EDS response to Hurricane Idalia concludes

After days long mobile feeding, communities begin to recover

Tampa, Florida, (September 9, 2023) — As Tropical Storm Idalia began to form into a Hurricane, The Salvation Army, Florida Division’s Emergency Disaster Services personnel, and equipment were being readied to serve disaster survivors immediately following Idalia’s landfall and impacts.

While canteens and mobile feeding units rolled into the Big Bend, additional specialized equipment convoyed in the same direction to support the deployed personnel at the base camp. This was their new home and base of operations for the upcoming week and a half.

As power was restored and telecommunications came back online, The Salvation Army utilized recently acquired satellite communications technology, the Starlink network. This provided incident management teams with the necessary connectivity to coordinate and communicate the response.

“The Starlink network was first used last year during the response to Hurricane Ian in Southwest Florida, which proved to be an invaluable resource for The Salvation Army’s ability to respond efficiently and effectively to meet the needs of disaster survivors,” said Steven Hartsook, Emergency Disaster Services Director for the Florida Division.

In addition to the new Starlink connectivity resource, The Salvation Army Fort Walton Corps deployed its new mobile feeding unit that was delivered to their community just a month ago. “We transitioned from having the oldest canteen in the State to having the newest and first of its kind in Florida, if not the nation,” said Lieutenant James Milner of the Fort Walton Beach command.

Thanks to a grant from Impact 100 of Northwest Florida, Inc., the brand-new canteen is equipped to prepare and serve meals on-site, but it is also equipped with a Starlink system. “The ability to offer survivors the opportunity to have internet connectivity to contact loved ones, process an insurance claim, and apply for assistance, will be a game changer in our service to communities,” Lt. Milner shared.

The system is the first of its kind in the country, and Hartsook hopes it will be so successful that it becomes an operational component of future new canteens.

The Salvation Army has concluded its response to Hurricane Idalia. It demobilized canteens, personnel, and specialized equipment, resetting each asset to ensure preparedness for the next disaster. Grateful for the sacrifices of our trained disaster workers, who left their homes, jobs, and families to serve others in need, they provided the following:

Prepared Meals

Drinks

Snacks

Cases of Water

Bags of Ice

Cleanup Kits

Comfort/Hygiene Kits

Emotional and Spiritual Care to Individuals

Total Personnel Hours Served

32,508

8,892

21,006

199

454

2,722

836

2,164

 

5,323