Fact Sheet: The Salvation Army Response to Hurricane Dorian in Bahamas and USA
As the Bahama islands begin to recover from the destruction of Hurricane Dorian, The Salvation Army is prepared to meet immediate needs of food, clothing, tarpaulins and clean-up kits, and emotional and spiritual care. As the storm crawls towards North and South Carolinas, The Salvation Army’s network of trained disaster staff and volunteers are on the ground, ready to serve. With more than 7,600 centers of operation across the country, The Salvation Army is uniquely positioned to mobilize and serve communities before, during, and after a natural disaster strikes.
Grand Bahama, along with Abaco island to the east, has experienced severe flooding and structural damage as a result of the Category 5 hurricane.
“The damage from Dorian has been catastrophic,” said Major Clarence Ingram, Salvation Army divisional commander in the Bahamas. “Compounding the transport and logistics difficulties, the airports are closed because of the effects of the storm. Right now, the best way to support response efforts is by making a financial contribution. This allows necessary items to be purchased and ensures that disaster survivors receive assistance quickly.”
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Disaster Response and Preparedness Overview (September 5)
- In The Bahamas, The Salvation Army is preparing shelters for evacuees from Abaco and sorting clothing for distribution.
- In the U.S., more than 50 mobile feeding units (canteens) are on standby in Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina for post-landfall deployment to serve survivors and first responders.
- Each mobile unit can serve 500 to 1,500 meals per day.
- Additional trailers are being positioned along the coast to distribute water.
- 12,861 meals, 16,249 drinks, and 13,820 snacks have been served to date.
- More than 1,774 individuals have received emotional and spiritual care.
- Volunteers have also gathered at The Salvation Army's Emergency Disaster Services warehouse in Tampa to pack clean-up kits that include trash bags, sponges, gloves, bleach, hand sanitizer, and other supplies.
- The Salvation Army estimates more than 3,300 clean-up kits will be packed within just a few days.
The Salvation Army will work with state and local emergency management officials to determine needs and coordinate resources. “We are part of the solution,” says Mike Patterson, Emergency Disaster Services Director for The Salvation Army of the Carolinas. “One organization can’t do it all but serving together, we can use our strengths to help people when tragedy strikes.”
For more information on The Salvation Army’s continued response, visit salvationarmyusa.org. To make a financial gift to support Hurricane Dorian relief:
- Donate online: www.HelpSalvationArmy.org
- Donate by phone: 1-800-SAL-ARMY (1-800-725-2769)
- Donate by mail: The Salvation Army, PO Box 1959, Atlanta, GA 30301
- Designate ‘2019 Hurricane – Dorian’ on all checks
- Donate by Amazon Echo: Say, “Alexa, make a donation to The Salvation Army”