Salvation Army prepares for Hurricane Laura

Laura is now classified as a category three hurricane. The Salvation Army of Meridian prepares for Hurricane Laura by sending out their food canteen to potential victims of the hurricane who may be in need.

As the storm draws near, the army is preparing thirty one canteen units to provide food supplies to the Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi areas. Teams are deployed for two weeks at a time when the storms roll in. 

“In the canteen we usually do mass feedings,” says Lieutenant Tamara Robb. “We stock it full of water and food items. We can usually feed six-hundred people at a time out of our canteen. A lot of times, there are collaborations with other organizations. It’s different for each community and those arrangements are already in place along the coast and as we find out where Laura is coming into.”

Each day, the army conducts disaster calls with the division team and officers to find additional resources to help during this time.

“Each location calls into a disaster call. We have a disaster call everyday at 3pm looking at the storms projections-where it’s coming in at. All our corps and units along the coast are reporting in of how they make ready. So they’ve been in contact with their local emergency authorities in finding out what is needed from the Salvation Army.”

As of now, shelters are closed due to the coronavirus.

“Right now, government officials are telling evacuees to please find shelter with family members and friends because of COVID-19. Mass shelters will not be a good place to open up at this time because of that.”

If you are interested in donating to the army for their efforts visit www.helpsalvationarmy.org.