• Shelley Henderson

Salvation Army North and South Carolina Mobilizing Ahead of Hurricane Florence

Charlotte, N.C. (September 12, 2018)--As Hurricane Florence tracks closer to the Carolinas, The Salvation Army in North and South Carolina is preparing to provide physical, emotional, and spiritual care to individuals and families impacted by the storm and first responders. 

Hurricane Florence Disaster Relief Overview

• The Hurricane Florence Incident Management Team/Area Command has assembled at Divisional Headquarters in Charlotte, NC. This leadership team will coordinate all North and South Carolina support for Hurricane Florence disaster response with Emergency Disaster Services Director Mike Patterson is leading the team.

Salvation Army mobile feeding units across the Carolinas have deployed to assigned service areas.

• Charlotte, NC mobile feeding unit and team deployed to provide support in Horry County/Conway, SC alongside the Conway mobile feeding unit.
• Hickory, NC deployed to provide support in Washington, NC alongside the Washington mobile feeding unit.
• Greensboro, NC deployed to provide support Elizabeth City, NC alongside the Elizabeth City mobile feeding unit.
• Greenville, SC and Anderson, SC deployed to provide support in Charleston, SC alongside the Charleston mobile feeding unit.
• The Salvation Army in Charleston is serving in partnership with the South Carolina Baptist Disaster Relief. This collaboration has fed many thousands over its multi-decade partnership. The Baptist organization cooks the hot meals and The Salvation Army mobile feeding units serve the meals where needed.

Service and preparation continuing:

• Multiple staging and logistical centers have been established in North and South Carolina and Virginia.
• 27 additional mobile feeding units from Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky and Tennessee have deployed to Charlotte, North Carolina and Roanoke, VA. After the storm passes, they will deploy to assigned service areas based on the track of the storm and in coordination with local and state emergency management.
• The Salvation Army continues to serve in shelters, EOC operations, and wherever local emergency management is requesting mass feeding and hydration support.
• Salvation Army liaisons are serving in state emergency operations centers in North Carolina and South Carolina. The Salvation Army is also staffing numerous county emergency operations centers in the Carolinas.
• Once storm damage reports have been received and local needs have been determined, EDS teams will serve throughout the impacted regions. In the short-term aftermath of the storm, Salvation Army officers and staff will focus primarily on immediate needs providing food, hydration, and emotional and spiritual care to impacted individuals, families and first responders.

About The Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services

• The Salvation Army is uniquely positioned to support those affected by Hurricane Florence. Our national network of trained disaster staff and volunteers will be deployed to several locations, prepared to provide food, hydration, clean-up kits, hygiene supplies, and emotional and spiritual care to first responders and survivors.
• After immediate needs are met, The Salvation Army will remain and continue to partner with impacted communities to rebuild.
• We are there before, during, and after the storm.
• In times of disaster, we serve the whole person – physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
• We have served survivors of every major national disaster since 1900.
• Rebuilding communities takes time and partnership, and we will be there as long as it takes.