The Salvation Army USA National Fact Sheet - Oklahoma Tornadoes - May 21, 2013

May 22, 2013

Alexandria, VA (May 21, 2013) - For the latest updates on The Salvation Army's response to this disaster, please visit blog.salvationarmyusa.org, www.facebook.com/salvationarmyusa or www.twitter.com/salvationarmyus.

The Salvation Army's Emergency Disaster Services (EDS) is providing food, beverage, and spiritual support to survivors and first responders following the severe tornado activity in Moore, OK and surrounding impacted areas on May 20.

  • The Salvation Army is on the ground in Moore, OK, with multiple disaster response units (canteens) and personnel coordinating with Local and State Emergency Management to serve first responders and those affected by the tornado.
  • Canteens involved in the response from Oklahoma include:
    • Central Oklahoma Area Command (Oklahoma City)
    • Ardmore
    • Enid
    • Lawton
    • McAlester
    • Muskogee
  • Disaster response teams from Pine Bluff, Jonesboro, and Hot Springs, Arkansas are en route to the Oklahoma City metropolitan area to assist in response.
  •  Personnel from across the Arkansas and Oklahoma Division are also traveling to the area to form a Divisional Incident Command Team, which helps coordinate the overall response for The Salvation Army.
  • The Salvation Army is continuing to provide service to hard-hit areas from Monday's and the weekend's storms, which include:
    • In Pottawatomie County: The McAlester, OK and Shawnee, OK disaster  response teams served multiple locations in the Shawnee area, including  devastated neighborhoods and rural areas throughout the night and day.
    • In Lincoln County: The Enid, OK canteen provided breakfast, lunch &  dinner to the Carney, OK area throughout the early morning hours and  all day yesterday.
    • In Cleveland County: The Central Oklahoma Area Command Disaster  Service Unit responded to the Little Axe area with breakfast, lunch &  dinner yesterday.

The Salvation Army was responding, even as one of  our Salvation Army family member's home was destroyed.

Monetary donations are the most critical need as supplies and personnel are mobilized.

  • Donors are encouraged to give online at www.SalvationArmyUSA.org or by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY (1-800-725-2769).
  • You can also text the word "STORM" to 80888 to make a $10 donation through your mobile phone; to confirm your gift, respond with the word "Yes."*
  • Donations in the form of checks designated to Oklahoma Tornado Relief may also be mailed to:

The Salvation Army
PO Box 12600
Oklahoma City, OK 73157

Your donations make a real difference.

  • A $10 donation feeds a disaster survivor for one day.
  • A $30 donation provides one food box, containing staple foods for a family of four, or one household cleanup kit, containing brooms, mops, buckets and other cleaning supplies 
  • A $100 donation can serve snacks and drinks for 125 survivors and emergency personnel at the scene of a disaster
  • A $250 donation can provide one hot meal to 100 people or keep a hydration station operational for 24 hours.
  • A $500 donation keeps a Salvation Army canteen (mobile feeding unit) fully operational for one day

Salvation Army Statements

Major Steve Morris, Arkansas-Oklahoma Divisional Commander

"The devastation is far reaching in both human life, property and livestock loss. The Salvation Army is honored to serve and provide sustenance to first responders involved in search and rescue, coordination efforts and more. And, of course, all survivors will be provided spiritual and emotional care to help them through this tragic time."
"The Salvation Army is calling on everyone to pray for all of those impacted by the devastating tornadoes in Oklahoma."
"Many of these impacted communities will take months or even years to recover. The Salvation Army is committed to being there with them throughout and providing aid wherever it's needed."

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About The Salvation Army

The Salvation Army, an evangelical part of the universal Christian church established in London in 1865, has been supporting those in need in His name without discrimination for more than 130 years in the United States. Nearly 30 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year through the broadest array of social services that range from providing food for the hungry, relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter to the homeless and opportunities for underprivileged children. 82 cents of every dollar The Salvation Army spends is used to support those services in 5,000 communities nationwide. For more information, go to www.salvationarmyusa.org.

*A one-time donation of $10 will be added to your mobile phone bill or deducted from your prepaid balance. Message & Data Rates May Apply. All charges are billed by and payable to your mobile service provider. Service is available on Verizon Wireless, AT&T, Sprint and TMobile. By participating you certify that you agree to the terms and conditions, that you are 18 yrs. or older, or have parental permission, and have authorization from the account holder. Donations are collected for the benefit of The Salvation Army by the Innovative Giving Foundation and subject to the terms found at igfn.org/t. Privacy policy: igfn.org/p. Text STOP to 80888 to stop; Text HELP to 80888 for help.

 

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