Spotlight
Anchorage, AK -
At approximately 2:30 pm Friday July 18th The Salvation Army officials
received a call from Alaska Railroad officials requesting assistance to
provide meals for approximately 45 employees working to reopen washed
out rail lines in the Hurricane Gulch area, about 150 miles out of
Anchorage. Alaska Railroad asked The Salvation Army if they could
provide meals for an undetermined amount of time, as they had no way of
knowing when the flood would subside or when they would be able to
reopen the track.
 An
Emergency Mobile Kitchen with a crew was dispatched from Fairbanks, AK
and arrived at the site at 9:00 pm. The Emergency Mobile Kitchens
served around 100 meals, snacks and drinks to the Alaska Railroad
workers. A relief canteen and crew left from Mat Su Valley on Saturday
and arrived in the afternoon to take over services. The Mat Su Valley
Emergency Mobile Kitchen stayed on site until the Alaska Railroad
workers got the site under control Saturday evening.
Steve Pfieffer (with check), Rocky Murrill and Pat Flynn with the
Alaska Railroad present a donation to Major Bob Rudd, Alaska Divisional
Commander for The Salvation Army, in appreciation for the Army's
support to provide meals for 45 railroad employees working to reopen
rail lines washed out in heavy rain storms in July. Major Brian
Beveridge, Alaska Disaster Services Coordinator, and Janet Kincaid,
volunteer and Mat-Su Valley Salvation Army Board member, are also
pictured.
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history of disaster relief
On September 8, 1900, a hurricane devastated Galveston, Texas leaving
more than 5,000 people dead. The city, sustaining extensive property
damage, was virtually destroyed.
While survivors were still reeling from this onslaught of nature,
Frederick Booth-Tucker, National Commander, ordered Salvation Army
officers from across America to proceed to the disaster site to provide
spiritual assistance. The Salvation Army's first national disaster
appeal for funds was generously supported by caring Americans.
From these beginnings, The Salvation Army has developed local, regional and national disaster services programs.
Whether it be a local incident or a major disaster, Salvation
Army staff and volunteers are often the first on the scene and the last
to depart, honoring a century-old commitment to serve those in need, at
the time of need, and at the place of need.
The red shield continues to be a beacon of compassion; of
immediatte aid, psychological support and spiritual counsel to
individuals and families whose lives have been disrupted or shattered
by forces beyond their control.
Salvation Army disaster response teams, coordinated and directed by
commissioned officers and trained personnel, supported by volunteers,
are "on call" to serve at all disasters and civil disorders which place
a community or its populace at risk or which may disrupt or destroy
family security and well-being.
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