• Christopher McGown

The Salvation Army Goes On Standby For Carter County, Kentucky Evacuations

Grayson, KY (June 21, 2011) – The Kentucky Division of Emergency Management has reported evacuations in City of Grayon, in Carter County near the Northeastern border of Kentucky.  The cause is reported to be a natural gas leak.

Still an evolving situation, Mr. Joe Hughes, the Divisional Disaster Services Coordinator for the Kentucky & Tennessee Division of The Salvation Army is monitoring the situation closely in conjunction with State and local officials.

The Emergency Disaster Services (EDS) response vehicles and trained crews in Carter County and nearby Ashland, Kentucky have been placed on standby.

When an EDS unit is placed on standby, there is a heightened state of readiness.   Trained crew members (staff and volunteer) would conduct a safety check; prepare important first-response items like coffee, sports drinks, sandwich items, snacks and all important water.   In addition, the crew would make their personal preparations for deployment to a disaster scene.   While often local, they may also be called upon for regional, national, or even international response.   A standard EDS deployment is 14 days.                                                  

Members of our EDS response teams are trained in a variety of positions from vital roles of safely driving those large canteens (mobile kitchen), to food safety & preparation, to leadership roles like Incident Commander, to a staple in the Salvation Army’s holistic EDS response, Emotional & Spiritual Care.

The Salvation Army continues to meet the needs of those impacted by the flooding in Southeastern Kentucky, including those counties where a State of Emergency has been declared by Governor Beshear.   At the same time, they are prepared to meet the needs of those evacuated this evening in Northeastern Kentucky.

For the latest news about Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services or to make a donation in the support of those impacted by this flooding, please visit:   www.disaster.SalvationArmyUSA.org.  You can also call 1-800-SAL-ARMY (1-800-725-2769).

You may also help The Salvation Army now by texting “SAnow” 80888 to make a $10.00 contribution to the relief effort.   The donation will appear on your next phone bill.

 

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For images related Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services, please visit www.TSA.ms/edsinfo.