The Salvation Army Readies for Hurricane Florence
UPDATED 9/13/18
Hurricane Florence has begun its assault on the North Carolina coast, bringing strong winds and the first of rain bands. Cities on the coast have begun to flood, and high tides, coupled with storm surges, are expected to bring up to 11-foot waves and several feet in flood water by this weekend.
The Salvation Army is ready to provide services to survivors. Army Emergency Disaster Services experts are already on site, and officers, staff and trained volunteers will focus primarily on immediate needs providing food, hydration, and emotional and spiritual care to impacted individuals, families, and first responders.
Teams and mobile feeding units from Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi have also deployed to provide support. An Incident Command Team and additional feeding units will be sent after the hurricane makes landfall this weekend.
The best way to support The Salvation Army's efforts in the wake of Hurricane Florence is to give a financial contribution. Financial gifts allow the Army to immediately meet the specific needs of disaster survivors. Additionally, the purchases in the community will help reboot economic activity and support the people being served.
To support The Salvation Army’s Hurricane Florence relief efforts, visit www.HelpSalvationArmy.org. For updates on The Salvation Army’s emergency disaster response efforts, visit www.disaster.salvationarmyusa.org.
UPDATED 9/12/18
The Salvation Army continues to prepare for Hurricane Florence's landfall on Thursday. The following response efforts have been triggered.
- Multiple staging and logistical centers have been established in North and South Carolina and Virginia.
- 15 mobile feeding units are on standby in the North and South Carolina Division and an additional 10 mobile feeding units are on standby in the National Capital and Virginia Division.
- 47 additional mobile feeding units from Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee and Texas will travel to Charlotte, North Carolina and Roanoke, VA. Each mobile feeding unit can serve up to 1,500 meals per day.
- A 53-foot refrigerated meal support trailer to help with transporting food and beverages to affected areas has also been deployed.
In the coastal areas of North and South Carolina, The Salvation Army is serving meals at emergency operation centers and wherever local emergency management is requesting mass feeding support. The Salvation Army is also coordinating with numerous emergency operations centers in the Carolinas and readying resources. Once storm damage reports have been received and local needs have been determined, Emergency Disaster Services teams of Salvation Army officers, trained volunteers, and staff will focus primarily on immediate needs providing food, hydration, and emotional and spiritual care to impacted individuals, families, and first responders.
In times of disaster, the best way to help survivors and relief workers is to make a financial contribution. Monetary donations allow disaster responders to immediately meet the specific needs of disaster survivors.
To support The Salvation Army’s Hurricane Florence relief efforts, visit www.HelpSalvationArmy.org. For updates on The Salvation Army’s emergency disaster response efforts, visit www.disaster.salvationarmyusa.org.
9/11/18
The Salvation Army is closely monitoring weather conditions as Hurricane Florence continues its path towards the eastern U.S. coast. Most recent reports indicate that the hurricane may make landfall on Thursday night in North Carolina, near Category 5 strength. Mandatory evacuation orders were issued Monday for the coastal areas of Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina.
The Salvation Army is already on the ground preparing resources for the hurricane's arrival. The Army is uniquely positioned to support those affected by Hurricane Florence with trained disaster staff and volunteers, and specialized equipment deploying to several locations.
The Salvation Army of Georgia has mobilized four mobile kitchen units as well as staff and volunteers trained in providing food, beverages and spiritual care for those impacted by the storm. The Salvation Army of Florida is also deploying mobile kitchens, staff and volunteers, and a refrigerated meal support trailer to help with transporting food and beverages to affected areas. Each mobile kitchen can serve 500 - 1,500 meals per day, based on size. Additional units remain on alert and ready for immediate deployment.
"Together with our emergency response team in the Carolinas and our national disaster teams, we are closely monitoring the storm. We are ready to respond locally in coastal areas and beyond, where heavy rainfall and potential flooding may impact wide areas in Virginia,” said Major Chris Flanagan for The Salvation Army National Capital and Virginia Division. “We pray that the impact will be light, but we are ready to provide relief to those affected by the storm and support our emergency management partners.”
In times of disaster, the best way to help survivors and relief workers is to make a financial contribution. Monetary donations allow disaster responders to immediately meet the specific needs of disaster survivors.
To support The Salvation Army’s Hurricane Florence relief efforts, visit www.HelpSalvationArmy.org. For updates on The Salvation Army’s emergency disaster response efforts, visit www.disaster.salvationarmyusa.org.