Structural Damage, Water and Power Outages Complicate Evacuee Return
Alexandria, Va. (September 3, 2008) – Salvation Army disaster response teams today responded across southern Louisiana to meet the immediate needs of emergency responders and others affected by Hurricane Gustav. Response teams are providing food and water, emotional and spiritual care and ongoing support for the sheltering and transport of those who have evacuated. Wind and water damage, downed power lines and water outages, which are expected to last for several more days, have created a significant need for food and water in those areas as responders work to repair infrastructure and get businesses re-opened. The Salvation Army is seeking donations from corporate and public donors to ensure a long-term recovery operation will continue to provide critical services for those affected by the storm.
“This storm is not over yet. The wind and water may have died down, but there are still many people who are in need,” said Major Gene Hogg, Divisional Secretary for Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi. “Until the infrastructure can be restored, our canteens are some of the only sources of food and water for many people who are in these most heavily impacted areas.”
More than 20 mobile feeding units, known as canteens, and more than 80 personnel are currently serving in Baton Rouge, New Orleans and parishes in southern Louisiana. In New Orleans, canteen crews are providing food service to emergency workers at the Superdome, Union Station and the Lakeside Shopping Center, among other locations, and are awaiting the arrival of evacuees later this week.
In Houma, La., about 75 miles west of New Orleans, an incident command center has been set up to dispatch resources in that area. While most canteens are roving, many are returning to specific locations each day to serve lunch and dinner. The Army is working with local media and local governments to distribute information on feeding sites.
In Texas, The Salvation Army is supporting the safe return of evacuees to their homes. Three shelters continue to house dozens of people and food service is being provided in San Antonio and other locations.
Yesterday, Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe visited Salvation Army units and the National Guard in Fort Chaffee where thousands of evacuees are being served.
“We really need the public to respond to this tragedy to support our long-term operation,” said Major Hogg. “We just finished serving many people who were impacted by Hurricane Dolly in July, and we are still serving people in Florida who were flooded out by Hurricane Fay. Plus, we’ve got three or four other storms that are threatening the southeast. Even if they don’t cause serious damage, we must be prepared to respond.”
The Salvation Army has already served nearly 200,000 meals throughout the Gulf Coast area as a result of Hurricane Gustav and has a feeding capacity from Texas to Florida of more than 560,000 meals per day. This includes food service for evacuees, volunteers and other emergency response workers who are helping in the evacuation. The Salvation Army has more than 65mobile feeding units, four 54-foot mobile kitchens and multiple fixed feeding sites at its Corps and other outposts throughout the region. The Salvation Army also has 105 canteens on reserve should the need arise, and continues to provide assistance at multiple shelters throughout the southeastern United States.
As part of its disaster response operation, The Salvation Army also 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 Gustav to visit www.salvationarmyusa.org or call 1-800-SAL-ARMY. Monetary donations are needed 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.
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