• Shelley Henderson

Salvation Army Hurricane Michael Service Update for Florida Panhandle

Tallahassee, FL (November 7, 2018) –The Salvation Army continues its efforts to meet the needs of the Florida Panhandle almost four weeks following Hurricane Michael. Today 43 mobile feeding units with crews of food service workers and emotional and spiritual care specialists are working to feed, hydrate, and give hope to people impacted by Hurricane Michael. The Salvation Army is also distributing hygiene kits, MRE’s (meals ready-to-eat), food boxes, cleaning supplies and tarps.

Life is returning to a new normal in communities in the Florida Panhandle. Power is restored in most areas where the infrastructure allows. Power restoration means that grocery stores are opening and households can now cook and keep food cold. In those areas, the number of fixed feeding locations is decreasing and mobile feeding units are roving through the area looking for neighborhoods and communities who still need support.

Yesterday in Panama City, The Salvation Army distributed 51 pallets of supplies in the community and served more than 11,000 meals to disaster survivors. The Salvation Army has served more than 599,400 meals to storm survivors across the Panhandle since October 11.

The Salvation AArmy continues to partner with Operation BBQ Relief and Southern Baptist Disaster Relief to provide meals for distribution through mobile feeding units. Midwest Food Bank will continue to provide food boxes and hygiene kits for distribution. 

Total Stats as of November 7, 2018

• Meals: 599,421
• Drinks: 294,285
• Snacks: 409,576
• Hygiene Kits: 12,183
• Food Boxes: 7,929
• Tarps: 7,164
• Clean-up Kits: 2,957
• 38,474 emotional and spiritual care contacts with hurricane survivors

How People Can Help

• 100-percent of designated gifts will be used in support of those affected by Hurricane Michael.
• Response efforts to this hurricane and flooding are expected to be costly and last for years. The best way to help after a disaster is to make a financial donation.
• Donate by phone: 1-800-SAL-ARMY (1-800-725-2769)
• Donate by mail: The Salvation Army, PO Box 1959, Atlanta, GA (Please designate ‘2018 Hurricanes – Michael’ on all checks.)
• Donate online: www.HelpSalvationArmy.org
• Donate by text: Text STORM to 51555 to receive a donation link for easy mobile giving