Serving Through the Storm: The Salvation Army Responds as Blizzard buries Newport

When a powerful winter storm buried Newport Island under more than 30 inches of snow, The Salvation Army was ready to respond.

Captain Christopher Williams of The Salvation Army’s Newport Corps quickly mobilized as local officials prepared to open an emergency shelter at Gaudet School in Middletown. Working alongside emergency management leaders, fire departments, and police, Captain Williams helped prepare the shelter so it could safely serve residents who might need a warm place to stay.

The shelter was designed to support individuals whose medical needs made losing power especially dangerous.

Residents who depended on oxygen machines, CPAP devices, or medications requiring refrigeration could safely stay overnight while the storm raged outside.

While the initial overnight shelter served a small number of residents, conditions quickly worsened as the storm intensified. High winds and heavy snowfall forced road closures, and travel bans shut down the bridges to the island, effectively cutting the community off from the mainland.

As power outages spread, additional residents were transported to the shelter. At one point, nearly 40 people, including individuals from a local warming center that had lost power, were staying at the emergency site.

Throughout the storm, The Salvation Army ensured that no one went without a warm meal.

Using supplies from the Corps and the school’s kitchen facilities, Captain Williams prepared meals for those sheltering in place. Breakfast sandwiches, soup, and hot dinners were delivered with the help of local police and fire departments navigating treacherous conditions.

“Coffee and hot food go a long way during a storm like that,” Williams said. “People just need to know someone is there to take care of them.”

Even after the storm began to pass, the work continued.

With plow crews and public works teams working around the clock to clear roads across Newport and Middletown, The Salvation Army stepped in once again. For several days following the storm, Captain Williams and his wife Major Kylie prepared and delivered hot meals to Department of Public Works crews who had been working long hours in harsh conditions.

In total, The Salvation Army was able to provide dozen of warm meals for the 40 shelter residents, warming center guests, and the public works teams responsible for restoring the community.

For Captain Williams, the response was simply part of The Salvation Army’s mission.

“Whether it’s someone without a home, a neighbor who lost power, or the crews working to keep the community safe, we’re there to support them,” he said. “That’s what The Salvation Army is here for.”