Hurricane Irma - Florida Disaster Response Daily Update

Tampa, Florida (September 28, 2017) – The Salvation Army Florida Division continues to serve people in the long-term recovery phase following the aftermath of Hurricane Irma. All Salvation Army units in Florida are actively involved in the statewide relief effort that includes the support of trained disaster workers and volunteers from around the United States and Canada.

The Salvation Army of Florida has 11 canteens (mobile feeding units) and 2 field kitchens that are serving in two locations in the state of Florida. Other support vehicles including refrigerated vehicles and generators have been dispatched to some of the hardest hit areas in southwest Florida.

NAPLES

The Salvation Army in Collier County has begun transitioning to long-term recovery. Seven mobile feeding kitchens from South Carolina, Mississippi, Melbourne, West Volusia, and Panama City as well as a field kitchen from Florida, are still providing food, hydration, and emotional and spiritual care service to individuals impacted by Hurricane Irma.  As of the end of the day on September 27th, almost 69,000 hot meals had been served to the community   The planning team continues to re-visit devastated sites, while the Emotional and Spiritual team continues to provide comfort throughout the community.

A cargo trailer located at the Naples Salvation Army is still supplying food boxes, hydration, snacks, clean up supplies and hygiene kits from to the seven mobile feeding units (canteens).

Major Dan Proctor, The Salvation Army Naples Area Coordinator will be working with local officials and organizations to assess the needs of the community in order to meet the long-term recovery efforts.

FORT MYERS

A field kitchen in on site today and then tomorrow all meals will be prepared and served from the four (4) mobile feeding unites (canteens).  4,377 lunches were delivered to locations in Bonita Springs, Lehigh Acres, Labelle, and Fort Myers. To date, more than 117,000 meals have been served in the Fort Myers area alone. The transition to long-term recovery efforts continues, and The Salvation Army will continue to serve those impacted by Hurricane Irma.

Majors Tim and Cheryl Gilliam is working to meet the long-term needs of the community and continues to assist those effected through the five service centers.

As of Thursday morning, September 27, The Salvation Army Florida Division has prepared and distributed 723,393 meals, snacks and drinks; made 10,781 emotional and spiritual care contacts with the support of 58,120 service hours from officers, employees, and volunteers.