The Salvation Army Responds to Hurricane Harvey in Southeast Texas
Hurricane Harvey made landfall Friday night near Rockport, Texas, north of Corpus Christi, after rapidly intensifying in the Gulf of Mexico to a Category 4 Hurricane. Continued rainfall from Hurricane Harvey presents extreme danger to the Gulf Coast. The Salvation Army in Texas is providing food and hydration to first responders and is preparing for massive feeding efforts for residents. In response to increased needs, The Salvation Army is activating emergency response teams across the country.
As the situation in south Texas continues to worsen following Hurricane Harvey's landfall, The Salvation Army has alerted all of its US and Canadian emergency disaster response assets to be prepared to respond. These units are able to provide food, shelter and emotional and spiritual care to those impacted by this ongoing devastating weather event.
“Our West Michigan and Northern Indiana disaster response teams are ready to assist when they are called.” Said Major Glen Caddy, Divisional Commander of the Western Michigan Northern Indiana Division of The Salvation Army.
The Salvation Army is already responding to this unfolding crisis in many ways:
- As of Monday morning The Salvation Army has deployed 42 mobile kitchens and two field kitchens to Texas. In addition to units already based in Texas, mobile kitchens from Arkansas and Oklahoma have already been sent to the region (with more available as needed).
- Each Salvation Army mobile kitchens can serve an average of 1,500 meals per day.
- Emergency supplies such as cleanup kits, water, and food has been staged at a 100,000 sq. ft. disaster center in Arlington, Texas, and at points nearer to the coast.
- We are working closely with local and state emergency management officials and nonprofit partner organizations like Americares (which is providing bottled water) and Midwest Food Bank (which is providing food boxes).
- Units are preparing in Louisiana and other Gulf Coast states to respond to potential flooding from Hurricane Harvey.
- Local Salvation Army units are standing by, waiting to deploy additional assets.
How You Can Help
At this time, The Salvation Army of West Michigan and Northern Indiana is not accepting in-kind donations (until specific needs are known). Financial donations are currently the best way to help those in crisis as a result of Hurricane Harvey.
To make a financial donation please go to www.helpsalvationarmy.org, call 1-800- SAL-ARMY, or text STORM to 51555. You may also make a donation to your local Salvation Army unit, and note “Hurricane” on the memo line of your check. All disaster relief funds received in our area go directly to Hurricane Harvey relief efforts.
For More Information
If you have questions would like to arrange an interview or would like more information, contact John Schroeder, 616-915-7408.
For the latest disaster information please visit www.disaster.salvationarmyusa.org and watch for regular updates on our social media pages at www.facebook.com/thesalvationarmytexas/ and www.twitter.com/salarmytx or www.twitter.com/SalArmyEDS.