• Katie Emer

Update: Salvation Army Disaster Relief Efforts for Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties

Pensacola, Fla. (May 1st, 2014) – The Salvation Army of Pensacola has wrapped up another busy day of disaster relief, serving victims, volunteers, and first responders as they began the cleanup process in many areas.

TODAY
Six canteens were deployed throughout Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties, along with two ATVs (four-wheelers) that were able to get into areas unreachable by vehicle. We served sandwiches, fruit and chips for lunch, and a hot spaghetti dinner. In some really hard-hit areas of Piedmont Road and Bristol Creek, the ATVs were able to take water by the caseloads to residents that have not been reached by anyone.

Below are the areas they concentrated on today:
1. Dogwood Road
2. Crescent Lake
3. Piedmont Road
4. Cypress Ridge Apartments (W Fairfield Dr)
5. Salvation Army Pensacola Corps Emergency Shelter
6. Gulfbreeze

Crews from Panama City, Tallahassee, Melbourne and Ocala have come in to assist with disaster relief and staff the canteens. A crew and canteen from Jacksonville will arrive tonight and begin serving tomorrow.

The Salvation Army of Pensacola has also opened its gymnasium as a 24-hour emergency shelter, providing food, hydration and lodging for anyone in need of a safe place to sleep and stay. It will remain open through the weekend. A large majority of the guests are homeless that had no where else to go when The Waterfront Rescue Mission flooded.

Today, we also saw a huge increase in social service assistance - working on 80 cases of financial, clothing, furniture and food assistance. Flood victims can visit The Salvation Army of Pensacola Corps Community Center (1501 N Q Street) for an assistance interview. Proof of address and ID are requested if available.

"We are expecting an even busier weekend, as people return home for the first time now that the work week is over," explained Captain Bob Cornett, Area Commander for The Salvation Army of Pensacola. "The Salvation Army will be here for them as they begin to pick up pieces, and we'll be here for the long haul. For now, we'll focus on keeping them fed and hydrated as they sift through the damage and providing emotional support, as well."

THIS WEEKEND
The Salvation Army of Pensacola will continue serving Escambia & Santa Rosa Counties with SEVEN canteens and TWO ATVs all weekend. Saturday they will be out all day again. Sunday, we'll have a church service at 10:30am, followed by lunch, and the canteens will head out at 3:30pm to serve dinner in the community.

We are expecting large deliveries of clean-up kits, water and food boxes over the weekend that we will work to distribute immediately to those in need.

The Salvation Army of Pensacola is still receiving calls from Emergency Management officials and searching for more areas of need.

The Salvation Army is also working with The Waterfront Rescue Mission, taking care of their displaced homeless residents. The WRM building damage was assessed, and they will not be able to return for two weeks. The Salvation Army has offered to continue a 24-hour emergency shelter for them and anyone else in need through the weekend. Beginning Monday, we'll transition into an evening shelter for The Waterfront Rescue Mission residents from 7:30pm to 7:30am.

ESCAMBIA & SANTA ROSA COUNTIES DISASTER STATS TO DATE  
Meals & Snacks Provided 2,427
Drinks Provided 3,521
People Received Spiritual Care & Worship 216
Social Service Assistance Cases 86
Nights of Lodging Provided 309

For anyone interested in supporting the emergency relief efforts of The Salvation Army, they can:
· Give online at www.SalvationArmyUSA.org
· Call 1-800-SAL-ARMY (725-2769) to donate by credit card
· Text the word “STORM” to 80888 to make a $10 donation from your mobile phone (To confirm your gift, respond with the work “Yes.”)

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

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The Salvation Army, an evangelical part of the universal Christian church established in London in 1865. 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: http://disaster.salvationarmyusa.org

*A one-time donation of $10 will be added to your mobile phone bill or deducted from your prepaid balance. Message and 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. All purchases must be authorized by account holder. By participating, you certify that you are 18 years or older and/or have parental permission. Donations are collected for The Salvation Army 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.