The Salvation Army is on the ground in Moore, Oklahoma with multiple canteens and personnel coordinating with Local and State Emergency Management to serve first responders and those affected by the tornado. We continue to provide service to hard hit areas from Tuesdays' storms which include Shawnee - multiple sites, Carney area, and Cleveland County.
Meals and hydration are being provided for first responders and those affected. Major Steve Morris, Arkansas-Oklahoma Divisional Commander has been driving around the affected area. Major Morris states "The devastation is far reaching both in 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."
Canteens involved in the response from Oklahoma include Central Oklahoma Area Command (Oklahoma City), Ardmore, Enid, Lawton, McAlester and Muskogee. Also, 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 division are also traveling to the area to form a Divisional Incident Command Team (which helps coordinate the overall response for The Salvation Army). Central Oklahoma Area Command has established a local Incident Command team for response.
The Salvation Army is ready to provide the services mentioned above for as long as we are needed. Additional updates will be provided as more information becomes available. Please follow us at http://centralusa.salvationarmy.org, www.twitter.com/SalArmyAOKEDS, www.twitter.com/CindyFullerOKC, www.twitter.com/SalArmyAOK and www.facebook.com/SalArmyAOK for additional information.
Cash donations allow The Salvation Army to purchase product to quickly and efficiently meet the most urgent needs of disaster victims. When possible, the purchases are made near the disaster site to stimulate the local economy and ensure quicker delivery.It is easy to give to The Salvation Army:
· By phone at 1-800-SAL-ARMY (1-800-725-2769)
· Online at www.salvationarmyusa.org
· By mail:
The Salvation Army - Disaster Relief
P.O. BOX 2536
Oklahoma City, OK 73102
Please make checks payable to "The Salvation Army" and clearly marked "May 2013 Oklahoma Tornadoes."
Text To Give: 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."*
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 Volunteers
The Salvation Army recruits and deploys disaster workers through its local Salvation Army units. To be trained as a disaster worker:
- Call the Quad Cities Salvation Army at 563-271-7933 to be added to the list for the next training.
The Salvation Army deploys trained disaster workers who have completed the 8-hour training course. A standard deployment is two weeks, including twelve working days and two travel days.
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