• Becky Russell

Loss of Building Not Stopping Salvation Army In Tuscaloosa, AL

Jackson, MS – Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services (EDS) personnel are currently responding to tornadic activity throughout the southeastern United States.

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.

In Tuscaloosa, one of the hardest hit areas of the storms EDS teams have fed and hydrated more than 1,000 people in the last 24 hours. 3 mobile feeding units are positioned in and around the city at the following locations:

1.       Holt High School: The mobile feeding unit from Columbus MS arrived on scene today and will be distributing food and water in that area of Tuscaloosa.

2.      McFarland Street near Wal-Mart: The mobile feeding unit from Mobile has been dispatched to this area and will be distributing food and water to all those in need.

3.      Eoloine, Al: A Salvation Army catering truck has been dispatched to this small city where many homes were destroyed and the need is great for immediate assistance.

“Right now the community seems to be dealing very well with the aftermath of these devastating storms. People are pulling together their resources as we see churches lining the streets with grills in an effort to meet the needs of their neighbors,” said Lt. Jerry Williams, Incident Commander in Tuscaloosa.

“We are working closely with the Alabama Emergency Operation Center in an effort to assess all the affected areas and we are developing a disaster response plan to meet the needs,” said Williams.

Tuscaloosa’s area coordinate of The Salvation Army was destroyed in the storms. Both the administrative building and the shelter were damaged beyond repair.

“There were 30 of us huddled in the administrative building when the tornado passed over us! But we had a miracle happen here because the building was destroyed but the only injury we had was one bruised thumb,” said Major Cherry Crowder.

“This coordinate has served the Tuscaloosa area for one-hundred years and we will be here to serve another hundred!” said Crowder.

Even though the buildings are destroyed, the Tuscaloosa coordinate, aided by other corps, is on the ground serving the community.

Donations are always needed to offset the costs of services to storm victims. Please visit www.salvationarmyusa.org or call 1-800-SAL-ARMY to donate.

About The Salvation Army

The Salvation Army, an evangelical part of the universal Christian church established in London 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 The Salvation Army spends is used to support those services in 5,000 communities nationwide. For more information, go to www.salvationarmyusa.org.