FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Salvation Army - Portland Metro
8495 SE Monterey Ave.
Happy Valley, OR  97086

Major Don Gilger
Portland Metro Coordinator
719.201.3215

Teresa Engel
Director of Communications & Marketing
503.794.3283

Salvation Army Mobile Kitchens on Standy-By, Ready to Respond to Tropical Storm Debby

Who:  The Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services, Tropical Storm Debby

What:  The Salvation Army has placed seven canteens (mobile kitchens) on stand-by, making preparations to respond to flooding in regions affected by Tropical Storm Debby.

When: Tuesday, June, 26, 2012

Where: Florida

Why: Tropical Storm Debby has already caused severe flooding in Florida, destroying homes and displacing families. The Salvation Army is concerned that the rising water and strong tides from Tropical Storm Debby will cause even more flooding in areas alongside Florida rivers.  The Salvation Army is preparing to serve those impacted by Tropical Storm Debby by placing and readying seven mobile kitchens on stand-by, ready to be deployed at any minute.  In the short-term, The Salvation Army will focus primarily on the immediate needs of disaster survivors and first-responders, providing food and hydration for impacted individuals and families.

Florida Contact Info:
Dulcinea Cuellar Kimrey
dulcinea_cuellar@uss.salvationarmy.org
(813) 340-8465

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Full Story:

Lutz, Fla. (June 26, 2012) - On Tuesday (June 26), The Salvation Army placed seven canteens (mobile kitchens) on stand-by, making preparations to respond to flooding in regions affected by Tropical Storm Debby.

Local Salvation Army assessment teams are mobilizing to determine specific needs of those affected across Florida.

Disaster teams from Clay, Marion, Alachua, Citrus counties as well as Jacksonville, Tallahassee and North Central Florida Outpost (Madison county) are being assembled to support these affected areas.
"From Naples to Panama City, Debby is definitely making its mark on Florida," said Kevin Smith, Emergency Disaster Services director for The Salvation Army of Florida. "It's amazing what this storm has done."

Smith said Salvation Army canteens are mobilizing and getting supplies together to make the journey to disaster affected areas.

"We are thankful that the storm hasn't intensified, but we are concerned for the impact of the rising water and increase tides and how that will affect those along the rivers across Florida," Smith said.
In the short-term, The Salvation Army will focus primarily on the immediate needs of disaster survivors and first-responders, providing food and hydration for impacted individuals and families.

For more information about how The Salvation Army is responding to Tropical Storm Debby and other disasters, please log on to www.disaster.salvationarmyusa.org. You can also follow @salarmyeds, @salarmyfla, @salarmyflaeds or search "Salvation Army Florida Division" on Facebook to access the latest information.

The Salvation Army asks people who want to help those affected by disaster to visit www.salvationarmyusa.org or call 1-800-SAL-ARMY. Monetary donations are needed to meet survivors' most immediate needs. A $100 donation can feed a family of four for two days, provide two cases of drinking water and one household cleanup kit, containing brooms, mops, buckets and cleaning supplies.

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About The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army, an evangelical part of the universal Christian church established in 1865, has been supporting those in need in His name without discrimination for 130 years in the United States. Nearly 30 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year through the broadest array of social services that range from providing food for the hungry, relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter to the homeless and opportunities for underprivileged children. 82 cents of every dollar spent is used to carry out those services in 5,000 communities nationwide. For more information, go to www.salvationarmyusa.org.