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The Salvation Army Grateful & Remaining Diligent as Gordon Passes

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Jackson, MS—The Salvation Army is grateful that the Gulf Coast was spared major damage from Tropical Storm Gordon, which made landfall last night with wind speeds of 70mph just west of the Alabama and Mississippi Gulf Coast border. The Salvation Army’s Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi (ALM) Division is continuing to diligently monitor conditions as the system, which is now classified as a Tropical Depression, makes its way through the area. “The National Hurricane Center reports there is still a possibility of some flash flooding and sporadic tornado activity throughout the day, specifically in Alabama. Therefore, we still want to remain weather aware and ready to serve as needed,” said Terry Lightheart, Emergency Disaster Services Director for The Salvation Army ALM Division.

About The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army, established in London in 1865, has been supporting those in need without discrimination for more than 135 years in the U.S. More than 25 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year through a range of social services: food for the hungry, relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter to the homeless, and opportunities for underprivileged children. The Salvation Army tracks the level of need across the country with the Human Needs Index (HumanNeedsIndex.org). The Salvation Army has served survivors of every major national disaster since 1900. The Salvation Army does not place an administrative fee on disaster donations. During emergency disasters, 100 percent of designated gifts are used to support specific relief efforts. For more information, go to www.SalvationArmyUSA.org or follow on Twitter @SalvationArmyUS.

The Salvation Army Stands Ready to Respond to Gordon

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Jackson, MS— The Salvation Army Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi (ALM) Division stands ready to respond to Tropical Storm Gordon, which is predicted to turn into a minimal hurricane before making landfall tonight along the north-central Gulf Coast. This weather event is expected to impact all three states in the ALM Division, with the areas of most concern being Mobile, the Mississippi Gulf Coast, and New Orleans. All Salvation Army ALM units remain on standby for potential activation to support affected areas as the need arises.

The storm is expected to make landfall in Hancock County, Mississippi. Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant and MEMA Director Greg Michel will be holding a press conference at Hancock County EMA this afternoon and MS Gulf Coast Area Commanders, Majors Bradley and Anita Caldwell, will be in attendance representing The Salvation Army. The Salvation Army MS Gulf Coast Area Command has all canteens (mobile feeding units) prepared and ready to go out as needed.

Major Tom Richmond, Area Commander for The Salvation Army of Coastal Alabama said, “If we get what they’re predicting, we will probably get some flooding on the outer islands, Dauphin Island. So, we’ll wait until the storm passes and then we’ll move our canteens out to that area.”  All Coastal Alabama Salvation Army canteens are prepared and waiting on standby with their crews ready to go. The Salvation Army of Coastal Alabama’s homeless shelter and kitchen is opening at 2:00 PM today.

The Salvation Army of Greater New Orleans is prepared as well, with all canteens ready and on standby to go wherever they might be needed. The city of New Orleans has shut down operations throughout the city, which means most businesses are closed today. Salvation Army Center of Hope shelter residents are staying in place throughout the day as requested by the city. “The City of New Orleans has requested The Salvation Army to house the homeless and invite these individuals into our shelter for refuge during the storm. We will have the shelter open throughout the day tomorrow as well, we certainly wouldn’t want to put anyone out into the weather,” said Major Ernest Hull, Salvation Army of Greater New Orleans Area Commander. The main concern in New Orleans is the flooding. There are no mandatory evacuations at this time, but there are some voluntary evacuations for those areas outside of the levee system.

According to Bill Feist, Divisional Disaster Liaison for The Salvation Army ALM Division, “The Salvation Army has liaisons at the State Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs) in Mississippi and Louisiana which both activated at 7:00 AM this morning. Liaisons act as ambassadors for The Salvation Army to State Emergency Management helping both share information with each other.  The Liaisons will remain at the State EOCs working twelve hour shifts until the emergency passes.”

The Salvation Army is continuing to watch as Gordon progresses toward the Gulf Coast and is ready to serve as needed with food, drinks, shelter, and emotional and spiritual support.

To donate to The Salvation Army’s disaster relief efforts, go to helpsalvationarmy.org.

About The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army, established in London in 1865, has been supporting those in need without discrimination for more than 135 years in the U.S. More than 25 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year through a range of social services: food for the hungry, relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter to the homeless, and opportunities for underprivileged children. The Salvation Army tracks the level of need across the country with the Human Needs Index (HumanNeedsIndex.org). The Salvation Army has served survivors of every major national disaster since 1900. The Salvation Army does not place an administrative fee on disaster donations. During emergency disasters, 100 percent of designated gifts are used to support specific relief efforts. For more information, go to www.SalvationArmyUSA.org or follow on Twitter @SalvationArmyUS.

ALM Prepares for Tropical Storm Gordon

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JACKSON, MS  – With Tropical Storm Gordon moving into the Gulf of Mexico, a Tropical Storm Warning is now in effect for Coastal Mississippi and the New Orleans Area. The Salvation Army of Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi (ALM) is preparing for the severe weather that Gordon might bring. Emergency Disaster Services Director for The Salvation Army ALM Division, Terry Lightheart, reports that Divisional Emergency Disaster Services personnel and local Salvation Army representatives in the potentially affected areas are participating in weather briefings with state and local partners.

“Coordination with our local and state partners is vital to our preparedness measures. Especially since it appears that Gordon is expected to produce heavy rainfall of 4-6 inches across the coastal areas of Alabama, southern Mississippi and Louisiana, with isolated maximum amounts of 8 inches through early Thursday,” said Lightheart. The National Hurricane Center is predicting that these rainfall amounts may cause flash flooding.  There is also the potential of flooding due to storm surge. “Although there is still some uncertainty with this system, out of precaution, all 31 Salvation Army Corps and 18 Service Extension Centers located within the ALM Division are on standby for potential activation. This includes 28 mobile feeding units,” Lightheart said.

Major Ernest Hull, Area Commander for The Salvation Army of Greater New Orleans said, “The New Orleans Command is preparing to accept the homeless population into our Center of Hope. As per our agreement with the city of New Orleans we will work to get the homeless off the streets and into shelter. Our canteens stand ready to be deployed if needed.”

On the Mississippi Gulf Coast, The Salvation Army’s Pascagoula Canteen, Disaster Truck, and MS Gulf Coast Canteen are all prepared and ready to respond as needed. Major Anita Caldwell, Area Commander for the MS Gulf Coast Salvation Army said, “We have 120 clean-up kits and around 200 survival backpacks.” The MS Gulf Coast Area Command is also prepared to serve as a shelter if needed and they have plans in place for disaster storage and staging for supplies.

The Salvation Army is working with state emergency officials monitoring Tropical Storm Gordon as it moves closer to the coast. The Salvation Army is prepared to provide food, drinks, and emotional and spiritual care to communities affected by the storm in the coming days.

To donate to The Salvation Army’s disaster relief efforts, go to helpsalvationarmy.org.

About The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army, established in London in 1865, has been supporting those in need without discrimination for more than 135 years in the U.S. More than 25 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year through a range of social services: food for the hungry, relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter to the homeless, and opportunities for underprivileged children. The Salvation Army tracks the level of need across the country with the Human Needs Index (HumanNeedsIndex.org). The Salvation Army has served survivors of every major national disaster since 1900. The Salvation Army does not place an administrative fee on disaster donations. During emergency disasters, 100 percent of designated gifts are used to support specific relief efforts. For more information, go to www.SalvationArmyUSA.org or follow on Twitter @SalvationArmyUS.