• Donald Felice

The Salvation Army of Georgia Ready to Respond as Florence Slams Carolinas

ATLANTA, GA (September 14, 2018) – The Salvation Army in Georgia is mobilized and stands ready to respond to areas affected by Hurricane Florence. Four Georgia Salvation Army canteens (mobile kitchen units) from Atlanta, Newnan, Dublin, and Valdosta, Georgia, and their accompanying disaster-trained staff, crew and volunteers are poised in Charlotte, NC staging centers, ready to deploy to provide mass feeding, hydration and spiritual care to the most affected areas. Additional staff and crew from Elberton and Vidalia, Georgia, and three additional emotional and spiritual care personnel, are part of the Georgia contingent. The Georgia units have joined forces with other Salvation Army units responding from the Carolinas and other parts of the southeastern U.S. to provide disaster relief.

Hurricane Florence made landfall in North Carolina as a category 1 hurricane – far from the strength it had earlier in the Atlantic as a category 4 hurricane. However, Florence’s slow pace brings with it strong winds, tidal surges and devastating flood waters that severely impact the lives of those in her path.

“We continue to assess and evaluate the situation,” says Lanita Lloyd, Emergency Disaster Director for The Salvation Army of Georgia, “The Salvation Army of Georgia has 14 additional canteens, complete with staff, crew and volunteers, plus an incident command team on standby, ready to deploy to assist in those areas most affected wherever and whenever needed.”

Forecasters predict conditions will continue to deteriorate as the storm makes its way slowly inland. Its surge will cover most of the Carolina coast under as much as 11 feet of ocean water, and there will be days of downpours that could unload more than 3 feet of rain, touching off severe flooding.

According to Lloyd, the disaster situation in the Carolinas can change quickly, so The Salvation Army is continually assessing it to determine the best possible response. The major concern is flood waters, which can hamper access to impacted areas.

 “The Salvation Army in Georgia is ready to respond aggressively and serve compassionately to help those impacted by Florence,” says Lloyd, “We stand ready to send multiple feeding units in the coming days and weeks to support the residents of each community who need help and hope. Our love and prayers go out to each of them."

In times of disaster, 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.

You can support the ongoing relief work of The Salvation Army by making a financial donation at to www.helpsalvationarmy.org, call 1-800-SAL-ARMY, text STORM to 51555. For updates on The Salvation Army’s emergency disaster response efforts, visit www.disaster.salvationarmyusa.org.