The Salvation Army of Tennessee is mobilizing its Emergency Disaster Services (EDS) team to East Tennessee in response to the catastrophic flooding caused by the remnants of Hurricane Helene on Friday. The team, led by Incident Commander Major Brooks Gilliam, will be based in Johnson City and is preparing to provide essential relief services to affected communities.
Major Brooks Gilliam said, "We are currently working closely with state agencies to ensure the safety of our team and to identify the areas most in need of our services. Our primary concern is the well-being of those affected by this disaster, and we are committed to providing aid as quickly and efficiently as possible."
Key points of the deployment include:
- A team of approximately 20 officers, staff, and volunteers is planning to begin meal service in affected areas as soon as possible.
- The Salvation Army is coordinating with state officials to identify service areas in various counties in Eastern Tennessee.
- Salvation Army officers in the Tri-Cities and Sevierville have been actively participating in Emergency Operations Center (EOC) meetings since Friday evening, providing real-time updates on local community impacts.
"The Salvation Army is uniquely positioned to serve in times of disaster because we already have a presence in virtually every zip code in the country," Major Gilliam said. "This allows us to understand and respond to the specific needs of each community effectively."
The Salvation Army's response plan includes:
- Deploying mobile kitchen units to affected areas
- Providing hot meals, drinks, and snacks to disaster survivors
- Offering emotional and spiritual care to those in need
- Committing to serve for as long as necessary
The organization emphasizes that financial contributions are the most effective way to support their disaster relief efforts. 100% of disaster donations go directly toward providing relief to survivors. Donations can be made online at helpsalvationarmy.org or by phone at 1-800-SAL-ARMY.