BALDWIN COUNTY, Ala. (September 22, 2020) Category 2 Hurricane Sally caused widespread power outages across southern Baldwin County as it landed late last week. Significant debris, downed trees, and downed power lines left the Southern Baldwin, and Mobile Counties affected. Power companies estimate that most power will be restored within 7-10 days. The Salvation Army is continuing services in Baldwin County, adding services in Magnolia, Alabama. Power has returned to 70% of Baldwin County residents, and the majority of power is estimated to be restored by the weekend. Baldwin County Public Schools will reopen on September 30, and The Salvation Army is serving students in need of meals with teachers’ help throughout Baldwin County.
“We’ve had units set up all across the county. We’ve been in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach at the Sports Complexes. We also traveled to Fairhope to assist those who were cut off by trees and other debris and could not get to the Sports Complexes for service. We’ve also been able to work with community partners left and right,” shared Captain Sheri Jones, Salvation Army of Coastal Alabama Commanding Officer.
“We’ve been in Foley at the soccer fields, the Seminole fire station, and we’re also going to Silverhill today. We are preparing to work with a group of teachers who will help us get to their students who cannot access food. We are packing food for the teachers to deliver to their students. We’ve served more than 22,000 meals since we’ve been on the ground during Hurricane Sally relief and will continue to serve our community,” Captain Jones added.
The best way to support the disaster work of The Salvation Army by making a financial donation at www.helpsalvationarmy.org or by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY. For the latest emergency disaster services news from The Salvation Army, please go to www.disaster.salvationarmyusa.org and watch for regular updates on our social media pages at www.facebook.com/salarmyalm/ and www.twitter.com/salarmyalm.
As natural disasters can increase mental stress, The Salvation Army’s Emotional & Spiritual Care HOPEline remains available. Anyone needing a caring listener – whether because of natural disaster, COVID-19, or the stress of life in general – can call 844-458-HOPE (4673) for support. HOPEline hours are 8 AM to 11 PM CDT, 7 days a week.
Pensacola, FL (September 19, 2020) – The Salvation Army has deployed more than 10 mobile kitchens (canteens) from all over the state to provide food, hydration, and spiritual care for those still reeling from the impact of Sally in Pensacola Florida. Each canteen can serve up to 1,500 meals per day and spiritual care is provided for many dealing with the emotional pain Sally has left behind.
One of those canteens arrived at East Milton Elementary school where nearly 500 meals were served to the local community. “It’s a blessing to be able to have a hot meal and not have to eat bread and lunch meat,” says Cynthia Grant, a local resident. Most homes in East Milton are still without power and are concerned Hurricane Sally is not done leaving her mark. “A lot of water, and it’s rising a lot!” Milton is bordering the Black River that continues to rise and is expected to crest on Sunday.
“We are working alongside local officials and with the Emergency Management Center to identify the areas that are most in need,” says Steve Vick, Incident Commander for The Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services in Pensacola. Within 24 hours of their arrival more than 4,200 meals and more than 4,500 waters have been provided to those in need. Bringing hope to communities like East Milton.
“Thank you very very much. God is so good,” expresses Cynthia as she loads her vehicle with hot meals for her family of five. Clamshells were filled with Black beans, rice, and mixed vegetables, and a chocolate chip cookie.
The Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services will continue to serve up to 10,000 meals a day that are being prepared by Florida Southern Baptist at Hillcrest Baptist Church location in Pensacola, Florida.
The best way to help after a disaster is to make a financial donation to the charity of your choice. Monetary contributions also support local economies and ensure that businesses can operate when relief supplies diminish.
Mail: Mail checks to The Salvation Army, P.O. BOX 1959, Atlanta, GA 30301
Please designate ‘Hurricane Season 2020 Disaster Relief’ OR the specific name of disaster (i.e., Hurricane Laura, Hurricane Sally, etc.) on all checks.
Online: helpsalvationarmy.org
Phone: 1-800-SAL-ARMY
For the latest emergency disaster services news from The Salvation Army, follow the social feed on Twitter at @salarmyeds or visit disaster.salvationarmyusa.org.
About The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army annually helps more than 23 million Americans overcome poverty, addiction, and economic hardships through a range of social services. By providing food for the hungry, emergency relief for disaster survivors, rehabilitation for those suffering from drug and alcohol abuse, and clothing and shelter for people in need, The Salvation Army is doing the most good at 7,600 centers of operation around the country. In the first-ever listing of “America’s Favorite Charities” by The Chronicle of Philanthropy, The Salvation Army ranked as the country’s largest privately funded, direct-service nonprofit. For more information, visit www.SalvationArmyUSA.org. Follow us on Twitter @SalvationArmyUS and #DoingTheMostGood.
Oklahoma City, OK (September 16, 2020) Even as Hurricane Sally took aim at Alabama and Florida this week, The Salvation Army of Arkansas-Oklahoma was preparing to help those impacted by the storm.
According to Major John Birks, Assistant Divisional Secretary for The Salvation Army of Arkansas-Oklahoma, The Salvation Army is responding with five mobile feeding units and crews to provide meals, snacks, hydration, and emotional and spiritual care to those affected by the storm and first responders. Each of the mobile kitchens (canteens) can serve up to 1,500 meals per day. Canteens from Bartlesville, Lawton, and Tulsa, Oklahoma as well as Fayetteville and Fort Smith, Arkansas are being deployed as well as crews from Chickasha and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
In addition to the equipment and personnel being deployed for Hurricane Sally, the division continues to support relief efforts in response to the hurricane which hit just three weeks ago. To date, three rapid response units (catering trucks) and 15 personnel have been deployed to help those affected by Hurricane Laura.
Hurricane Sally made landfall early Wednesday morning in Gulf Shores, Alabama as a Category 2 with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph. Torrential rain with significant flooding is expected, particularly in western Florida.
Captain Joshua Robinett, Area Commander for Northwest Arkansas, where a team from Fayetteville is deploying, states, “2020 has been a difficult year for all of us. With the devastation caused by these hurricanes, residents along the Gulf Coast have it even harder. To have the ability to lighten their load and provide some hope is a great privilege.”
The best way to help after a disaster is to make a financial donation to the charity of your choice. Monetary contributions also support local economies and ensure that businesses can operate when relief supplies diminish.
- Mail: Mail checks to The Salvation Army, P.O. BOX 1959, Atlanta, GA 30301
Please designate ‘Hurricane Season 2020 Disaster Relief’ OR the specific name of disaster (i.e., Hurricane Laura, Hurricane Sally, etc.) on all checks.
- Online: helpsalvationarmy.org
- Phone: 1-800-SAL-ARMY
Our prayers are with the impacted communities all along the Gulf Coast.
For the latest emergency disaster services news from The Salvation Army, follow the social feed on Twitter at @salarmyeds or visit disaster.salvationarmyusa.org.
Lake Charles, Louisiana (September 13, 2020)— The Salvation Army Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi Division is preparing for a major emergency disaster response for the second time in less than a month as Tropical Storm Sally threatens the gulf coast—even as active Hurricane Laura relief is currently ongoing in Lake Charles. According to the National Weather Service, Tropical Storm Sally is currently projected to strengthen into a hurricane on Monday and then move slowly northward near the southeastern Louisiana or Mississippi coasts through Tuesday.
The need in Laura-ravaged Lake Charles is still great, where The Salvation Army is continuing to serve an average of 9,000-10,000 meals each day. To date, The Salvation Army has provided over 260,000 meals in response to Hurricane Laura throughout affected areas of Louisiana and Texas—nearly 200,000 of those meals were provided in Lake Charles alone.
The oncoming threat of Sally is causing The Salvation Army to reassess the placement of already thin-stretched resources and personnel in its Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi Division. “Helping people at their point of need is what The Salvation Army does best. Nobody wants back-to-back disasters, but we will be there to help whenever and wherever disaster strikes,” said Terry Lightheart, Salvation Army ALM Divisional Emergency Disaster Services Director.
The best way to support the disaster work of The Salvation Army is by making a financial donation at www.helpsalvationarmy.org or by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY. For the latest emergency disaster services news from The Salvation Army, please go to www.disaster.salvationarmyusa.org and watch for regular updates on our social media pages at www.facebook.com/LakeCharlesCorps, www.facebook.com/salarmyalm/ and www.twitter.com/salarmyalm.
As natural disasters can increase mental stress, The Salvation Army’s Emotional & Spiritual Care HOPEline remains available. Anyone needing a caring listener – whether because of natural disaster, COVID-19, or the stress of life in general – can call 844-458-HOPE (4673) for support. HOPEline hours are 8 AM to 11 PM CDT, 7 days a week.
