EDS Deploys Incident Commander
Anchorage - The Salvation Army’s Alaska Division Emergency Disaster Services [EDS] will deploy an incident commander to Beaumont, Texas, to assist in recovery efforts following the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. The two-week deployment will last through the first week of October.
Major John Quinn, stationed at the Salvation Army’s Eagle’s Wing Inn in Angoon has been tapped to lead the recovery efforts as the incident commander. Major Quinn departed for Texas Friday, Sept. 22. The Salvation Army has been on the ground and operating in these communities even before the storms impacted the areas and are always at the ready to respond as needed.
According to Maj. Quinn Beaumont took a hard hit from Hurricane Harvey and the people in that area need some help. “As with any hurricane the water and the wind does the damage. Anything that hits that coastline in Texas goes through Beaumont. They catch it from every storm that comes through.”
Maj. Quinn said because they are three weeks out they are probably moving from the response mode to the recovery. “On the recovery side, you are beginning to work on what it takes to get people back into their homes. That is cleaning out or sometimes helping strip the walls off so everything can be treated and things can start to go back up.”
Maj. Quinn said he expects to know more about the situation when he gets on the ground in Texas but knows the Salvation Army will be involved for a long time to come. “It is a long process and the Salvation Army will be involved on that coast for two to three years before they get the last one back into permanent housing. This is not something that happens overnight.”
Donations in support of The Salvation Army’s relief efforts for both recent U.S. hurricanes may be made as follows:
Online: helpsalvationarmy.org
By phone: 1-800-SAL-ARMY
By mail / checks to: The Salvation Army P.O. BOX 1959 Atlanta, GA 30301
Please make checks payable to The Salvation Army and designate 'Hurricane 2017' on all checks.
To receive a donation link via text: Text STORM to 51555
By PayPal: A link to donate via PayPal is available at helpsalvationarmy.org; international donors may also give to Harvey & Irma via PayPal
The Salvation Army does not place an administrative fee on disaster donations. During emergency disasters, 100 percent of designated gifts are used to support specific relief efforts.
Although The Salvation Army is not requesting in-kind goods donations at this time, gifts of gently-used household goods, clothing, etc., are always needed by Salvation Army Family Stores to support their work in the local community. Find out more at SAtruck.org.