Salvation Army Continues Supporting Victims of Hurricane Katrina

The Salvation Army is carrying out one of the largest responses in its history. The relief operation has spread out from Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi to neighbouring states Florida and Oklahoma. The team is looking after 120,000 hurricane victims and providing half a million hot meals a day.

However, vehicles have been running out of petrol to maintain the mobile canteens on the road and there are still many needs to attend to. "The victims just want basic life assistance. They’re in shock. Everything they’ve worked for all of their lives is gone," said Major Dalton Cunningham, responsible for Salvation Army work in Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi.

"The gasoline shortage has created a crisis of its own, continued Major Cunningham. "Our canteens are providing much-needed food and water to the victims, but we’re running out of gas and there is simply just no gas available south of Hattiesburg, Mississippi."

22 mobile canteens have been set up by The Salvation Army in New Orleans. Hundreds of people who took refuge at The Salvation Army centre a mile from downtown New Orleans have now been evacuated by rescue teams. They had been stranded with no power or communication and very little food and water since last weekend.

Fifteen canteens are serving along the Gulf Coast, Mississippi, but more are in need inland. Food and water is needed in small towns inland. Eight mobile canteens are serving food and water in Mobile.

According to the Salvation Army, food distribution and feeding at shelters continue in Louisiana, including Alexandria, Tuscaloosa, Selma and Montgomery.

The relief work continues in Alabama, with food, clothing, clothing, blankets and cleanup kits being distributed in different areas. A military base in Anniston has been offered as a possible warehousing location for The Salvation Army.

Feeding continues in Colombus, Mississippi. The state has requested a shelter to be opened in Clay County. The Salvation Army and the state is looking to open shelters for refugees who have nowhere to go after the storm.

The Salvation Army is working alongside local officials at the Houston Astrodome to source local food supplies and to assist with pastoral care. Salvation Army centres along the Louisiana-Texas border are providing shelter and canteen units are serving the victims with food.

Hurricane victims are being assisted by the local Salvation Army church and community centres in Florida. Camp Keystone, a Salvation Army residential camp facility, was to open on Friday to serve as a shelter location. It can shelter 300 people, and trained social workers will be working with families in developing long term plans for recovery.

In Georgia, Salvation Army offices are handling requests from victims needing assistance at locations in Atlanta and Lawrenceville.

The Salvation Army reports that shelters are being opened in Kentucky, Tennessee, to assist the hurricane’s victims. In Memphis, The Salvation Army is working with three other major agencies in a collaborative community effort providing food.

Camp Paradise Valley, a Salvation Army residential camp facility, is scheduled to open as an additional location for hurricane victims. In Oklahoma, Arkansas, people who have left Louisiana and are seeking shelter in their local centres have poured into the Salvation Army centres.

Over 40 inquiries concerning the health and welfare of their loved ones affected by the hurricane have been received by The Salvation Army's Emergency Radio Network SATERN (Salvation Army Team Emergency Network).

SATERN works closely with the Hurricane Watch Net and the Maritime Mobile Net. It collects reports from their net frequencies and is on standby to handle emergency communications from affected areas as the hurricane prepares to make landfall.

As well as providing physical needs, The Salvation Army is also prepared to assist with emotional and pastoral support for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. The Salvation Army officers (ministers) are ready to encourage the victims and offer a compassionate listening ear to residents of areas recovering from the storm.

A donation of US$1 million has been announced by Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., to the Salvation Army. "Financial contributions are greatly needed, and provide The Salvation Army with the funds to purchase what storm victims need,” said Major Cunningham. “They also allow The Salvation Army to assess the unique needs of individuals and families, as well as put money back into the economy of those communities affected by the disaster.”

Before Hurricane Katrina struck the US, The Salvation Army’s Emergency Disaster Services teams in Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi had placed 38 mobile feeding units and two fully-equipped mobile kitchens on preparedness alert to provide support to hurricane victims, emergency aid workers and volunteers in affected areas for as long as they are on the scene.

All Salvation Army units in Florida, Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi were activated to coordinate and stock mobile canteens in preparation for Katrina. They were also prepared to provide other aid to victims and emergency relief personnel.

Online donations to The Salvation Army Hurricane relief effort can be made by visiting www.salvationarmy.org.uk/katrina