Georgia Responds Aggressively-Serves Compassionately Throughout Irma's Impact

ATLANTA, GA (September 12, 2017) – The people of Georgia hunkered down as a weaker, but still fierce, Irma cut a path of destruction through Georgia last night and into the early morning. In her wake, Irma left downed trees and power lines that left many without power and damage to homes and businesses. Before and during the storm, The Salvation Army was serving at 33 shelters across the state. Today is a day of continued service and assessment for The Salvation Army to determine how best to counter Irma’s impact.

As The Salvation Army's Georgia Incident Command Team (ICT), located in Atlanta, assesses Irma’s impact, they will determine the best deployment of the Georgia Division's 18 mobile kitchens (canteens). Most canteens were already pre-staged ahead of the storm for quick response to anticipated areas of impact.

“Every team being deployed in Georgia can provide food, hydration, and emotional and spiritual care to those impacted by this weather event,” said Major Charles Powell, Divisional Commander for The Salvation Army in Georgia. “We’re uniquely positioned to provide support and relief to impacted areas throughout the state.”

An Incident Command Team deployed from the National Capital/Virginia Division arrives Wednesday with eight canteens to help with relief efforts in Georgia. Assessments are underway to determine the best deployment of these resources.

Coastal and Southern Georgia area service highlights:

• Savannah Corps – provided feeding for Savannah Civic Center, Hunter Air Field and Southside Fire Department and Chatham County EOC. Served 850 meals and 1,300 drinks and snacks.
• Brunswick – Glenn and McIntosh counties evacuated. No shelters 
• Albany – Provided services to Albany Civic Center; served 400 meals and 850 drinks and snacks.
• Waycross – Provided food support to Ware County High School
• Valdosta – Under voluntary evacuation orders. Power outages. EOC evacuated. Provided 200 meals and 450 drinks and snacks to Mathis Auditorium.
• Thomasville – Provided food support at two locations; 8- meals and 125 drinks.
• Tifton – Providing feeding services at the ABAC-Gressett Gym; distributed 580 meals and 1,200 drinks and snacks
• Bainbridge – Provided food service to Decatur County Memorial Colosseum; distributed 150 meals and 100 drinks and snacks

Metro Atlanta, central and north Georgia:

• Metro Atlanta Area Command – Red Shield residents staying in during the day Monday and Tuesday. Accepting overflow of homeless from Atlanta shelters, if needed.
• Central GA Command (Macon) – Provided food support to Brooks East Macon Center, North Park Community Center, Frank Johnson Community Center, and Memorial Park; distributed 2,000 meals and 4,200 drinks and snacks.
• Columbus – Providing services to Civic Center; distributed 370 meals and 250 drinks

 “The Salvation Army in Georgia is ready to respond aggressively and serve compassionately to help those impacted by Irma,” said IMT Commander Major Douglas McClure,  “We hope to send multiple feeding units in the coming days to support the residents of each community who need help and hope. Our love and prayers go out to each of them."

As of Monday evening, September 11; 15,975, meals, 17,631 snacks, 9,773 drinks, and 4,758 contacts for spiritual and emotional care have been provided.

Those who want to help people directly affected by recent hurricanes are asked to donate in the following ways:

Online: helpsalvationarmy.org

Donate by phone: 1-800-SAL-ARMY

Text to give: text STORM to 51555

For the latest emergency disaster services news, please visit www.disaster.salvationarmymusa.org and follow the disaster services team on Twitter @SalArmyEDS.