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Released 8 May 2008
THE SALVATION ARMY BEGINS
SOCIAL SERVICE ASPECT OF DISASTER SERVICES
Oklahoma City, OK (May 7, 2008) - As the rain falls and the thunderstorms begin yet again in the Arkansas-Oklahoma corridor, many Arkansans have lost everything. They are trying to salvage what they can from the recent tornadoes, although in most cases, everything is completely destroyed.
Salvation Army representatives met yesterday with FEMA and the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management (ADEM) to assess the situation and the result of the strong storm systems that have continually plagued the area since early February. In addition to these meetings, The Salvation Army is attending multiple Arkansas VOAD meetings each day as the organizations try to put a plan in place to help all the storm victims.
In anticipation of the ongoing rain and more severe weather, The Salvation Army is working with Convoy of Hope to get 15 pallets of tarping material from The Salvation Army's warehouse in Tulsa to ADEM's storage facility in Little Rock.
On Friday, May 9 from 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM, a joint collaboration of VOAD agencies will come together at a major distribution site. This event will be open to individuals affected by any or all of the disasters since February 5. 300 - 500 families are expected. The Salvation Army will be providing water and food boxes for distribution as well as having at least one representative or more on site.
Currently, there is an effort to build "emergency storage units" by the Presbyterian disaster teams. This will allow many of the families that don't have means to store items or have to drive a considerable distance to do so, a more convenient way of storing what little they can recover. This is a joint effort with other VOAD agencies and hopes that additional funding and volunteers will be provided.
As distribution sites are set-up in the counties affected by the tornadoes, information will be sent out on times and dates for victims to receive assistance.