Posts Tagged ‘disaster’

Mike Rodgers, captain of Salvation Army’s Hickory Corps in Mount Airy, North Carolina, had watched the devastation with everyone else.

Unseasonal rains poured on Georgia and Tennessee causing millions of dollars worth of damage, disrupting routines and claiming lives.

The Salvation Army was quick to respond: on the ground within hours of the first floods and still supplying basic needs to those affected.

Then there was the outpouring of support, donations and resources from across the country.

Mike knew he must answer the call.

The Mount Airy News wrote an article about his commitment to serving others and how it landed him hundreds of miles away from home serving directly the people and families displaced and disturbed by the Georgia floods.

Rodgers’ trip was his 11th disaster response tour with the Army and it landed him in Austell, Georgia manning a mobile feeding kitchen.

Often times, the donation of time and man-hours is as critical in responding to an emergency as financial donations.

Even if you aren’t in a place where you can donate money to support the disaster services work of the Army, you can always train and be ready to give of your time and strength to help the Army comfort others in need.

To find out more about The Salvation Army’s disaster response training, contact your local Salvation Army.

Each year, the Army responds to hundreds of emergencies across the globe.  Will you answer the call?

Now through October 1st, shoppers at Kroger Supermarkets can “round up” the balance of their purchases to help those affected by floods in Georgia.

WTOC News in Savannah, Georgia, reported that through “The Round Up” Program customers can give money to benefit the flood victims by “rounding up” their purchases to the nearest dollar. Customers can also make a monetary donation at any Kroger in Georgia to help provide food, water, clothing, cleaning supplies and other necessities.

It is estimated that more than 300,000 families have been affected by the nearly $250 million of weather-related damage that has ravaged north Georgia.  To better assist the Salvation Army in providing aid to those affected by the severe weather and floods, Kroger’s Atlanta Division will also donate $50,000 in gift cards to the organization and will also provide two truckloads of water to those in need.

Remember those affected by the floods as you shop at Kroger and donate your change to do some good in the lives of those recovering from this natural disaster.  You can also donate – no matter how little or much – online on the national Salvation Army website, by phone at 1-800-SAL-ARMY, or by mailing a donation to your local Salvation Army.

The Southern California Division of The Salvation Army reports that it is continuing its disaster response to the Station and Auburn wildfires as firefighters are gaining the upper hand on the deadly blaze.

“The Station Fire is the largest wildfire in the history of Los Angeles County having consumed more than 140,000 acres (218 square miles),” they report.  “To date it has also destroyed 92 houses and other structures worth $14 million and has cost more than $20 million to fight. But favorable weather conditions have helped fire fighters increase containment of the blaze from 5 percent on Monday to more than 22 percent by late Tuesday.”

Since the Army began its efforts last Saturday, more than 1500 meals have been served.  Volunteers and Army staff and Officers continue to provide physical and spiritual nourishment to the growing number of displaced.

Looking ahead though, the Army knows that it will need continued donations in order to fulfill its commitment of long-term support for the many evacuees.

Monetary donations remain the most pressing need, but donations of food, personal items and time are also needed.  The SoCal division is also soliciting new volunteers so that its efforts can be even stronger for future emergency needs.

Truly, the work and mission of the Army means that people from all walks of life can support the Army in whichever way suits them best: apply to be an on-site volunteer; if you’re in the area, drop off goods at one of the emergency shelters; or donate money online directly to the cause.

How will you choose to help the Army ensure a ‘good’ future for these and other disaster survivors?

Even as response efforts continue for those affected by the Station Fire in California, The Salvation Army is now also responding to the 49er Fire in Auburn.

The Salvation Army Del Oro Division reports that a Disaster Response Team is on-scene at The Salvation Army receiving monetary and food donations for the fire victims.  Monetary donations are much needed and can be dropped off at The Salvation Army’s Corps Community Center at 286 Sutter Street in Auburn from 9:00am-4:00pm Monday-Friday, or mailed to the following address: P.O. Box 4088, Auburn, CA 95604.  Or, donate online by logging on to www.tsatoday.org.

“Auburn’s mobile kitchen is on standby ready to mobilize at a moment’s notice,” the statement said.  Mobile kitchens are capable of serving hundreds of meals per day.  On Sunday night alone,  Auburn’s mobile kitchen served over 400 hot meals and 900 drinks to fire evacuees and first responders.

The Salvation Army officers and staff will continue supporting those affected by these deadly wildfires.  In the short-term, they will focus primarily on the immediate needs of disaster survivors and first-responders, but long-term support and resources will hinge heavily on the kindness of others and their donations.

The Salvation Army asks people who want to help those affected by the 49er Fire to visit www.tsatoday.org or call 1-800-SAL-ARMY. Monetary donations are needed to meet survivors’ most immediate needs.  Donations are used to purchase necessary items that are most needed at that moment in time based on the unique needs of affected individuals and families.  The Auburn Journal has listed other ways you can help, too.

For those of us who can’t be there to do something, we can do this: make donations to help further the response efforts of the Army and help ensure a more dependable future for those affected.

Daniel Bouchard of the Thousand Trails R.V. Community, checked in at Golden Valley High School today as a Station Fire evacuee today with two of his sons. The family enjoyed lunch, compliments of The Salvation Army. (Photo courtesy of SoCal Salvation Army)

KCRA 3 News in Sacramento, Calif., followed Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger as he toured some of the destruction in Auburn, Calif., left in the wake of the northern California wildfires.

On Monday, he expressed sympathy to those who’d lost their homes in the fires.

“It’s painful to see the devastation,” Schwarzenegger told reporters after a visit to the fire area.  “My heart goes out to these people.”

Schwarzenegger has declared a state of emergency for several counties affected by the wildfire.  As of late Monday evening, The Salvation Army of Southern California had reported that the Station Fire has doubled in size to 85,000 acres and claimed the lives of two firefighters.

On the scene since Saturday, the SoCal Salvation Army is now supporting all 6 of the emergency shelters for fire evacuees throughout the affected region. (Follow our response efforts on the SoCal Salvation Army Twitter feed!)

As the fire rages on, support is flowing in from across the country.  Firemen from other locales are California-bound and Americans the country over are sending their well-wishes to those affected and those responding.

But we can do more.  Monetary donations are the most pressing need.  And tangible donations – food, pet food, clothing, etc. – can help ensure The Army’s ability to offer long-term recovery support to those affected by the wildfires.

Monetary donations can be made directly to the SoCal Army here, via 1-800-SAL-ARMY, or by sending a check to your local Salvation Army with “Southern California Wildfires” in the memo line.

We’re all doing something – praying, hoping – but together we can do The Most Good.

Bellaire, OH — As you can imagine with a fire like this, many families are left without the essentials.

And that’s when the Salvation Army kicks into high gear.

As soon as they learned the fire had started, the Salvation Army’s mobile canteen truck was on site to aid, not only the families, but the firefighters, as well.

Now, they need your help in getting needed supplies to those left homeless. The Salvation Army is asking for everything from clothing to money to aid these families.

Bellaire Salvation Army Captain Louis Patrick said, “we have a forty two bed shelter, here and we only have twenty seven people staying here so I have room for them to stay right here which will help alleviate some of the costs if they have to stay in a hotel or somewhere else. In addition, we’ll help them with clothing.”

If you would like to donate items, you can drop them off at the Salvation Army headquarters in Bellaire at 315 37th Street.

By Jim Forbes
The State Journal Newspaper
Belmont County, Ohio

(Beaumont, TX)- The Salvation Army of Texas has been busy this summer as in years past, preparing to respond to any potential storm threats during the 2009 Hurricane Season. “Yesterday, we were called to respond to a different kind of natural emergency in Beaumont, Texas” said Major James Taylor. “Hurricane season may be in full swing, but we are also ready and prepared locally to meet the needs of other storms and emergencies like this one, year round” he finished.

The Salvation Army was quick to deploy yesterday in response to the unexpected EF-1 tornado that ripped through a busy shopping area in Beaumont, Texas. A mobile feeding unit was sent to the most affected location, beside the local Wal-Mart and Kohl’s stores. Service to cleanup and repair crews began right away.

Major Floiran Estrada, The Salvation Army Officer who oversees the Beaumont area said that service will continue today to responders as needed. “Fortunately there were no fatalities or damage to residential areas,” he said. The Salvation Army will continue focusing services towards supporting cleanup crews and workers on site who are in need of refreshment.

Please visit www.salvationarmytexas.org to continue following Salvation Army response to the Beaumont Tornado. The number of individuals served through the mobile feeding unit will be posted later today.