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The Salvation Army Prepared for Hurricane Laura in Louisiana

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Lake Charles, LA (August 26, 2020) —  Trained Salvation Army staff and volunteers are prepared to move into Southwest Louisiana in response to Hurricane Laura, which is currently projected to strengthen to a Category 4 hurricane making landfall near the Texas/Louisiana border overnight or early Thursday morning. An Incident Command Team has been activated to operate out of Lake Charles, where The Salvation Army Lake Charles Corps has prepared for the Calcasieu Parish mandatory evacuation. The Salvation Army Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi Division has positioned 14 mobile feeding units, which can produce a combined total of about 10,000 meals per day, on standby and ready to serve affected areas throughout Louisiana.

“The Salvation Army of Lake Charles is prepared for Hurricane Laura,” stated Lieutenant Thomas Marion, Lake Charles Salvation Army Corps Officer. “All of our buildings are secured, and we are ready to serve by making the necessary preparations with staging emergency service vehicles and working with local authorities,” Lieutenant Marion added.

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. For the latest emergency disaster services news from The Salvation Army, follow the social feed on Twitter at @salarmyeds or visit disaster.salvationarmyusa.org. To donate to The Salvation Army’s disaster relief efforts, visit HelpSalvationArmy.org.

Salvation Army Preparing for Twin Storms on Gulf Coast

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JACKSON, MS (August 23, 2020) –As Hurricane Marco and Tropical Storm Laura are simultaneously making their way toward the Gulf Coast—an unusual scenario, with 2 tropical storm systems predicted to make landfall in very close proximity to one another in a very close timeframe— The Salvation Army of Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi is monitoring the situation closely and preparing to respond. Currently, there are a total of 10 mobile feeding units on standby and ready to serve as needed throughout Louisiana and along the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

According to the National Hurricane Center, Marco has been upgraded to hurricane status and is expected to make landfall near the New Orleans area on Monday. Laura is currently expected to continue to track westward and make landfall along the western coast of Louisiana on Wednesday.

“The Salvation Army of Greater New Orleans is preparing for this unprecedented storm system as two hurricanes are scheduled to affect our area a few days apart,” said Major Christopher Thornhill, Area Commander of The Salvation Army of Greater New Orleans.

Unfortunately, New Orleans is no stranger to hurricanes. In less than a week the area will commemorate the 15th Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. Since 2005, there has been much healing and preparation for New Orleans. Thornhill further stated, “We know there are no surprises in God’s economy and with the uncertainty of what will happen, we stand ready to serve by making the necessary preparations with staging emergency service vehicles as well as working with local authorities on mass shelter needs.”

For the latest emergency disaster services news from The Salvation Army, follow the social feed on Twitter at @salarmyeds or visit disaster.salvationarmyusa.org.

Salvation Army Monitoring Potential Hurricane in Gulf of Mexico

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As the first potential hurricane of 2019 brews in the Gulf of Mexico, The Salvation Army Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi Division disaster personnel are working closely with local and state emergency management officials to monitor the situation.

Severe thunderstorm warnings, tornado warnings, and localized flooding have already occurred in New Orleans. The National Hurricane Center is predicting similar conditions to continue over the next 48-72 hours as the system tracks along the coastline from Mississippi to Texas and many parts inland.

The Salvation Army’s Emergency Disaster Services disaster relief includes providing food, water, and emotional and spiritual care to residents in the affected areas and first responders.