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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.

Incident Command Team Reporting to Opelika, AL for Tornado Recovery

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Opelika, AL (March 4, 2019)— After the historic and devastating tornado outbreak that occurred in the Southeast on Sunday, March 3, 2019, The Salvation Army is responding by sending a full Incident Command Team to Opelika, AL. Hardest hit by the outbreak was the mostly rural area of Lee County. Major William Shafer from The Salvation Army Tuscaloosa Corps will arrive today to serve as the Incident Commander. He will be supported by a six member team of Salvation Army representatives from Anniston, Birmingham, Montgomery and Jackson, Mississippi.

In the immediate hours following the storm, The Salvation Army Lee County Service Center provided 200 meals to first responders. Lieutenants Bryan and Tonya Farrington from The Salvation Army Montgomery Corps also deployed to the area Sunday evening with their mobile feeding unit to assist the local Service Extension Center Director. Service delivery will continue throughout Lee County today and include the distribution of hot meals, snacks, and beverages served from six mobile feeding units. Other than Montgomery, the mobile feeding units are deploying into the area from Anniston, Birmingham, and Biloxi, Mississippi.

In addition to tending to the physical needs of those affected, The Salvation Army is providing emotional and spiritual care, which is expected to be a significant need in the wake of this especially cruel and deadly disaster. The National Weather Service reports that  more tornado deaths occurred from this one outbreak than in all of 2018. Please keep the tornado survivors as well as first responders in your prayers. Donations to the tornado relief can be made at helpsalvationarmy.org.