Florida Division of The Salvation Army to send reinforcements to the Gulf Coast

(TAMPA, FL) In the wake of Hurricane Ida, The Salvation Army’s Florida Division has mobilized equipment and personnel to assist with relief efforts along the Gulf Coast. These Emergency Disaster teams along with mobile feeding units from Clearwater, Ocala, Palm Beach County, Pensacola, Orlando, and Lakeland will be providing life sustaining food and nourishment to both first responders and storm survivors. With widespread power outages across the region getting food, water and other basic life sustaining items to those in the affect area is crucial.

“During the first few days it is critical to get this type of assistance to the affected area as quickly as possible since many may not have the ability to prepare meals because of the damage,” said Steven Hartsook, Florida Divisional Emergency Services Director.

These mobile feeding units can serve and provide thousands of meals a day either in a centralized location or by moving throughout the affected area.

Accompanying these teams from Florida is a thirteen-member Emergency Incident Command Team that will provide direction of their relief efforts in collaboration with The Salvation Army’s Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi Division, which is coordinating The Salvation Army’s response.

In addition, support equipment, including a twelve-bed housing unit and three additional travel trailers, is being sent to south Louisiana to help support the relief effort.