Salvation Army Nashville Deploys Local Team to Kentucky Flood Response
[Nashville, TN] (February 20, 2025) – Capt. Roger Galabeas and Sgt. George Keith will be deploying with a mobile feeding unit to support The Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Service response in Perry and Pike Counties Kentucky. Officials report this is the worst flooding the area has experienced in over 40 years.
“The Salvation Army serves every zip code in the USA, and our EDS teams are always prepared and ready to respond to assist our neighbors affected by disasters. Our teams are trained in a multitude of areas to best support the unique needs of each disaster and each community,” states Major Bill Mockabee, Salvation Army Nashville Area Commander.
The Salvation Army Kentucky Tennessee Division’s Incident Management Team established a command post on Tuesday, February 18th in the affected area and has been working closely with state and local officials to assess the needs of the community.
Currently, The Salvation Army has flood clean-up kits and hygiene kits staged and ready to deploy to those affected in the community beginning tomorrow. Meal service to the community is also scheduled to begin tomorrow from our mobile feeding units to bring hot nutritious meals to the survivors and first responders as the recovery efforts begin throughout the area.
Additionally, our Officers and EDS volunteers always stand ready to offer emotional and spiritual care to all in the community – whether survivor, first responder, volunteer, or community member. We know that someone’s home doesn’t have to sustain damage for them to feel the effects of the disaster, and sometimes an ear to listen, arms to hug, and heads bowed in prayer are just as crucial to individuals’ recovery as any other service we can provide.
The Salvation Army also responded to the August 2022 floods in Kentucky, which affected a more concentrated area, with intense localized damage. The current event is more widespread, with many areas receiving 5 to 8 inches of rain in 24 hours. The snowstorm and bitter cold temperatures of this week have caused conditions to remain dangerous for survivors and first responders, but response and recovery efforts will move forward for our neighbors.
The Salvation Army has a long history of disaster relief in Kentucky and Tennessee. Most recently, the organization responded to Hurricane Helene in East Tennessee in October, and many of the same personnel are leading efforts in this flood response. Major Brooks Gilliam, who served as Incident Commander in the Hurricane Helene response, will also lead this operation.
How The Community Can Help
The most urgent need is financial contributions, which allow us to purchase the exact supplies needed for survivors.
Donations can be made:
- Online at helpsalvationarmy.org.
- By phone at 1-800-SAL-ARMY.
We deeply appreciate the public’s generosity—it is only through their support that our response is possible. We want them to know that 100% of disaster donations go directly toward serving survivors of these floods.
Major Bill Mockabee, who has over 20 years of experience in The Salvation Army is available to provide updates and information locally as the response efforts grow. Please contact Misty Ratcliff at Misty.Ratcliff@uss.salvationarmy.org or 931-625-1117 if you would like to set up a time to speak with him.
About The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army annually helps nearly 24 million Americans overcome poverty, addiction, and economic hardships through a range of social services. By providing food for they hungry, emergency relief for disaster survivors, rehabilitation for those suffering from drug and alcohol abuse, and clothing and shelter for people in need, The Salvation Army is doing the most good at nearly 7,000 centers of operation around the country. For more information, visit SalvationArmyUSA.org.