PRESS RELEASE: Hanna Weakens While Salvation Army Serves Evacuees

Voluntary evacuees served and housed by the Salvation Army

Charlotte, NC. (September 6, 2008) – As Hanna bounced between a Tropical Storm and Hurricane, The Salvation Army opened an emergency shelter in Goldsboro, North Carolina, (Wayne County) where 23 voluntary evacuees found refuge. During the days of preparation and response, emergency response personnel from the Salvation Army served 10,066 meals, drinks, and snacks across the coastal counties of North and South Carolina.

The Salvation Army’s preparations across the two-state region included placing 22 of its Mobile Kitchen Units (Canteens) on STANDBY, serving response personnel at 4 County and 1 State Emergency Operation Center, and the operation of the Wayne County evacuation shelter.

Salvation Army personnel across the Carolinas were notified of a potential deployment and had begun to prepare to meet the needs of storm victims and/or evacuees on Tuesday, September 2. All Salvation Army centers along the Interstate 95 corridor through North and South Carolina were activated to STANDBY for disaster response and service.

“While many areas of the Carolinas are experiencing localized flooding and have seen minor property damage, it is a blessing that Hanna has come and gone with no loss of life”, said Captain John Leidy, Incident Commander for the Salvation Army’s Tropical Storm Hanna response team. “While we are still providing some response services’ following Tropical Storm Hanna, our attention now is focused on preparations for Hurricane Ike, ensuring the Carolinas is safeguarded, and resources are in place for supporting service to the Gulf”.

In addition to feeding, sheltering and evacuation, The Salvation Army is prepared to provide:

· Clean-up kits containing brooms, mops, buckets and cleaning supplies

· Hygiene kits

· Drinking water

· Shower units

· First-aid supplies

· Missing persons support through The Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network (www.satern.org) and

· Emotional/spiritual care

The Salvation Army asks people who want to help those affected by Hurricane Hanna to visit http://www.salvationarmycarolinas.org/ or call 1-800-SAL-ARMY. Monetary donations will be used to meet survivors’ most immediate needs. A $100 donation will feed a family of four for two days and will provide two cases of drinking water and one household cleanup kit (containing brooms, mops, buckets and cleaning supplies). The Salvation Army currently is not accepting donations of clothing and furniture for storm victims; however, please continue supporting your local Salvation Army thrift store and the much needed programs your in-kind gifts support.