Disaster Assistance Continues to Ice Victims in Arkansas
10/02/2009

<p>OKLAHOMA CITY (February 10, 2009) - The Salvation Army continues to provide meals and assistance to hundreds still without power in central Arkansas due to the ice storm that occurred on January 26 and 27.&nbsp;&nbsp; As of yesterday evening, the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management website is reporting close to 27,000 are still without power.&nbsp;&nbsp; Some residences have been told it might be the end of February to the first of March before power is restored.&nbsp;&nbsp; 35 municipalities are still under "Boil Orders."&nbsp; The human impact in Arkansas has been tragic with 19 deaths now being attributed to the ice storm.</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Northwest Arkansas</strong><strong>:</strong>&nbsp; Through Sunday, 13, 217 meals, 27,447 drinks, and 11,605 snacks have been served.&nbsp; Over 800 have been provided lodging and showers.&nbsp; Additionally, several blankets, 3,380 comfort kits and many infant supplies have been provided to those affected by the storm.&nbsp; The Northwest Arkansas Area Command continues to deliver bottled water and boxed meals to numerous sites.&nbsp; Close to 7,000 hours have been put in by officers, employees, and volunteers.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </li>
<li><strong>Mountain Home</strong><strong>, AR</strong><strong>:&nbsp; </strong>The Salvation Army of Mountain Home, Arkansas continues to serve hot meal at the Corps location.&nbsp;&nbsp; Due to a request from Arkansas Emergency Management, an additional canteen arrived last week from Central Arkansas Area Command to assist in Izard County.&nbsp;&nbsp; On Saturday, pallets of water and food boxes arrived for distribution. &nbsp;Meals Ready to Eat (MRE's) continue to be handed out as well.&nbsp;Officers, employees and volunteers have served over 15,000 meals, over 13,000 drinks and close to 5,000 snacks.&nbsp; Hundreds of comfort kits, infant supplies, cases of water, and blankets have been provided to those affected by the ice storm. &nbsp;Since January 30, officers, employees and volunteers have provided 3,319 hours to help those in need.&nbsp; Major Jeff Daniel, Mountain Home Corps Officer expects to continue providing hot meals at the Corps for quite some time to meet the need as outlying areas continue to wait for power to be restored.</li>
<li><strong>Jonesboro</strong><strong>, AR:&nbsp; </strong>A truck load of food boxes was delivered to Jonesboro this past Saturday as well as a load of water.&nbsp;&nbsp; As individuals come to the Corps for assistance, supplies are being distributed as needed.</li>
<li><strong>Service Units:&nbsp; </strong>&nbsp;The Salvation Army helped coordinate the delivery of two truckloads of water and one truckload of MREs to Stillwell, Oklahoma.&nbsp; These supplies are being split between Adair, Cherokee, and Sequoyah counties in Oklahoma.&nbsp; Additionally, the Army helped coordinate with the Cherokee Nation to pick-up additional MREs from the Regional Food Bank in Oklahoma City for distribution.</li>
</ul>
<p>The Salvation Army continues to work with Emergency Management in both Arkansas and Oklahoma to ensure the needs of the thousands impacted by the storm are met.&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;<em>Financial donations are needed to support relief efforts.&nbsp; The Salvation Army asks those who want to help the individual and families affected by the Ice Storm of January 2009 to visit <a href="http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/"><strong>www.salvationarmyusa.org</strong></a> or call 1-800-SAL-ARMY and designate Arkansas and Oklahoma Ice Storms.&nbsp; Monetary donations will ensure The Salvation Army can meet the most immediate needs of those impacted by the storm.</em></p>