Preparations for Cold Weather Underway Across the ALM Division

Jackson, MS (01/07/2015) - Due to rough weather impacting the area, The Salvation Army of the ALM division is taking additional steps to prepare for a rare weather event for the region.  The nearly year-round moderate temperature across Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi often lulls the state’s residents to sleep.   Lt. Dennis Hayes, the administrator for The Salvation Army in Gadsden, AL added “The division doesn’t see freezing temperatures all that often, but when we do, it’s especially dangerous because people are not prepared for this type of weather.”   

The Salvation Army of Gadsden, AL has been requested by the Etowah County, AL Emergency management office, and will be opening a cold weather shelter each evening until the cold spell breaks. 

The Jackson, MS emergency canteen has a standing order that if the weather gets near freezing they take food, blankets, hot coffee, and supplies to those living on the streets of the capital city.  The disaster team in Jackson knows that when the weather drops, they will be serving.   

The Salvation Army on the Mississippi Gulf Coast is opening cold weather shelters in Gulfport and Pascagoula that will be open nights through Friday this week.

In New Orleans, The Salvation Army will be patrolling the streets to assist anyone in need utilizing a full-service canteen, to distribute gloves, hats, blankets, coffee and hot chocolate to those exposed to the severe weather.  An additional vehicle will accompany the canteen to transport anyone in need of overnight shelter to The Salvation Army Center of Hope. 

A number of other locations across the division are actively working to help those in need during this cold weather stretch.  The Salvation Army’s divisional Emergency Disaster Services Director, Thad Hicks stated “The Salvation Army is committed to the communities where we live and work.  Whether it is opening up a cold weather shelter, providing a pair of warm gloves, or serving a hot cup of coffee, The Salvation Army is at work across the division.”

The Salvation Army

The Salvation Army, an evangelical part of the universal Christian church established in London in 1865. 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 survivors, 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.