PRESS RELEASE
Just Say When
Fargo Salvation Army well prepared for flood response
FARGO, N.D. – March 25, 2011 – With hundreds of local volunteers on standby, staff reinforcements arriving next week and a warehouse packed with supplies, when the floods strike, the Fargo Salvation Army will be well prepared to join the fight.
The Salvation Army’s primary role will be to provide food, water and emotional/spiritual care to local residents and relief workers during the flood fight and subsequent cleanup.
The Salvation Army has spent months preparing for what could be the largest flood in Fargo/Moorhead history. “Going into the record flood of 2009, we had 42 inches of snowfall for the season – this year we are at 82 inches,” said Steve Carbno, Fargo Salvation Army Disaster Services Director.
Here is a snapshot of the Fargo Salvation Army’s flood response:
Personnel: More than 400 volunteers are on standby after recently attending Salvation Army disaster training. Nearly 100 of them are approved to drive one of the Fargo Salvation Army’s four mobile feeding units. Six extra Salvation Army disaster professionals will arrive Wednesday. Once in full response mode, up to 75 staff and volunteers will be serving every day.
Supplies: The Salvation Army’s warehouse inventory is stocked with a semi-load of water, a dozen pallets of food, a large number of cleaning kits and much more. Staff and volunteers are capable of making and distributing about 10,000 sandwiches a day.
Logistics: A command center has been established, complete with large-screen technology that will be used to map and manage mobile feeding units. Contingency plans are in place should the command center be forced to evacuate.
Nearly 300 Salvation Army volunteers already have given 1,300 hours serving food and drinks to more than 11,000 community members filling sandbags since Feb. 14.
With reports of flooding in southern Clay County, Carbno expects The Salvation Army’s response to be in full swing very soon.
“We are seeing some overland flooding of roadways due to field runoff that has filled ditches to capacity and beyond,” Carbno said of the situation in Clay County. “These and other problems could arrive here, and soon. If and when they do, we are ready for the fight.”
To donate to the Fargo Salvation Army, call 800-SAL-ARMY or mail a check to 304 Roberts St., Fargo, ND 58102. Be sure to designate your donation “Fargo floods.” To volunteer, call the Fargo Salvation Army at 701-232-5565. Click below to make an online donation.
