03 September 2010

Personnel across The Salvation Army’s North and South Carolina Division continue to monitor the track of Hurricane EARL as it nears the Outerbanks.  Coastal North Carolina communities have reviewed their local response plans and are preparing for the potential of localized deployment to impacted communities in their service area. As a result, all Salvation Army centers along and east of the Interstate 95 corridor through North Carolina are prepared for local disaster response and service.  Additional Salvation Army response resources across the two-state Division have been alerted to the situation and have mobilized necessary resources.

Emergency Management officials in North Carolina have requested Salvation Army feeding services to begin today for evacuee shelters in Beaufort, Carteret and Pamlico Counties.  Evacuee feeding services will be provided via the Salvation Army’s mobile kitchen units as they stage at county-designated shelter locations.  The mobile kitchen units are fully equipped kitchens with resources and capacity to provide immediate and extended mass feeding at a fixed location or while roaming throughout an impacted area. The Salvation Army will also be providing feeding and hydration services to first responders and emergency personnel.

Each day The Salvation Army responds in service to crisis situations.  And not every crisis is as sensational as a Hurricane, as many are personal, individual and of the heart.  Our team is mobilized and fully prepared for response and service as need arises and for as long as the need last”, said Major Willis Howell, Divisional Commander for The Salvation Army North & South Carolina Division.

The Salvation Army encourages all residents in Earl’s potential path to monitor the storm closely and take protective actions as ordered by your local officials.  Preparation of a family emergency supply kit and an evacuation plan is also recommended. 

The Salvation Army asks people who want to help those affected by Hurricane Earl to visit http://www.salvationarmyusa.org or call 1-800-SAL-ARMY. Monetary donations will be used to meet immediate needs.  The Salvation Army currently is not accepting donations of clothing and furniture for those impacted by the storm; however, please continue supporting your local Salvation Army thrift store and the much needed programs your in-kind gifts support.

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About The Salvation Army

The Salvation Army, an evangelical part of the universal Christian church established in 1865, has been supporting those in need in His name without discrimination for 130 years in the United States. 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. 82 cents of every dollar spent is used to carry out those services in 5,000 communities nationwide. For more information, go to www.salvationarmyusa.org