The Salvation Army of Georgia Readies as Michael Slams Florida Panhandle
Michael is an intense category 4 hurricane — the most powerful hurricane to ever hit the Florida panhandle. After slamming ashore, Michael will continue northeast as a category 2 hurricane, raging through Southern Georgia across Bainbridge, Thomasville and Savannah with weather unlike anything they have seen before.
Salvation Army mobile feeding units (canteens) and other resources from across the southern U.S. are stationed to quickly provide feeding, hydration and emotional and spiritual care throughout impacted areas.
"Hurricane Michael is a powerful storm," Says Major Charles Powell, Divisional Commander for The Salvation Army of Georgia. "We are ready and poised to minister in the name of Jesus to those who are hurting — to be there for them in their time of need. We want to be a ray of light in their time of darkness that brings peace to their minds and hearts."
In Georgia, twenty-one canteens stand ready to deploy to areas affected in Georgia. A Salvation Army Incident Management Team (IMT) monitors the storm progress and impact from their operations center located in The Salvation Army's Divisional Headquarters building Atlanta, Georgia. From this location, The Salvation Army of Georgia can coordinate and communicate with Salvation Army locations and resources across the state, and with state and local officials in efforts to respond effectively where resources are needed most. The current focus centers on the 108 counties in South Georgia placed under a state of emergency by Governor Nathan Deal.
"We continue to assess and evaluate the situation," says Captain Erik Henry, Incident Commander for the Georgia Incident Management Team, "Once we see exactly how the storm impacts our state, we will be able to redeploy our resources as needed to help those in the most severely affected areas."
The Salvation Army of Georgia is already in action providing drinks and meals in key locations for first responders, evacuees and those seeking help including; Albany, Americus, Augusta, Douglas, Dublin, Macon, Tifton and Thomasville. Many other locations are on standby ready to respond when needed
The best way to help survivors and relief workers is to make a financial contribution. Monetary donations allow disaster responders to immediately meet the specific needs of disaster survivors.
- Donate by phone: 1-800-SAL-ARMY (1-800-725-2769)
- Donate by mail: The Salvation Army, PO Box 1959, Atlanta, GA (Please designate ‘2018 Hurricanes – Michael' on all checks.)
- Donate online: HelpSalvationArmy.org
- Donate by text: Text STORM to 51555 to receive a donation link for easy mobile giving