The Salvation Army Responds to Hurricane Ida
PITTSBURGH, PA (September 2, 2021) – The Salvation Army has activated its Emergency Disaster Services personnel in the Northeast to meet the immediate needs of survivors and first responders affected by the remnants of Hurricane Ida, which has severely impacted several states in the region, including Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut.
“We are doing everything in our power to respond efficiently and effectively to the impacts made by Hurricane Ida,” said Robert Myers III, the Emergency Disaster Services Coordinator for The Salvation Army’s USA Eastern Territory. “With the continued generosity of the public, The Salvation Army will remain on the ground serving those affected by the storm for however long our services are needed.”
Hurricane Ida brought torrential rainfall to the northeastern U.S., and severe flooding has impacted numerous counties in Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut. Coming so soon after Tropical Storm Henri drenched the region, the latest flooding could limit the ability of relief teams to reach those in need. Multiple Salvation Army facilities in the region have incurred various levels of flood damage.
As a community-based organization with a presence in almost every ZIP code in the country, The Salvation Army is uniquely positioned to respond with a clear understanding of each impacted area’s needs. As it ramps up its response efforts, several steps have already been taken to assist those affected:
Incident Command centers have been established in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York.
Mobile feeding units are being prepared for deployment to serve food, drinks, and emotional and spiritual care to survivors and first responders.
Each mobile feeding unit can serve 500 to 1,500 meals per day.
Fixed Corps locations are being prepared to provide feeding, emergency shelter, and other needed support to those affected.
Clean-up kits are being distributed to communities in the affected areas.
In addition, Salvation Army disaster personnel are collaborating with federal, state, and local emergency management agencies and other partners to monitor ongoing impacts and evolve response efforts as needed.
Hurricane Ida comes in the middle of what is predicted to be a busy hurricane season. In light of the pandemic, The Salvation Army has evolved service delivery with extra precautions such as social distancing at food distribution sites, adapted feeding models, and updated personal protective equipment requirements.
A digital media kit with current and historical Emergency Disaster Services assets can be found here.
For more information on The Salvation Army’s continued response, visit salvationarmyusa.org or disaster.salvationarmyusa.org.
To make a financial gift to support ongoing disaster relief efforts:
- Donate online: give.helpsalvationarmy.org
- Donate by phone: 1-800-SAL-ARMY (1-800-725-2769)
Celebrating over 150 years of global service as both a church and a social service organization, The Salvation Army began in London, England in 1865. Today, it provides critical services in 132 countries worldwide. The 28-county Western Pennsylvania Division serves thousands of needy families through a wide variety of support services. To learn more about The Salvation Army in Western Pennsylvania, log on to www.wpa.salvationarmy.org. The Salvation Army … doing the most good for the most people in the most need.
Contact:
Stephanie Rex, Director of Marketing and Public Relations
The Salvation Army Western Pennsylvania Division
Email | Office: (412) 446-1642 | Cell: (412) 463-2942