• Jennifer Dodd

Salvation Army Expands Emergency Disaster Services in Oklahoma

Moore, OK (June 1, 2013 9:00 a.m.) – May 31, 2013, brought intense storms with flooding and multiple tornadoes to already physically damaged and emotionally battered communities around Oklahoma City.

Learning of the loss of nine additional lives and the injuries to dozens of others, Major Tom Louden, Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services Incident Commander, said, "The Salvation Army shares in the grief for the loss that our community has experienced. We are praying for God's comfort and that he will use us as his instrument of love and compassion."

The Salvation Army has been on the ground in Moore, Shawnee, Little Axe, and surrounding communities, meeting physical needs and providing emotional and spiritual support to survivors, since the May 19 and 20 tornadoes that devastated several communities around the Oklahoma City area. After last night’s tornadoes, Major Louden announced that The Salvation Army will be expanding Emergency Disaster Services (EDS) to encompass the newly affected areas, including the hardest hit community of El Reno.

The Salvation Army was closely monitoring weather forecasts and conditions through the week, modifying services as necessary to protect the safety of our staff, officers, volunteers, and those we serve. Because all Salvation Army EDS staff, officers, and volunteers were alerted to secure all equipment and seek safe shelter from the storm, no Salvation Army facilities or vehicles were damaged.

As of 9:00 this morning The Salvation Army has already mobilized additional personnel and resources to support tornado survivors, Search and Rescue crews, and other emergency response personnel in the storm-ravaged areas. Additional feeding crews, canteens (mobile feeding units), and Emotional & Spiritual Care counselors have been mobilized to provide food, hydration, and counseling.

Today The Salvation Army’s EDS force is some 250 strong on the ground, with 150 volunteers and 100 Salvation Army officers and staff, and committed to meeting the needs of the communities affected by these tornadoes, both in the short and the long term:  "The Salvation Army was part of these communities before these tornadoes,” Major Louden said, “we will serve our neighbors through this time of need, and we will remain here long after these storms have passed.

Responses to storms like these last many months after the tragedy and can only happen through the goodwill of the public. We are asking people to support us in this effort by texting STORM to 80888 or calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY.

FOR UPDATES:
Major Tom Louden, The Salvation Army’s EDS Incident Commander is on the ground in Oklahoma City and can speak via phone, Skype, or on camera to what The Salvation Army has done to date and plans to do moving forward. To arrange an interview, contact EDSPublic Information Officer Jennifer Dodd at 405-613-9698 or Jennifer_Dodd@uss.salvationarmy.org.

For the latest updates on The Salvation Army’s response to this disaster, there are many options to follow:

• disaster.SalvationArmyUSA.org
• www.salvationarmyaok.org
• Blog.SalvationArmyUSA.org
• www.salvationarmytoday.org
• www.youtube.com/salarmyeds
• http://salvationarmytoday.org
 

Since May 19, 2013 The Salvation Army has provided 41,781 meals, 56,046 drinks, and 43,185 snacks, 23 Canteens (mobile feeding units), 1,080 Clean Up and 1,664 Comfort (hygiene) kits, and prayer with 5,560 persons. More than 9,322 hours have been logged by volunteers, employees and officers.

UPDATES BY LOCATION
The Salvation Army will continue to provide relief services for Oklahoma tornado survivors indefinitely.

Food, hydration, emotional and spiritual care and other supplies are being provided to residents of the heavily impacted areas including:
Canadian County (El Reno), Cleveland County (Little Axe), Lincoln County (Carney), Pottawatomie County (Shawnee and surrounding area) and Moore.
• Overall, The Salvation Army is providing food, hydration, emotional and spiritual counseling, and other items including:

• Clean-up Supplies
• Hygiene Products
• Household Goods
• Financial Assistance to Tornado Survivors
• Salvation Army Family Stores Clothing Vouchers to Tornado Survivors

MARCs (Multi-Agency Resource Centers)
Hours:  Doors Open at 9:00 a.m.
The Salvation Army is providing:
• Financial Assistance to Tornado Survivors
• Salvation Army Family Stores Clothing Vouchers to Tornado Survivors

Lincoln County:
Carney: Carney High School – Rooms 5, 6, 7
  304 S. Carney Road
  Carney, OK

Pottawatomie County:
Shawnee: Gordon Cooper Vo-Tech (Sky Labs 1 & 2 and Dining Facility)
  1 John C. Bruton Boulevard
  Shawnee, OK
  I-40 and Highway 18

Cleveland County:
Little Axe: Little Axe Elementary School
  2000 168th Avenue NE
  Norman, OK (Highway 9 and 168th)

Moore: Westmoore High School
  12613 S. Western Ave.
  Moore, OK
 
IN KIND EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE (Bulk Distribution) of In-Kind Gifts
Cleveland County: Revival of Christ Church
Distribution begins at 9:00 a.m.
  1005 SW 4th Street
  Moore, OK

Plaza Mayor at the Crossroads:
Distribution 9:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.
  7000 Crossroads Boulevard
  Oklahoma City, OK
  (Located on SE Corner of mall in former JC Penney store)
Directions: Use I-240 entrance. Drive behind the AMC Theatre and park at the JC Penney Entrance.

FIXED FEEDING LOCATIONS
• Canteen located at Revival of Christ Church, 1005 SW 4th Street, Moore.
• Westmoore High School MARC (Multi-Agency Recovery Center) at 12613 S. Western Ave., Oklahoma City.
• Little Axe Elementary at 2000 168th Avenue NE, Norman (Highway 9 and 168th).
• Chick-fil-A's truck will be roaming affected neighborhoods in Moore all day offering drinks and sandwiches.

NATIONALLY:
• The Salvation Army maintains a fleet of disaster vehicles and supply warehouses across the United States to enable speedy mobilization.
• There are more than 300 emergency response vehicles in the eastern and southern United States alone and nearly 600 units nationwide.
• These units are able to serve thousands of meals and drinks per day when operating at full capacity.
• In addition to food, hydration, and emotional and spiritual care, The Salvation Army is also prepared to provide:

• Clean-up Kits (containing brooms, mops, buckets and cleaning supplies)
• Hygiene Kits
• Household Goods
• Financial Assistance to Tornado Survivors
• Salvation Army Family Stores Clothing Vouchers to Tornado Survivors

DONATIONS:
Monetary donations are the most critical need as supplies and personnel move into the areas of greatest need.

• Donors are encouraged to give online at www.SalvationArmyUSA.org or by calling
1-800-SAL-ARMY (1-800-725-2769).
• You can also text the word “STORM” to 80888 to make a $10 donation through your mobile phone; to confirm your gift, respond with the word “Yes.”*
• Checks may be made out to:
The Salvation Army Disaster Relief
PO BOX 2536
Oklahoma City, OK 73102
Please designate “Oklahoma May Tornadoes” on all checks.

Your donations make a real difference.
• A $10 donation feeds a disaster survivor for one day.
• A $30 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.
• A $100 donation can serve snacks and drinks for 125 survivors and emergency personnel at the scene of a disaster.
• A $250 donation can provide one hot meal to 100 people or keep a hydration station operational for 24 hours.
• A $500 donation keeps a Salvation Army canteen (mobile feeding unit) fully operational for one day.

In-Kind:
• Corporations, foundations and others interested in donating to The Salvation Army response effort should contact Lanita Lloyd at Lanita_Lloyd@uss.salvationarmy.org or 404-728-1300 ext. 10680.
• Due to the high expense and time demands associated with delivering your gently used household goods and clothing (gifts-in-kind), The Salvation Army cannot guarantee that any individual gifts-in-kind donated will be sent to the disaster area. In times of disaster, our stores fill these needs from existing, pre-sorted stock. By continuing to donate gently used household goods to your local Salvation Army store, you not only help your community, you help us prepare for future disaster relief needs. To find your nearest drop-off location, please visit www.satruck.org.

VOLUNTEERS:
• Those interested in volunteering should register at www.disaster.salvationarmyusa.org. Please note that disaster service training is a prerequisite for volunteering in a disaster zone and not all registered volunteers will be called on to serve.
• www.ServeMoore.com or by calling 866-484-3500. It is a coordinated volunteer effort.

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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 more than 130 years in the United States. Nearly 30 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year through a broad 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.

*A one-time donation of $10 will be added to your mobile phone bill or deducted from your prepaid balance. Message & Data Rates May Apply. All charges are billed by and payable to your mobile service provider. Service is available on Verizon Wireless, AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile. By participating you certify that you agree to the terms and conditions, that you are 18 yrs. or older, or have parental permission, and have authorization from the account holder. Donations are collected for the benefit of The Salvation Army by the Innovative Giving Foundation and subject to the terms found at igfn.org/t. Privacy policy: igfn.org/p. Text STOP to 80888 to stop; Text HELP to 80888 for help.