September 22, 2003

Salvation Army staff were tired, but relieved, at the end of the first day of OPERATION NOURISH which prepared and distributed 9,200 meals to 12 locations in the District of Columbia to residents in their fifth day without power because of Hurricane Isabel.

During a debriefing conference call with FEMA and The Salvation Army, DC Department of Human Services Deputy Director for Operations James Parks said to Major Todd Smith, National Capital Salvation Army General Secretary, "Thank you for your assistance in this effort. We've heard positive things from all the feeding sites today."

The day had been one of overcoming obstacles to get the job done, from purchasing food transport containers, to buying serving utensils at sites to which they had not been delivered. "It went as well as it could have with all the challenges," said Fritz Wilson, State Director, Florida Baptist Disaster Relief. "We'll continue to learn as we go along." Wilson manages all the hot food preparation at the DC General Hospital staging site. His staff wear yellow baseball caps and direct others to find him saying, "Look for the 'man in the white hat,' "

While The Salvation Army is managing the preparation and distribution of hot meals, the District of Columbia Emergency Management Agency is overseeing the broader relief effort. The staging site at DC General Hospital looks like a military base, with law enforcement out in full force, directing residents waiting for ice, relief effort staff and volunteers, and an orderly parade of relief vehicles.

On the first day of OPERATION NOURISH, Salvation Army staff managed all 12 feeding sites, with excellent support from city staff and volunteers. "I thought I was dreaming. Everyone was so nice," said one of the site managers.

Plans are underway to cut back on the number of feeding sites and to turn some of them over to the American Red Cross which will deliver individual, packaged meals. The appropriate configuration is being determined based on the need at each location and the facilities available. It is easier to serve the hot food at schools with kitchens.

The list of feeding sites is online at www.salarmydc.org and will be updated to reflect changes.

Several print quality photos from the staging site are available online at www.salarmydc.org. Photos of the feeding sites will be posted on Tuesday.

Those wishing to help the relief effort may donate online at www.salarmydc.org or by phone at 1-800-SAL-ARMY. Volunteers may register through DC Cares at www.dc-cares.org or by phone at 202-777-4458.

For further information, please contact:

Major Todd Smith
General Secretary
202-756-2602 - office

Herb Rader
Public Information Officer
202-497-3809 - cell
hrader@uss.salvationarmy.org


SALVATION ARMY MOBILIZE IN SEARCH OF FORGOTTEN POCKETS OF SERVICE AREAS

(Baltimore, September 22, 2003) Kate Leary's desperate Sunday afternoon call to The Salvation Army of Greater Baltimore requesting food and beverage assistance for her and her 200 neighbors at Millbrook Apts, Pikesville, MD awakened The Army to the need for assistance in pockets within the community where flood waters may have subsided, power outage's still exist, and, as in the case of the primarily Russian speaking population at Millbrook, language or information barriers limit the residents' ability to communicate their immediate needs.

"We were initially puzzled by Ms. Leary's revelation that her neighborhood had been without power since Thursday and may remain so throughout the week." explains Major Jim Arrowood, The Salvation Army Baltimore Area Commander.

In response to Leary's and other calls of desperation and hunger into its headquarters, The Salvation Army will deploy three additional mobile feeding units for the specific purpose of roving forgotten, smaller, flood damaged communities throughout The Greater Baltimore Area.

"Without delay we responded to the Millbrook Apts with lunch, snacks and beverages while setting the wheels in motion to bring to light any other such pockets within our servicing area."

An early morning meeting with Emergency Management Officials uncovered other such areas within Baltimore City, White Marsh, Miller Island, etc., as well as an immediate need for the Army to bring in additional manpower.

"The additional canteens will rove throughout The Greater Baltimore area in search of still other areas we may still be unaware of armed with provisions of food, water, beverages, and clean-up kits." Says Major James Arrowood.

Thus far, the Salvation Army with the support of 102 volunteers have provided 11,383 meals, 450 disaster kits, and 64 Bibles.

Monetary Contributions can be made online at www.salarmy.org/baltimore, or by calling 410-347-9944.

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