14 August 2016

Due to historic rainfall across southern Louisiana and parts of Mississippi thousands of people are without homes and The Salvation Army of Greater Baton Rouge's campus is included among those damaged.

Resources from across the Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi Division including canteens, cleanup kits, hygiene kits and food and water will begin to flow into the affected areas once the water level begins to drop.

"We have a good idea where we will be sending our resources at this point but because of the high water only rescue units and rescue personnel are allowed into those areas," said Major Ed Binnix,  Incident Commander.

The Louisiana Governors Office of Homeland Security and the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency reports twenty-five parishes in Louisiana and four counties in Mississippi have emergency declarations due to damage from the heavy rain and flooding over the last two days.

"We have canteens and personnel ready to respond once we are given the okay from parish and state officials," said Major Binnix. "We know the need will be great, but we stand ready to provide food, hydration and emotional and spiritual care."

Damage assessment personnel from the Southern Territory of The Salvation Army are scheduled to arrive Monday to assess the damage the Baton Rouge Corps offices and shelter suffered from the floodwaters.

To help those in these flooded areas across Southeast Louisiana and parts of Mississippi, you can donate by going to http://give.salvationarmyusa.org/gulf_coast_floods. You will also find information on this webpage on how to donate by phone and through mail.

About The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army, an evangelical part of the universal Christian church established in 1865, has been supporting those in need in His name without discrimination for 130 years in the United States. Nearly 30 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year through the broadest array of social services that range from providing food for the hungry, relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter to the homeless and opportunities for underprivileged children. 82 cents of every dollar spent is used to carry out those services in 5,000 communities nationwide. For more information, go to www.salvationarmyusa.org.