The Salvation Army Provides Aid to Families Impacted by Mudslides in Oso, WA
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Update – April 04, 2014
In an effort to ease the burden by the families affected by the mudslide, Snohomish County has created two Joint Resource Centers (JRC). Located in Arlington, WA, and Darrington, WA, individuals and families can visit a JRC for assistance from The Salvation Army and other agencies. Assistance is personalized for the individual and family, depending on their situation.
“The mudslide has impacted every person differently,” explained Shaun Jones, Emergency Disaster Coordinator for The Salvation Army Northwest Division. “By collaborating with other agencies, we can accommodate everyone’s needs, including financial assistance, tangible items, and even emotional / spiritual counseling.”
The collaborative response to disaster has been a hallmark of The Salvation Army throughout its 100-year-plus history of responding to disasters. The partnered approach ensures that people needing help are assisted quickly and efficiently – they need to visit only one place to receive a variety of benefits. Furthermore, the JRC allows for organization and communication between agencies. At any moment, a comprehensive view of clients and assistance is available. Other agencies participating in the JRC include Catholic Community Services, St. Vincent DePaul, and American Red Cross.
Through April 3, The Salvation Army has provided the following assistance to families affected by the mudslide:
- 324 clients received emergency financial assistance for gasoline
- 7 clients received emergency financial assistance for clothing
- 24 clients received emotional / spiritual counseling
- 84 hours of case management by Officers and employees
- 375 hours of case management by volunteers
How To Help
The most critical need right now is for monetary donations. There are three ways to contribute to The Salvation Army local disaster relief efforts:
- Donate By Phone: 1-800-SAL-ARMY – Designate gift for ‘Disaster Relief’
- Donate Online: HERE – Donations made here will automatically be applied to the relief effort in Oso, Washington
- Donate By Mail: Send a check, marked 'Disaster Relief’to The Salvation Army, Northwest Divisional Headquarters, 111 Queen Anne Avenue N #300, Seattle, WA, 98109
The best way to help during any disaster, large or small, is often to make a financial contribution. Cash donations allow disaster responders to immediately meet the specific needs of disaster survivors without incurring many of the costs associated with sorting, packing, transporting and distributing donated goods. Salvation Army disaster services are funded entirely by donors, and The Salvation Army uses 100% of all disaster donations in support of disaster relief operations.
- $35 donation provides one food box, containing staple foods for a family of four, or one household cleanup kit, containing brooms, mops, buckets and other cleaning supplies
- $125 donation can serve snacks and drinks for 125 survivors and emergency staff at the scene of a disaster
- $250 donation can provide one hot meal to 100 people or keep a hydration station operational for 24 hours
- $500 donation keeps a Salvation Army canteen (mobile feeding unit) fully operational for one day
Originally Posted March 31, 2014
The Salvation Army is now assisting each family as specifically needed. Individuals and families can visit the Joint Resource Centers in Arlington and Darrington, where they meet with The Salvation Army and other agencies. Each agency is designated to provide specific aid. Sadly, some families lost everything – homes, cars, and more. The Salvation Army is providing emergency financial assistance so they can begin to rebuild their lives, including temporary housing, household items, food, clothing, medical care, and transportation.
Other families are impacted indirectly, and need support in other ways. For example, with the closure of highway 530, commute time from Darrington to Everett and Seattle has increased significantly (100 and 125 miles, respectively). We are providing fuel vouchers for people who need to make the trip. For individuals who have missed days of work, we can help with grocery vouchers, rent or utility assistance, and more.
The Salvation Army will be at the Joint Resource Centers daily, continuing to assess the needs of each family, and helping them rebuild as needed.
Originally Posted 25 March 2014
Salvation Army teams have been deployed to provide immediate relief to those impacted by the mudslides in Snohomish County, WA. The Salvation Army sent a mobile canteen (feeding unit) to provide meals and water to the first responders at the disaster. In the future, The Salvation Army will assist in the restoration efforts.
"The Salvation Army has been working in Snohomish County for more than 125 years," reported Major Doug Tollerud, Divisional Commander of The Salvation Army in Washington state. "And we'll continue to serve this community as needed in the future -- in good times and in times of disaster."