Days after The Salvation Army began relief efforts in Florida in response to Hurricane Frances, the ministry is now sending some of its teams to North and South Carolina where tornados and remnants of Hurricane Frances flooding the area.
South Carolina was visited by 24 tornadoes on Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).
North Carolina Gov. Mike Easley declared a state of emergency Tuesday and said 140 National Guard soldiers were sent to help out in the western part of the state, reported The Associated Press. The Highway Patrol put 900 troopers on alert.
In addition to passing out food kits, serving meals, and registering Floridian victims of Hurricane Charley and Frances, The Salvation Army has now mobilized a local disaster teams to rush to help people affected by the tornadoes and flooding in the Carolinas.
Captain Trint Sills is leading a team with a mobile kitchen unit canteen to respond to needs in Waynesville, including feeding the Search & Rescue (SAR) personnel. Two more mobile kitchen unit canteens, one carrying a crew from Washington, NC, have also begun on their way from Greenville, SC and Kinston, NC to assist Captain Sill’s team. A box truckload of clean up kits was scheduled to arrive in Waynesville on Thursday morning.
According to The Salvation Army, personnel Asheville, Salvation Army personnel remain ready to assist with emergency food distribution and prepared meals.
At the request of Major Terry Israel, Captain Eiiko Brown is bringing a crew from Jacksonville, NC, with mobile kitchen unit canteen to prepare to respond to future needs.
In Hendersonville, The Salvation Army reported, the organization is providing housing and preparing food for the Search & Rescue (SAR) teams in the gymnasium of its facility.
The Salvation Army requests financial support for immediate and long-term
needs. Contributions may be directed to http://www.1800salarmy.org,
1-800-SAL-ARMY (725-2769), or any local Salvation Army office, marked
"Disaster Relief."
