Out-of-State Salvation Army Personnel Join Frances' Relief Efforts

In addition to deploying numerous emergency response vehicles from states surrounding Florida, The Salvation Army is sending in out-of-state staffers with experience in disaster relief responses.

The Salvation Army is using its extensive network to call in personnel with disaster relief experience from outside Florida to assist in the organization’s unprecedented disaster response in Hurricane Frances’ aftermath.

A group of six Salvation Army staff and volunteers from the Northern Division, which serves Minnesota and North Dakota, have been deployed to Florida to lend their help already-in-progress Salvation Army disaster relief efforts there, the Associated Press reported.

The Salvation Army has already served 700,000 meals and is continuing to provide immediate needs to those affected by the hurricane.

The six volunteers include Major Alan Fones of the St. Cloud Salvation Army office, Captain William Mealy and Randy Stahl from Mankato, Captain Adam Moore and Disaster Services Coordinator Steve Carbno of the Fargo Salvation Army.

According to IN-Forum News, Moore served during the Hurricane Andrew efforts and Carbno served at ground zero in New York. Both will supervise relief efforts in Florida during the group’s two-week stay.

The group will concentrate on serving food to emergency personnel, volunteers and survivors, according to AP. They'll also provide food boxes, clean-up kits and long-term social services.

Salvation Army personnel and volunteers with experience in various emergency disaster response efforts have also been recently deployed to Florida from Midwest states such as Wisconsin, South Dakota, Nebraska and Iowa.

Maj. George Hood, national community-relations secretary for the Salvation Army's national headquarters in Washington, is also in Florida with four other team members to look for a place to set up a media-relations center in San Angelo, reported a local newspaper.

In order to ensure its response is immediate, the organization has designated 13 incident command centers by county or groups of countries to organize and deploy relief teams into areas affected by Hurricane Frances and Charley.

Additionally, The Salvation Army has 70 emergency response vehicles or canteens from several states including Georgia, North and South Carolina, and Florida working tirelessly to bring water and food supplies to the incident command centers and areas impacted the most by the hurricane.

Hurricane Frances has cut off electricity for 6 million people and killed ten. While many Floridian residents are cleaning up the mess the two hurricanes left, they are warily eyeing Hurricane Ivan, which is heading toward the state.

For those interested in helping with the organization efforts, the Salvation Army Florida has told them to C.A.R.E.. The Website explains: Cash—financial gifts get help to people fast, Ask—before collecting items that may not be needed. Only give items requested by relief agencies, Respond—by volunteering with a local relief agency. www.volunteerflorida.org or 1-800-FL HELP-1, Everyone can help—go to a local Volunteer Reception Center.

    Most Popular
  • Is 'The Last Supper' worth watching? Audience and critics weigh in

    Is 'The Last Supper' worth watching? Audience and critics weigh in

    Faith-based films often receive mixed reactions, and The Last Supper is no exception. The movie attempts to bring a fresh perspective to one of the most iconic moments in Christian history, but does it succeed? Some reviews from critics and audiences provide insight into its strengths and shortcomings.

  • ‘The Chosen’ Season 5: The darkest season yet—What to know before watching

    The wait is over—The Chosen is back with its fifth season, and this time, things are getting intense. The new episodes dive straight into the final days of Jesus’ life, covering some of the most emotional and dramatic moments in the Bible. If you’ve been following the series, you already know that The Chosen isn’t just about retelling familiar stories—it’s about bringing them to life in a way that feels real.

  • Massacres in Syria: Over 1,000 dead, including Christians and Alawites

    Syria’s coastal regions have been devastated by a series of massacres, with reports indicating that over 1,000 people—many from Christian and Alawite communities—have been killed in brutal attacks. Entire families have been wiped out, and survivors are fleeing in search of safety as sectarian violence escalates.

  • Kim Sae-ron and Wheesung: The tragic irony of Korean society and the principles of happiness

    Not long ago, the media was in an uproar over actress Kim Sae-ron’s passing. Just months before, the same people who had relentlessly criticized her for her DUI incident were now expressing sympathy, saying, "The world was too harsh on her." The irony is impossible to ignore.

  • Newsboys move forward as a quartet after Michael Tait’s departure

    After more than a decade as the lead singer of the Newsboys, Michael Tait has officially parted ways with the band, marking a significant shift in the Christian rock group’s lineup. The remaining members—Jeff Frankenstein, Jody Davis, Duncan Phillips, and Adam Agee—have assured fans that they will continue forward, embracing a new season of music and ministry.