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Released 2 May 2011
Media Contact:
Faithe Colas
Community Relations Director
414-531-6363
www.SAmilwaukee.org
Wauwatosa, WI
(April 29, 2011) –
Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services (EDS) teams are actively responding
to the deadly tornadoes which have ravaged much of the southeastern United States
over the last two days. To date, at least 272 lives have been lost while many
more have suffered injuries and face catastrophic property damage. Hundreds of
thousands are currently without electricity.
Currently, EDS personnel are
providing food, beverages and emotional/spiritual care to storm victims in Arkansas, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky and Georgia. Additional resources, such
as clean-up kits, are being made available as needed in a number of areas.
Additional Salvation Army EDS
personnel and mobile feeding units currently on standby in Alabama,
Mississippi, Louisiana,
Tennessee, Kentucky,
Georgia, Virginia,
North and South Carolina, Maryland
and West Virginia, Florida,
and Texas
will be deployed as needed.
Arkansas – An EDS mobile feeding
unit has been sent to the Pocahontas area of Randolph County.
The main levee protecting that town from the Black River
has broken as of 10:00 a.m. today. Highway 67 between Pocahontas and Walnut
Ridge is under water.
Alabama – Alabama, which was especially hard hit, has
seen the death count rise to approximately 180 people. Salvation Army EDS personnel and mobile
feeding units are serving multiple locations throughout the state. Three mobile
feeding crews are serving in Tuscaloosa, two in
Guntersville, one in Phil Campbell, one in Marion
County, one in Molten and six in Birmingham. The Salvation
Army Corps and Shelter in Tuscaloosa
was destroyed as tornadoes ripped through the area.
Mississippi – Mobile feeding units are currently serving
residents of Kemper County, Webster
County and Oxford. Additionally information will be
shared as reports are made available.
Tennessee – EDS personnel are actively serving residents of Cleveland, Chattanooga, Murfreesboro, Dyersburg, Greenville and Memphis.
Additional units are on standby throughout the state ready to respond as
needed.
Cleveland, TN: EDS staff and more than 100 volunteers have
provided approximately 800 meals to first responders and victims through mobile
feeding operations. Additionally, beverages and snacks are being provided to
emergency shelter residents at St. Theresa's Catholic Church.
Chattanooga, TN: The Salvation Army served throughout the
night in Catoosa County, GA where there were a confirmed 30 severe
injuries and 7 fatalities. Mobile kitchen units are currently serving in Walker, Dade, Catoosa and Hamilton Counties.
The Salvation Army is partnering with the Chattanooga Red Cross and The
Southern Baptist Convention Disaster Relief to meet shelter and food needs of
affected residents.
Murfreesboro, TN: The Salvation Army has deployed its canteen and is currently serving storm
damaged areas with emergency food, drink and clean-up kits. Reports have been
given to The Salvation Army which indicate that more than 150 homes have been
affected and that residents face at least 72 hours without electricity.
Dyersburg, TN: The community of Southtown in Dyer County
has been evacuated to Dyersburg
for fear of levee failure. The Salvation Army will be feeding temporary shelter
residents from their soup kitchen in Dyersburg.
Mobile feeding units will serve volunteers who are sand bagging areas in an
effort to save homes.
Clarksville, TN: The Salvation Army in Clarksville had to evacuate their building
due to flooding. Despite this setback, EDS personnel are assessing local flood
damage and are prepared to serve as needed.
Greenville, TN: Stationary and roving feeding units are in place and serving flooded
areas.
Memphis, TN: The Salvation Army of Memphis has served
breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the Emergency
Operations Center
and is providing the above meals to those who are filling sandbags at the
Pyramid. EDS personnel are also on standby to provide mass feeding to potential
flood victims.
Kentucky – Following severe storms yesterday and
today, the state of Kentucky
faces extensive flood risks.
Paducah, KY: The Salvation Army of Paducah is providing meals, beverages and support
for the local temporary emergency shelter serving flood evacuees. Preparations
are also being made to support sandbagging efforts.
Henderson, KY: The Salvation Army of Henderson is currently assessing potential flood
damage. The town of Reed
has been evacuated. They continue to respond to the tornado that hit Poole, KY.
EDS personnel have been requested to provide assistance in Union County
to deliver meals to those sandbagging. Teams are on standby to provide meals to
the local shelter.
Louisville, KY: The Louisville Salvation Army is on standby to serve should there be any
flooding and continues to monitor the rising waters.
Georgia – The Salvation Army’s Emergency
Disaster Services teams in Georgia
are on standby and ready to serve victims, first responders and volunteers from
mobile feeding units in Georgia
and Alabama.
In addition to feeding, The Salvation Army is prepared to provide clean-up kits
containing brooms, mops, buckets and cleaning supplies, hygiene kits, and
emotional/spiritual care. Because of recorded deaths and destruction in
Catoosa, Floyd and Walker Counties, Governor Nathan Deal has declared a state
of emergency for Georgia.
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About The Salvation Army:
The
Salvation Army, an evangelical part of the universal Christian church, has been
supporting those in need in His name without discrimination since 1865. Nearly
30 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year
through the broadest array of social services that range from providing 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. Approximately 84 cents of every
dollar raised is used to support those services in nearly 9,000 communities
nationwide. For more information visit
www.SAmilwaukee.org