding units on stand-by, and we are coordinating closely with local and state emergency management agencies. Our motto in disaster work is to hope for the best, but to prepare for the worst."
In addition to feeding, The Salvation Army is ready to provide other services if Tropical Storm Karen causes significant damage along the Gulf Coast or further inland. Typical Salvation Army disaster services include the distribution of cleaning supplies, such as brooms, mops, and buckets; the distribution of drinking water; and the provision of emotional and spiritual care.
The Salvation Army encourages all residents of areas in the storm’s path to prepare an Emergency supply kit and stay informed to all warnings. Disaster response professionals recommend having a three to five day supply of food and water for each individual of your family as well as flashlights, medication, and battery powered radio. For more information on how you can get ready for the storm, visit our hurricane preparedness page at http://tinyurl.com/ntnts9b
The Salvation Army asks people who want to support its Emergency Disaster Services to visit www.disaster.salvationarmyusa.org or call 1-800-SAL-ARMY. Checks may be mailed to the following address: Disaster Gift Processing Center, P.O. Box 1959, Atlanta, GA 30301. Monetary donations are needed to meet survivors’ most immediate needs. A $30 donation provides one food box, containing staple foods for a family of four, or one household cleanup kit, containing brooms, mops, buckets and other cleaning supplies.
For the latest emergency disaster services news, follow the EDS team on Twitter @SalArmyEDS.
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About The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army, an evangelical part of the universal Christian church established 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 spent is used to support those services in 5,000 communities nationwide. For more information, go to www.salvationarmyusa.org.
The Salvation Army annually helps more than 30 million Americans overcome poverty, addiction, and economic hardships through a range of social services. By providing food for the hungry, emergency relief for disaster survivors, rehabilitation for those suffering from drug and alcohol abuse, and clothing and shelter for people in need, The Salvation Army is doing the most good at 7,600 centers of operation around the country. In the first-ever listing of “America’s Favorite Charities” by The Chronicle of Philanthropy, The Salvation Army ranked as the country’s largest privately funded, direct-service nonprofit. For more information, visit www.SalvationArmyUSA.org. Follow us on Twitter @SalvationArmyUS and #DoingTheMostGood.