Louisville, KY – The Salvation Army is expanding its Emergency Disaster Services (EDS) response across both Kentucky and Tennessee following devastating storms that swept through the region April 3–6, bringing historic rainfall, flooding, and multiple tornadoes.
Over the course of several days, a stalled frontal boundary dumped 10 to 15 inches of rain on communities across both states. The resulting floods led to multiple evacuations, severe property damage, and the tragic loss of life. Tornadoes also struck several areas, including an EF-3 tornado in Selmer, Tennessee, where The Salvation Army served through the weekend before concluding operations on Monday.
As of April 8, The Salvation Army has deployed additional mobile feeding units and support teams in West Tennessee, Western Kentucky, and Central Kentucky, including:
- Obion and Dyer Counties, TN, where the entire town of Rives was evacuated due to severe flooding. Approximately 300 evacuees are being served by The Salvation Army at local hotels.
- Ballard and McCracken Counties, KY, where meals were provided to first responders conducting search and rescue missions.
- The Purchase Region of far Western Kentucky, where The Salvation Army is supporting flood survivors with food and basic necessities.
- Marshall and Hickman Counties, KY, where cleanup kits have been delivered to flood survivors beginning recovery efforts.
- Woodford County, KY, where cleanup kits and meals are being distributed to impacted residents.
- And starting Wednesday, April 9, The Salvation Army will begin lunch and dinner service in Shepherdsville, KY, after the Salt River crested at nearly 37 feet, its highest level since 1997.
Response Totals Since April 3
The Salvation Army has provided:
- 1,972 meals served
- 2,551 drinks distributed
- 1,584 snacks provided
- 222 cleanup kits delivered
- 210 emotional & spiritual care contacts made
“We are uniquely positioned to respond to a disaster of this scale,” said Bo Sells, Incident Commander for The Salvation Army’s operation, “because The Salvation Army already has a presence in nearly every ZIP code in America. Our teams are embedded in these communities and are committed to staying for as long as we’re needed.”
The Salvation Army is working closely with state and local emergency management officials to ensure that resources are delivered effectively to those in need.
How the Public Can Help
The best way for the public to support ongoing disaster relief efforts is through financial contributions:
- Online: https://helpsalvationarmy.org
- Phone: 1-800-SAL-ARMY
Monetary donations allow The Salvation Army to purchase and deliver exactly what survivors need—quickly and efficiently.
