PRESS RELEASE

Salvation Army Moving in with First Strike
Teams Saturday Morning

September 13, 2008 – As Hurricane Ike rips through Texas, The Salvation Army is busy preparing canteens (mobile feeding kitchens) to move in with the first Texas Military Forces Strike Teams today.

Salvation Army Disaster Teams will follow Strike Teams into Galveston, Beaumont and Lufkin. The two canteens moving into Galveston are from Kerrville and McAllen Salvation Army locations. A canteen from Tyler, TX, will be moving toward Lufkin. Major Estrada, Commanding Officer in Beaumont, will be in Beaumont to take care of recovery efforts at the Ford Arena.

Beaumont, TX, is currently experiencing 75 mph winds, though The Salvation Army Corps facility and warehouse sustained a small amount of damage.

The Salvation Army continues supporting the evacuation and shelter operations ordered by the State. The Army has deployed a fleet of more than 60 mobile canteen units, along with satellite communications equipment and other materials and is preparing a disaster response operation that could rival the one it mounted for Hurricane Katrina, its largest ever.

“A storm of this size and intensity threatening a metropolitan area presents an enormous danger,” said Major James Taylor, Texas Divisional Secretary for The Salvation Army. “Hurricane-force winds and wide-spread flooding could not only cause loss of life and property, but could displace thousands of people for an indefinite period of time. We’ll need public support to ensure a viable long-term response effort for the many people we expect will be in need.”

As part of its disaster response operation, The Salvation Army also is pre-positioning personnel and inventories to provide those affected by the storm with:

  • Clean-up kits containing brooms, mops, buckets and cleaning supplies
  • Hygiene kits
  • Drinking water
  • Shower units
  • First-aid supplies
  • Missing persons support through The Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network (www.satern.org) and
  • Emotional/spiritual care

“We are worried that this storm could be as dangerous and catastrophic as Hurricane Katrina and are preparing as such,” said Major Taylor. “At this point in the storm season, this will be a serious financial challenge, because we have been heavily taxed by Dolly, Fay, Gustav, Hanna and now Ike.”

The Salvation Army serves in more than 100 countries and provides both immediate emergency assistance and long-term recovery help in the event of any disaster. Funds for The Salvation Army’s Emergency Disaster Services come from corporate and private donations given specifically for disaster relief. To volunteer with The Salvation Army or to make a credit card donation, call 651-746-3400 or 1-800-SAL-ARMY. Checks made out to The Salvation Army may be sent to 2445 Prior Ave., Roseville, MN 55113. Click below to make an online donation.