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Released 28 August 2012
KNOXVILLE, TENN. - August 28, 2012
- The Salvation
Army's Knoxville Area Command has been put on high alert to assist its
counterparts already serving and staging to serve those affected by Isaac. If
called into service, the command could deploy its mobile kitchen and/or its
specially-trained Emergency Response Services employees. The need for
volunteers is not anticipated at this time. The best way for the community to
help is to do so financially.
The Salvation Army is staging emergency response
teams and supplies in Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi and
other states as Hurricane Isaac makes its way through the Gulf
of Mexico with landfall expected on the seventh anniversary of
Hurricane Katrina. The Army is prepared to not only provide food and hydration,
but also emotional and spiritual care to anyone who may be impacted by
Isaac.
"We are taking every precaution to make sure that
anyone who is impacted by Hurricane Isaac - resident or emergency responder -
has all they need to make it through the storm, physically and spiritually,"
said Major George Hood, National Community Relations Secretary for The
Salvation Army in the United
States. "Our personnel are taking the storm
very seriously and will be ready to respond and move into impacted areas to
provide needed support."
The Salvation Army has already provided services
to Florida
residents impacted by Isaac over the weekend. They've helped prepare meals and
served hundreds at shelters throughout the Florida Keys.
Additionally, they are also supporting first responders and survivors with
hydration in downtown Tampa
and surrounding areas.
Salvation Army personnel throughout the central Gulf Coast
are closely monitoring the storm track. The Army has 24 mobile feeding units
and a fully equipped 54-foot field kitchen ready for immediate deployment to
the affected communities in Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi.
The Salvation Army is also making necessary
preparations to have additional personnel trained in spiritual and emotional
care on the front lines, recognizing that Post Traumatic Stress Disorder could
be a significant problem in these communities. The unexpected nature of a
storm, coupled with the stresses of evacuation, financial needs and rebuilding,
can leave physically, emotionally and spiritually drained. The Salvation Army's
ministry of presence provides compassionate care to residents looking for hope
in the midst of turmoil. Pastoral care is available for all those impacted, but
is not a prerequisite for receiving assistance from The Salvation
Army.
In addition to feeding and spiritual care, The Salvation Army is also
prepared to provide:
- Clean-up kits containing brooms,
mops, buckets and cleaning supplie
- Hygiene kits
- Shower units
- First-aid supplies
- Emotional/spiritual care
The Salvation Army encourages all residents of
areas in the storm's path to prepare an emergency supply kit and stay informed
of all warnings and evacuation orders. Disaster response professionals
recommend having a three to five day supply of food and water for each member
of your family as well as flashlights, medication and battery powered
radios.
The Salvation Army asks people who want to help
those affected by this disaster to visit www.salvationarmyusa.org or call
1-800-SAL-ARMY (1-800-725-2769). Donors may also contribute $10 via their
phone bill by text messaging the word "STORM" to 80888, and confirming the
donation with the word, "Yes." Checks may be made out to The Salvation Army
Disaster Relief, P.O. Box 1959
Atlanta, Ga. 30301. Please designate
"2012 Hurricane Relief" on all checks.
About The Salvation Army
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 www.salvationarmyusa.org.
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