Hurricane Michael: The Salvation Army in Florida Responds

Oct 12, 2018

Bulletin Date: Friday, October 12, 2018
Source: Lindsay Crossland
Lindsay.Crossland@uss.salvationarmy.org

Hurricane Michael: The Salvation Army in Florida Responds 
The Salvation Army is all-in to help Michael survivors

TAMPA, FLA. (October 12, 2018) – When disasters strike, The Salvation Army is there, providing emergency assistance to survivors and first responders. The following is a summary of how The Salvation Army is serving those impacted by Hurricane Michael in Florida:

Panama City:

• 13 mobile feeding units (canteens) are headed from Pensacola to Panama City today (Friday). 12 mobile feeding crews are staging in Tallahassee and are prepared to move toward Panama City as conditions allow. An additional 10 units with relief teams are traveling in from Texas.
• In partnership with The Salvation Army, Operation BBQ Relief is setting up in Panama City Beach. Once they’re operational, canteens will disperse to mobile feeding sites. Salvation Army teams are assessing needs in Bay County and surrounding areas to determine the locations for the feeding sites.
• Teams are heading to Port St. Joe and Apalachicola to assess damage and needs. It may be another day before teams are able to safely get into Mexico Beach to begin service.
• The Salvation Army is deploying a Personnel Support Unit (bunkhouse) as well as a shower trailer to support staff and volunteers that are beginning service delivery.
• Relief teams are moving as quickly as conditions allow to begin service as soon as possible.
• The Salvation Army is working with corporate partners to establish a communications center in Panama City.

Tallahassee:

• 11 mobile feeding units are moving into impacted areas today throughout Leon County, Wakulla County, and Gadsden County.
• The Salvation Army is working with Operation BBQ Relief to secure a site to set up cooking operations. Teams are working with Emergency Operations Center staff to secure a site that can handle to footprint and equipment needed for this operation.
   

Statewide response:

• Communications have been the greatest challenge in getting local teams in place to begin service delivery. The Salvation Army is working with state and local emergency management to get food and water into impacted areas.
• Salvation Army personnel, first responders and Emergency Managers are among those who have been personally impacted by the storm. Many have lost their homes or have experienced severe property damage. The Salvation Army is working to meet their needs as they continue to serve their communities around the clock.
• The Salvation Army is coordinating personnel to meet the emotional and spiritual needs of hurricane survivors and first responders.
   

To make a financial gift to support Hurricane Michael relief efforts:

• Donate by phone: 1-800-SAL-ARMY (1-800-725-2769)
• Donate by mail: The Salvation Army, PO Box 1959, Atlanta, GA
  • Please designate ‘2018 Hurricanes – Michael’ on all checks
• Donate online: www.HelpSalvationArmy.org
• Donate by text: Text STORM to 51555 to receive a donation link for easy mobile giving
   

Additional information:

• The Salvation Army has served survivors of every major national disaster since 1900.
• In times of disaster, we serve the whole person – physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
• After immediate needs are met, The Salvation Army will remain and continue to partner with impacted communities to rebuild. Rebuilding communities takes time and partnership, and we will be there as long as it takes.
• The Salvation Army is there before, during, and after the storm.

About The Salvation Army 
The Salvation Army, established in London in 1865, has been supporting those in need without discrimination for more than 135 years in the US. More than 25 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year through a range of social services: 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. The Salvation Army tracks the level of need across the country with the Human Needs Index (HumanNeedsIndex.org). The Salvation Army has served survivors of every major national disaster since 1900. The Salvation Army does not place an administrative fee on disaster donations. During emergency disasters, 100 percent of designated gifts are used to support specific relief efforts. For more information, go to www.SalvationArmyUSA.org or follow on Twitter @SalvationArmyUS.