SalvationArmyRoseville Minn.  (CSi)— Salvation Army disaster units up and down the east coast are mobilizing to respond to Hurricane Matthew. The powerful hurricane has already killed hundreds in its path and caused widespread damage in Haiti and the Caribbean As it now creeps up the Florida coast, widespread and extensive damage is expected in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina.

The Salvation Army is prepared to serve 100,000 meals per day.

The Army also activated resources that are on standby, including here in Minnesota and North Dakota where dozens of volunteers and officers are available if needed.

Stay tuned to The Salvation Army’s Disaster Services site for the latest details on the storm’s impact and how you can help.

Disaster Response Overview

The Salvation Army in Florida, Georgia, and North & South Carolina Divisions have set-up Incident Command teams at state and local levels.

The Salvation Army has 75 mobile kitchens, capable of producing 1,500 meals per day, stationed in states threatened by Hurricane Matthew.  These include 32 units in Florida, 22 units in Georgia, and 20 mobile kitchens in the Carolinas.

Twenty-two additional mobile kitchens have been deployed from Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee, Texas and West Virginia to the affected area.  Seven more units are on standby in Virginia and Washington, D.C.

Two field kitchens, capable of producing 15,000 per day are stationed in Florida.  A third field kitchen from Texas is being deployed to a temporary staging area in Tallahassee.  Two additional field kitchens, located in Texas and Mississippi, are on-stand-by.

Salvation Army liaisons are being dispatched to state emergency operations centers in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina and the FEMA Regional Response Coordination Center in Atlanta.  The Army is also staffing numerous county emergency operations centers in impacted states.

Florida Division

The Salvation Army Florida Division is preparing to serve approximately 100,000 meals by Saturday.  The division is currently providing support to emergency workers and/or evacuation centers in numerous counties, including Brevard, Hillsborough, St. Lucie, St. John and Volusia counties.  All Florida disaster personnel and equipment from Key West to Pensacola are being mobilized to respond to Hurricane Matthew.

If you would like to help, the best way to that is to make a financial donation. 

Cash is flexible, can be used immediately in response to a crisis. It allows disaster relief organizations to purchase exactly what is needed, when it’s needed. Cash gives relief organizations the means to procure supplies near the affected area, which cuts down on transportation time and cost. Monetary contributions also support local economies and ensure that local businesses can operate when relief supplies diminish.

It’s easy to support The Salvation Army’s disaster relief program:

  • Donate Online: http://give.salvationarmyusa.org/hurricane_matthew 
  • Donate By Mail: The Salvation Army 2445 Prior Ave. N., Roseville, MN, 55113. Please designate ‘Hurricane Matthew’ on all checks.
  • Donate By Phone: 1-800-SAL-ARMY (1-800-725-2769)
  • Donate By Text: Text STORM to 51555 to receive a donation link for easy mobile giving

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The Salvation Army – USA Central Territory, 5040 N Pulaski Road, Chicago, 60630 Illinois, United States