Tuesday, 18 August 2009 05:47 Last Updated on Tuesday, 02 August 2011 18:20 Written by client

Since 1899, The Salvation Army has provided emergency services to individuals and communities affected by disasters and other catastrophic events. The "Army" has been on the scene of thousands of disasters ... honoring a century-old commitment to serve those in need, at the time of need, in the place of need.

The Salvation Army disaster teams offer:

• food, clothing, shelter and other basic necessities for survival
• crisis counseling is available for those who struggle to come to terms with unusually trying situations
• ministry services to victims of disaster, assuring them that God has not forgotten them in their time of need
• The Salvation Army chaplains to offer spiritual counseling for victims, families of victims and for volunteers during emergency situations

The Salvation Army has provided valuable help in recent disasters

With Hurricanes Charley (2004) and Wilma (2005) still fresh in our memories, we have first-hand experience and a special empathy for victims of disaster. Plus our staff and officers served during Katrina and other recent disasters. The Salvation Army is among the first to arrive at the disaster scene and among the last to leave.

How we work with other agencies

• The Lee County Salvation Army is an integral member of the community of disaster service organizations.
• The Salvation Army's role is affirmed in The Federal Relief Act of 1970 (PL 91-606) and The Disaster Relief Act of 1974 (PL 93-288).

The Salvation Army is active in:

• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
• National Voluntary Organizations Active In Disasters (NVOAD)
• Voluntary Organizations active In Disasters (VOAD)
• Local/State/Regional Emergency Management Organizations
• Local/State/Regional Planning and Service Organizations

The Salvation Army has reciprocal service agreements with the following organizations:

• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
• American Radio Relay League (ARRL)
• American Red Cross
• Civil Air Patrol (CAP)
• Radio Emergency Associated Citizens Teams, International (REACT)

How It's Possible - Your Donations

We are very grateful for the care and concern that this community continues to share when you donate to the Army's disaster funds. There are no administrative fees applied. Every dollar goes directly to hurricane and disaster assistance in all stages of the disaster: relief, recovery and long-term care.

Ways to donate

Online: Go to www.salvationarmy.org

Via phone: Call toll free 1-800 Sal-Army (725-2769) and relay your credit card information. Indicate the purpose of the donation.

Local calls: In Lee County, call 239-278-1551 to speak with our local office to relay your credit card information.

Mail: Be sure to indicate the purpose of your donation in the description area of your check.

The Salvation Army, 10291 McGregor Blvd, Fort Myers, FL  33919

Train as a volunteer

A comprehensive volunteer training program is available if you would like to train in disaster services. You can train to serve on our local canteen (mobile kitchen). The canteen ecomes a mini oasis for many who are in desperate circumstances, especially in the early aftermath of a disaster.

To register for disaster services courses, contact our volunteer coordinator for the latest schedule. To discuss serving in disaster services, you can call 239-278-1551.

If you are not one of our volunteers, you will need to complete the volunteer application form and fax or mail it to us.

Mail to: The Salvation Army, 10291 McGregor Boulevard, Fort Myers, FL  33919

Emergency Canteen Service

One of the services provided by the Lee County Salvation Army is mobile emergency canteen service. The Salvation Army is a volunteer member of Lee County's Disaster Emergency Reponse Team and is funded through private donations.

The mobile canteens are, in most cases, a primary sourcefor food since many people can be without power or may have even have lost their homes.

A few canteen facts:

• Serves up to 500 meals at a time, or 1500 meals a day
• Provides hydration -water for victims and volunteers
• Provides on-the-spot feeding of hot meals and can move  from area to area in order to meet the needs
• Units are stocked in the morning and restocked during the day with enough food to cook three meals a day
• Usually staffed by a two to three person crew who have been trained by The Salvation Army in disaster response
• The Lee County Salvation Army canteen is used for both small, local disasters and large-scale events such as a major hurricane
• Many other Salvation Army canteen units around Florida and nearby states can assist the Lee County Salvation  Army canteen

Three official disaster stages

Emergency response from The Salvation Army comes in three, strategically distinct, yet seamless stages:

• Relief
• Critical, "survival mode"
• Mass care

As a national first responder during times of disaster:

• Mass feeding of meals, sandwiches, snacks and drinks via fixed-site and mobile kitchen units
• Supplemental emergency -coordination of special needs shelters as requested
• Supplemental water, ice, etc.--distribution based upon supply availability and scope of need

Recovery - Transitional mass care

Based upon supply availability, local Salvation Army Recovery Assistance Centers provide:

• Food, "clean-up kits," bottled water, paper products
• Personal hygiene items, baby care items
• Monetary vouchers for perishable food
• Other items as warranted

Restoration - Long-term--families or persons

Individualized "case management" or "social services," including emergency financial support in cooperation with other agencies and based upon needs

Phase three details

Here is a sample list of services offered during restoration, the third phase of disaster assistance:

• Rent / Mortgage Payment
• Utility Bills
• Household Items
• Furniture
• Clothing
• Non-Perishable Food
• Baby Care Items
• Personal Hygiene Items

Checklist for individuals and referring agencies during the restoration phase:

• Client/applicant must call FEMA to obtain a FEMA Case Number
  FEMA: 800-621-3362  TTY: 800-462-7585 (hearing/speech impaired)
• Even if the client/applicant registered with FEMA for one hurricane, they should register again if faced with another hurricane/disaster
• The Salvation Army will require a Photo ID of the applicant and a Social Security Card for every family member.
• For possible rent/mortgage assistance (1 month), bring a copy of the lease and payment due, or a letter from the landlord as to rent due (on landlord's letterhead), or a copy of the mortgage or payment  book and coupon.  Determine in advance if the landlord will accept a  voucher and payment from The Salvation Army within 10 work days
• Applicants with verifiable loss of income due to the disasters are potential candidates for assistance. A letter from the employer on employer letterhead is required. Clearly state why hours and wages were lost, the dates that hours were lost and the exact amount of lost wages. List the company name, address and phone number, supervisor name and company federal ID (FEID) number.
• For utility assistance (1 month), bring current monthly bill with the payment stub to the interview.

For local disaster assistance, call (239) 334-3745.