Derecho Storm & Tornado Disaster Response

Aug 13, 2020

Extreme weather conditions caused by derecho storms have impacted many of our communities across Illinois & Iowa.

The Heartland Division's Emergency Disaster Services (EDS) have been actively responding in a variety of ways to support both the victims & first responders across all of these impacted locations. Please look below to see our latest updates on The Salvation Army's disaster relief efforts.


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Official Press Release

  • Belle Plaine, IA:
    • A feeding site is open & providing meals through the local community center (located at 1309 5th Ave.) 
    • This service is currently feeding 500 people a day
  • Cedar Rapids, IA:
    • Mobile feeding site established & scheduled to serve from 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
    • Additional feeding sites are being coordinated alongside Linn County EMA
    • Personal protective equipment distribution being organized for volunteers
    • Greatest Need Right Now: Volunteers, Cots & Bedding
  • Vinton, IA:
    • Volunteers & EDS team members are working to assist with mobile feeding efforts
  • Forreston, IL:
    • 200 people affected by the tornado touchdown have been met with food
    • Temporary shelter has been established for those displaced
  • Ottawa/LaSalle, IL:
    • Meals, snacks & hydration have been supplied to victims & first responders
These numbers are based off estimates 
Do not include all disaster response locations 
Reporting continues to be delayed due to power/electrical complications.
  • Cedar Rapids, IA:

    • Feeding 800 people a day
    • Supplied over 11,000 meals, snacks & drinks (to date)
    • Assisting with temporary lodging/shelter for those who are displaced
    • Converting Mobile Feeding Units into Mobile Care Units to more thoroughly serve heavily impacted areas. These will provide food, water, emotional/spiritual care & clean up assistance.
    • Preparing to distribute flood kits
    • Creating medical support kits until National Guard can connect with more vulnerable populations
    • Coordinating further meal distribution through other agencies
  • Clinton, IA:
    • Feeding 100 people a day 
    • Supplied over 1,400 meals, snacks & drinks (to date)
    • Assisting with local temporary lodging/shelter for those who are displaced
    • Helping with local food box efforts
  • Iowa City, IA:
    • Feeding 500 people a day
    • Supplied over 7,000 meals, snacks & drinks (to date)
    • Assisting with local temporary lodging/shelter for those who are displaced
    • Helping with local food box efforts
  • Muscatine, IA:
    • Feeding 100 people a day
    • Supplied over 1,400 meals, snacks & drinks (to date)
    • Assisting with local temporary lodging/shelter for those who are displaced
    • Helping with local food box efforts
  • Vinton, IA:
    • ​​​​​​​ Belle Plaine Feeding Site  -
      • ​​​​​​​Serving 500 people a day
      • Supplied over 7,000 meals, snacks & drinks (to date)
    • ​​​​​​​ Mobile Canteen Feeding  -
      • ​​​​​​​Serving 800 people a day
      • Supplied over 11,000 meals, snacks & drinks (to date)​​​​​​​
    • Assisting with local temporary lodging/shelter for those who are displaced
    • Helping with local food box efforts
  • ​​​​​​​Freeport, IL:
    • ​​​​​​​Feeding 600 people a day
    • Supplied over 8,000 meals, snacks & drinks (to date)
    • Assisting with local temporary lodging/shelter for those who are displaced
    • Helping with local food box efforts
  • ​​​​​​​Ottawa/LaSalle, IL:
    • ​​​​​​​Feeding 100 people a day
    • Supplied over 1,400 meals, snacks & drinks (to date)
    • Assisting with local temporary lodging/shelter for those who are displaced
    • Helping with local food box efforts
  • Cedar Rapids:
    • Mobile Care Units provided the following services:
      • 63 Meals & 71 Drinks - Green Square Park/Library/Bus Station
      • 67 Meals & Drinks - Cedar Terrace Apartments
      • 35 Meals - Robert Schorg Manor
      • 113 Meals & Drinks - Westdale Apartments
      • 50 Meals & 144 Drinks - Ced-Rel Highway 30 West
      • 15 Meals & Drinks - 1925 Maplecrest Drive
      • 5 Hours of debris removal & clean up around Linn County
      • 113 Emotional/Spiritual Care Connections 
    • Further coordination in progress with Linn County EMA to help with removal of dead power lines in order to facilitate returning electricity to more areas.
    • Identifying vulnerable & in need populations to focus medical support 
    • Working alongside multiple agencies to establish county-wide shelters and provide them with needed supplies for those who are displaced and in need.

Partnering with NASCAR Cup Driver Joey Gase to raise funds for those affected.

Click below to learn more:

Clinton, IA:

  • Coordinating with local officials & agencies to bring additional relief resources to the public

​​​​​​​Iowa City, IA:

  • ​​​​​​​Continuing to provide food & water through mobile canteen distribution 

Muscatine, IA:

​​​​​​​​​​​​​Vinton, IA:​​​​​​​ 

  • Continuing to provide food & water through Mobile Canteens as well as the Belle Plaine's Feeding Site
    • ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​These services are reaching both local citizens in need & volunteers helping with relief efforts

​​​​​​​Freeport, IL:

  • Continuing to provide feeding services & support for clean-up efforts​​​​​​​

​​​​​​​Ottawa/LaSalle, IL:

These numbers represent the entire Heartland Division's services reported to date:

Illinois Operations & Relief Workby the numbers...

  • 3,000 Meals Served (hot & cold)
  • 4,500 Drinks Served (coffee, water, juice etc.)
  • 6,500 Snacks Served (donuts, chips, granola etc.)
  • 100 Social Service Cases opened and/or assisted 
  • $4,000 in Financial Assistance provided for groceries, lodging, rent/utility etc.
  • 600 Items of PPE (personal protective equipment) distributed 
  • 500 Hours of volunteer services

These numbers are representative of the EDS response across LaSalle, Stephenson & Ogle counties.

Iowa Operations & Relief Work - by the numbers...

  • 16,000 Meals Served (hot & cold)
  • 12,000 Drinks Served (coffee, water, juice etc.)
  • 5,200 Snacks Served (donuts, chips, granola etc.)
  • 100 Social Service Cases opened and/or assisted
  • $1,500 in Financial Assistance provided for groceries, lodging, rent/utility etc.
  • 1,200 Items of PPE (personal protective equipment) distributed
  • 800 items of Infant Supplies distributed 
  • 1,100 Food Boxes provided
  • 500 hygiene/comfort kits distributed 
  • 200 clean-up kits distributed 
  • 2,000 Hours of volunteer services

These numbers are representative of the EDS response across Benton, Linn & Clinton counties.


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