Salvation Army Helps Out in Flood-Hit Regions

The Salvation Army in Yorkshire has been busy over the past few days assisting the relief effort as the region is hit by severe flooding.

Corps (Churches) in Filey, Hull, Doncaster and Dinnington, have been busy helping the local authorities and emergency services provide shelter, blankets, bedding, clothes, food, refreshments and spiritual support to many affected residents.

In Filey, North Yorkshire, Majors Paul and Susan Robinson assisted residents who were evacuated from their homes following the discovery of a World War Two bomb washed up due to the heavy flood waters.

The officers and volunteers at Filey Corps gave shelter, food and refreshments to 12 people who were displaced because of safety fears around the incident dealt with by a bomb disposal unit.

Meanwhile in Hull, on the east coast of Yorkshire, Major Jonathan Greetham and volunteers from Hull Icehouse Corps provided practical support and spiritual care on Monday to 20 pensioners who were evacuated and temporarily staying at the University of Hull on Cottingham Road.

Later that evening Salvation Army volunteers used their cars to transport the pensioners from the University to the council headquarters at the City Hall, where an emergency shelter was established.

The Salvation Army also made several extra trips to deliver much-needed blankets, pillows and duvets to City Hall, where up to 600 Hull residents were housed overnight.

Major Greetham, who is a former RAF medic, said Salvation Army volunteers stayed at the City Hall and got along side people to provide emotional and spiritual support. "Many people simply wanted to chat, while a lot were frightened and concerned for family members. There were also stranded travellers who couldn't get out of the city.

"It's also important to think about rough sleepers and people without a home during this emergency situation. I had a homeless man visit yesterday who was absolutely drenched and needed somewhere to dry out."

The Salvation Army is also on alert, at the request of Hull & East Riding Emergency Control, to provide blankets and bedding if standby rest centres are opened in the towns of Beverley, Goole, and Withernsea.

And in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, the Salvation Army Doncaster Corps building has been turned into a rest centre for people displaced by flooding. On Tuesday night, up to 96 people were provided with shelter at the facility on Booth Avenue.

In nearby Dinnington, the Corps building was also serving as a rest centre for evacuees affected by rising flood waters caused by the threatened Ulley Dam.

Again, residents were served with hot drinks, food, clothing, bedding and spiritual support.

Major David Tribble, Divisional Director for Social Services for The Salvation Army in Yorkshire, himself sourced sleeping bags and towels for people staying at the rest centre in Dinnington.

Major Tribble said: "This has been a tremendous relief effort by Salvation Army staff assisting the local authorities and emergency services to help people affected by flooding across the Yorkshire region.

"We also have a mobile canteen on standby to go and support people working to relief the threatened dam if needed. The rest centres in Doncaster and Dinnington are still open and assisting people."






Reprinted in Christian Today with the kind permission of The Salvation Army