Christmas Storms Prompt Salvation Army Response Across North Texas

Dallas, Texas (December 26, 2015) – The Salvation Army deployed mobile kitchens on Saturday evening as fast moving storms in advance of a cold front moved through Texas and produced tornadoes and flash flooding across the Dallas area.

The Salvation Army is currently responding with canteen service in the Ovilla/Glenn Heights area, Waxahachie, and the Garland/Rowlett areas of Dallas Fort Worth. Teams will be supporting first responders who are at this time still conducting search and rescue operations in a number of areas. Refreshments, drinks and meals will be provided to both first responders and storm survivors in addition to emotional and spiritual care. Darkness has hampered operations and as the front moves through the area torrential rain is anticipated which will only exacerbate the existing damage and response efforts. Jimmy Stanford, DFW Area Command Disaster Coordinator, is on scene in the Ovilla area and will continue to coordinate the local response.

All Salvation Army disaster units and personnel have been placed on standby across the state as tornadic activity is still occurring in East Texas while blizzards are starting to produce snow in the Panhandle. The latest forecast is predicting as much as 20” of snow in some areas. State Emergency Disaster Services Director, Alvin Migues stated, “We are coordinating closely with the State of Texas as well as local Emergency Managers to assist in all the affected areas as soon as possible. A great number of people are affected by this and The Salvation Army will do everything possible to provide assistance.”

To make a donation to support the disaster response efforts of The Salvation Army please call 1-800-SAL-ARMY or go to www.salvationarmytexas.org

If you are interested in learning more about The Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services (EDS) in Texas, or to become a local disaster volunteer, please visit: www.disaster.salvationarmyusa.org.

For the most up-to-date emergency disaster services news from The Salvation Army in Texas, please visit: www.disaster.salvationarmyusa.org and follow latest updates on Twitter @SalArmyTXEDS and Facebook at www.facebook.com/SalArmyTXEDS.

About The Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services: “The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.” While every disaster is unique and creates its own special needs, the core of The Salvation Army's disaster program consists of several basic services. And while these services address many of the typical needs of a disaster survivor, Salvation Army disaster relief is also flexible. Our services are adapted to the specific needs of individuals and communities and scalable according to the magnitude of the disaster.

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 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 carry out those services in 5,000 communities nationwide. For more information, go to www.salvationarmyusa.org.