11 September 2019

The Salvation Army
Caribbean Territory
Media Contact: Mike Michels, Captain
876-929-6190 office phone
876-881-5468 cell phone

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 11, 2019

 

RELIEF TEAMS CONVERGE ON THE BAHAMAS
The Salvation Army is deploying disaster relief teams from the Caribbean and from around to world

 

Nassau, The Bahamas

Salvation Army disaster relief personnel and volunteers are currently traveling to Nassau and Freeport to assist the existing teams in those locations as they continue to serve those impacted by Hurricane Dorian. 

The Salvation Army Bahamas hurricane response team was activated before Hurricane Dorian arrived and has been actively involved in the response and relief effort since the moment the ‘all clear’ announcement was made.  They are partnering with NEMA and are one of only two charitable organizations that the Government for the Bahamas has highlighted as organizations for the general public to channel their contributions through. 

The immediate assistance has been to provide the essentials for life; food, water, clothing, personal hygiene supplies and shelter.  The initial response focused on the islands of Grand Bahama and Abaco however due to the large evacuation of people from Abaco the response now includes sheltering and supporting evacuees in Nassau.

In addition to working with NEMA, the Salvation Army is working with the government manager of relief efforts for Abaco, Mr. Jack Thompson.  He will assist The Salvation Army in the development of a long-term plan for relief and rebuilding. 

The Salvation Army has agreed to coordinate and manage the response for Rotary International through our Incident command center and is also partnering with Norwegian Cruise lines.  To date the cruise line has provided approximately three-quarters of a million US dollars’ worth of supplies and support services.

To manage the relief efforts The Salvation Army is implementing an Incident command Center in Nassau with a secondary command center in Freeport.  Due to the extensive damage in Abaco the plan is to place a containerized office in Abaco.  An international specialist has been identified to assess and develop the rebuilding program in Abaco.

The disaster team has also determined that most of the persons impacted have post-traumatic stress concerns.  As such, special emotional and spiritual care teams are being implemented to support the evacuees in Nassau and those who remain on the impacted islands

The Salvation Army has had a strong presence in the Bahamas, over ninety years in Nassau and over thirty years in Freeport, and will be involved not only in the immediate response but also in the long term rebuilding efforts.  We foresee these efforts being in the 3-5 year in duration … if not longer.

To support The Salvation Army's relief efforts in the Caribbean, please direct your contributions to The Salvation Army, 3 Waterloo Road, PO Box 378, Kingston 10, Jamaica, WI - Attention: Emergency Disaster Services or direct the funds to the following…

 

Name Of Account:          The Salvation Army Donation Account (Savings)
Account Number:           936476
Bank Name:                     The Bank of Nova Scotia Jamaica Ltd
Bank Address:                 The Corner of Duke & Port Royal Street
                                           Kingston CSO

About The Salvation Army

The Salvation Army, established in London in 1865, has been supporting those in need without discrimination for more than 130 years in the Caribbean. The Caribbean Territory serves sixteen countries throughout Caricom including Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, French Guiana, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Sint Maarten, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and Turks and Caicos.  More than 60 thousand persons receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year through a range of social services: 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. The Salvation Army has served survivors of major disaster since 1900.

Tags: Emergency Disaster Services