• Donald Felice

The Salvation Army on the Move in Georgia

ATLANTA, GA (September 14, 2017) – The Salvation Army of Georgia is on the move to confront the panorama of destruction across the Peach State after remnants of Irma swept through earlier Monday and Tuesday. As citizens across the state begin to return and rebuild, The Salvation Army’s Incident Management Team (IMT) moved their location from Atlanta to Savannah, and closer to the most heavily impacted areas in the state. 

The damage from Irma’s raging winds and punishing rains initially appeared significant and widespread, but short of catastrophic. “This is a story that is yet unfolding,” said Major Douglas McClure, Georgia Incident Management Commander. “We are here to help people impacted by the storm and will continually assess the best deployment of our resources to do so.”

Additional Salvation Army reinforcements, deployed from the National Capital/Virginia Division, arrives today with eight canteens to help with relief efforts in Georgia. Across the state in fixed and mobile locations, Salvation Army units continue to provide food services and emotional and spiritual care.

Coastal and Southern Georgia area service highlights:

• Savannah Corps – provided feeding for Savannah Civic Center, Hunter Air Field and Southside Fire Department and Chatham County EOC. Distributed 975 meals and 1,675 drinks and snacks.
• Brunswick – Glenn and McIntosh counties evacuated. No services provided on Monday due to the storm.
• Albany – Provided food services to Albany Civic Center; served 1,350meals and 1,700 drinks and snacks.
• Waycross – Provided food support to Ware County High School. Distributed 1,200 meals.
• Valdosta – Currently providing meals, drinks, and snacks at Mathis Auditorium Distributed 30 meals and 225 drinks and snacks, and spiritual and emotional care for 11 people.
• Thomasville – Provided food support at two locations; Distributed 75 meals, 100 drinks, and spiritual and emotional care for 34 people.
• Tifton – Provided food services at the ABAC-Gressett Gym. Distributed 450 meals and 1,350 drinks and snacks
• Americus – Provided food assistance, including EOC. Distributed 40 meals and 225 drinks and snacks.

Metro Atlanta, central and north Georgia:

• Metro Atlanta Area Command – Provided accommodations and food support for additional people. Distributed 250 meals and drinks, provided emotional and spiritual care for 15 people, distributed 45 comfort kits, and provided shelter for 50 people.
• Central GA Command (Macon) – Provided food support to Brooks East Macon Center, North Park Community Center, Frank Johnson Community Center, and Memorial Park. Distributed 1,700 meals and 1,950 drinks and snacks.
• Columbus – Shelter in operation at the Civic Center. Looking to establish food services shortly.
• Augusta – Family store and Kroc Center both sustained damage. Provided food service to Trinity on the Hill, Brigham Community Center, Patriots Park, Warrant Community Center, Pinehill Middle School, and the EOC. Distributed 1,950 meals and spiritual and emotional care for 50 people.

As of Wednesday evening, September 13, 33,273 meals, 50,562 drinks and 20,509 snacks and 8,319 emotional and spiritual care contacts were provided for those in Georgia impacted by Hurricane Irma.

How to help those impacted by Hurricane Harvey and Irma

The best way to help survivors and relief workers is to make a financial contribution. Monetary donations allow disaster responders to immediately meet the specific needs of disaster survivors as the need continues to be assessed. The Salvation Army asks people who want to help those directly affected by the storm to visit helpsalvationarmy.org, call 1-800-SAL-ARMY or text “Storm” to 51555.

For the latest emergency disaster services news, please visit www.disaster.salvationarmymusa.org and follow the disaster services team on Twitter @SalArmyEDS.