The Salvation Army
Disaster Response History
Updated
August 19, 2009
Galveston Hurricane: September 8, 1900: The
Salvation Army's first major disaster response effort in the United States
followed the devastating hurricane that impacted Galveston, TX in 1900,
literally destroying the coastal city and killing over 5,000 people. At the
behest of National Commander Frederick Booth-Tucker, Army officers from across
the country moved into the Galveston area to help clean, feed and shelter the
thousands of survivors, while also providing much needed spiritual and
emotional support.
San Francisco Earthquake: April 18,
1906: The Salvation Army again responded to a major natural disaster in the
spring of 1906, when an 8.25 magnitude earthquake rocked San Francisco, leading to three days of
fires and 3,000 or more deaths. Salvation Army personnel established feeding
stations and shelters throughout downtown San Francisco
and into Oakland.
The earthquake also marked the first time The Salvation Army coordinated a
major, nationwide fundraising effort in response to a disaster.
- 30,000 individuals fed
- 9,000 individuals sheltered
- $15,000 donated (over $300,000 in 2006 dollars)
9/11 Terrorist Attacks: September
11, 2001: The Salvation Army was the first relief agency to reach Ground Zero,
reporting within a half-hour following the first plane crash at the World Trade
Center site. With its mobile canteens, counselors and thousands of volunteers,
The Salvation Army served relief workers at the WTC site for over 9 months;
leaving only when operations at Ground Zero officially concluded in May, 2002.
In the course of the relief effort, dubbed "Operation Compassion Under Fire",
The Salvation Army was granted full control of the feeding operation at Ground
Zero and also distributed other essential items to relief workers. Perhaps most
importantly, Salvation Army counselors provided emotional and spiritual support
to rescue and recovery workers working under incredibly difficult conditions.
- 3.2 million meals served
- 39,000 TSA officers, volunteers and staff provided assistance
- 1 million volunteer hours provided
- $90 million donated
Indian Ocean Earthquake: December 26, 2004: An earthquake on the floor of the Indian Ocean
triggered a series of catastrophic tsunamis that caused widespread devastation
and killed nearly 200,000 people in coastal communities in East
Asia. A full time presence in the region since the 1890s enabled
The Salvation Army to be on the ground providing immediate disaster relief to
affected individuals within hours of the earthquake. Restoration and long-term
recovery work, including home building and repair, sanitation infrastructure
improvement and business development outreach will continue in the region for
the foreseeable future.
- 2,200 homes to be constructed (500 completed)
- 250,000 people assisted
- $43 million donated ($24 million from the U.S.)
Hurricane Katrina: August 29, 2005: Hurricane Katrina made landfall on the Gulf Coast
of the United States
as a strong Category 3 storm on August 29, 2005. The storm proved to be one of
the costliest and most deadly in U.S. history. Huge sections of
coastline in Alabama, Louisiana
and Mississippi
were utterly devastated and approximately 1,600 individuals died as a result of
the storm. The Salvation Army responded to the immediate needs of survivors
following Katrina and other storms during the unusually active 2005 hurricane
season. The Army continues to serve individuals and families affected by
Katrina by coordinating long-term clean-up and restoration efforts, providing
financial and social service support to hurricane survivors and offering
spiritual and emotional care to those impacted by the disaster.
- 5.6 million meals served
- 3.3 million people assisted
- $382 million donated
Today: The Salvation Army continues to work closely with
federal, state and local authorities to assist in responding to natural and man-made
disasters wherever and whenever they occur. In the last few years alone, the
Army has provided on-site support during major emergency situations including the
Virginia Tech shootings, the Minnesota bridge
collapse, the southern California wildfires
and the Midwest floods. These are just a few
examples of the dozens of emergencies to which the Army responds each and every
year.