Salvation Army Assisting Survivors and First Responders in Aftermath of Flood
Eric Short | eric.short@uss.salvationarmy.org
(Hazard, KY) – The Salvation Army has been assisting in disaster relief for over 100 years, and that experience is proving invaluable in Eastern Kentucky following historic flooding. In just five days, the Salvation Army established an Incident Command Post in Hazard, began serving lunch and dinner daily in Breathitt, Wolfe, Perry, Knott, Floyd and Letcher counties, and secured warehouse space and took several large deliveries of relief supplies for distribution.
Through their use of their proven Incident Command System, the Salvation Army can respond to disasters quickly and establish routines that survivors and first responders can depend on. Incident commanders continually evaluate local conditions from a variety of sources and make decisions for delivery of services based on this information, as well as by working with local officials and other aid agencies.
The results speak for themselves. In five days, the Salvation Army has served:
- 7,410 meals
- 4,454 drinks
- 3,824 snacks
- 700 pieces of clothing
- 923 cleaning supplies
- 569 cases of bottled water
- 1,670 emotional and spiritual care contacts
“The next phase for us is mass distribution of relief supplies to the general public. This begins on Thursday with a water and cleanup kit distribution at our warehouse in Hazard at 1441 East Main Street. The event will run from 11:00am until 3:00pm,” said Bo Sells, Incident Commander for The Salvation Army in Hazard. People in need can drive up to collect cases of bottled water and cleanup kits.
To make a financial donation to this relief effort, please visit helpsalvationarmy.org or call 1-800-SAL-ARMY (800-725-2769). 100% of disaster donations go to help the relief efforts.
About The Salvation ArmyThe Salvation Army annually helps more than 30 million Americans overcome poverty, addiction, and economic hardships through a range of social services. By providing food for the hungry, emergency relief for disaster survivors, rehabilitation for those suffering from drug and alcohol abuse, and clothing and shelter for people in need, The Salvation Army is doing the most good at 7,600 centers of operation around the country. In the first-ever listing of “America’s Favorite Charities” by The Chronicle of Philanthropy, The Salvation Army ranked as the country’s largest privately funded, direct-service nonprofit. For more information, visit www.SalvationArmyUSA.org. Follow us on Twitter @SalvationArmyUS and #DoingTheMostGood.