The Salvation Army Prepares to Respond through Forecasted Severe Weather

Day 10 of Disaster Relief Efforts –

NASHVILLE, TN – March 12, 2020  - The Salvation Army is preparing their units, staff and volunteers to serve the community today through the severe weather forecast for this afternoon and evening.

“We know that anxiety for the survivors of last week’s storm will be at heightened levels today due to the increased chances of severe weather, including the potential for more tornadoes,” said Major Stephen Story, Incident Commander for The Salvation Army. “We want to make sure that our teams are fully prepared to provide the emotional and spiritual care to our neighbors that they made need.”

The Salvation Army encourages everyone to review their emergency plans with their families and double-check their emergency supplies today before the storms arrive. Everyone should:

• Identify the safe space to go to in your workplace and your home in case a tornado warning is issued. Stock this space with flashlights, bottled water, snacks, etc.
• Make sure you have a weather radio with fresh batteries, or that your phone is fully charged throughout the day so that you can receive any weather alerts.
• Monitor your local weather throughout the day to see where the storms are, and when they may be in your area.
• If a tornado warning is issued, go immediately to your safe place and monitor the weather via your phone or weather radio until the all-clear is given for your community.

To date, The Salvation Army has served 6,295 meals along with 9,255 snacks and 7,177 beverages.  Over 1,377 individuals have received personal prayer support.

Frontline Services on March 12: The Salvation Army will have 8 Mobile Units, each capable of serving up to 1500 meals a day, throughout the 3 county area. Along with caring for the physical needs of our neighbors, The Salvation Army will have 16 officers, who are pastors, that can provide Emotional and Spiritual Care.  

For those in need:  

The Salvation Army will be serving meals, beverages and emotional and spiritual care with serving times beginning at 12:00pm and 4:00pm in the following areas through Friday evening:

East Nashville – The East Recreation Center located at 700 Woodland Street 

North Nashville and Germantown Areas- Hadley Park Community Center 

Hermitage/ Donelson Areas – 3720 James Kay Lane at the Hermitage Community Center and a roaming team in this community.

Mt. Juliet – Roaming teams will be serving throughout the neighborhoods. 

Lebanon – Roaming teams will be serving throughout the neighborhoods.

 Putnam County- Roaming teams will be serving throughout the neighborhoods.

The Salvation Army will be transitioning to all roving units in all counties beginning Saturday to better serve the survivors and volunteers as they continue their cleanup efforts.

How neighbors can help:

Financial Contributions are needed and most efficient. A cash donation allows charitable relief agencies to use monetary contributions to purchase exactly what disaster survivors need. Monetary contributions are also easy to get to the disaster area. One hundred percent of a disaster donation to The Salvation Army is used for disaster relief efforts for that event. Supplies can almost always be purchased locally at the disaster site and provide savings in multiple ways. Money used to purchase needed items locally can support local and state economies, helping local businesses and workers, which have suffered losses in the wake of the disaster event. 

If you would like to support efforts, please visit this link to donate.  For the latest updates on our disaster relief efforts, visit disaster.salvationarmyusa.org.  

For more information please contact Misty Ratcliff at 615-504-9128 or Misty.Ratcliff@uss.salvationarmy.org 

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 SalvationArmyUSA.org

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