KATRINA - A YEAR LATER....

In the year since Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast, The Salvation Army has undertaken the largest disaster response effort in its history. More than 1.7 million people have been helped in nearly every state.

Hurricane Katrina made landfall on the Gulf Coast of the United States as a strong category 3 storm on August 29, 2005 and proved to be one of the most deadly in U.S. history.

The Salvation Army worked to meet the immediate needs of survivors following Katrina and other storms during an unusually active 2005 hurricane season.

The Army’s immediate response to Hurricane Katrina included the mobilization of more than 178 canteen feeding units and 11 field kitchens which together have served more than 5.7 million hot meals, 8.3 million sandwiches, snacks & drinks. Its SATERN network of amateur ham-radio operators picked up where modern communications left off to help locate more than 25,000 survivors. And, Salvation Army pastoral care counselors were on hand to comfort the emotional and spiritual needs of 277,000 individuals.

Through the support and generosity of Canadians, The Salvation Army in Canada raised $2 million in donations and was able to send over 130 volunteers to the affected areas. Our team members were involved in a wide spectrum of roles including:

· Command System Leadership
· Warehouse Management
· Case Management
· Canteen Feeding Programs
· Emotional and Spiritual Care
· Various Management Roles

The Salvation Army in The United States continues to serve individuals affected by Katrina by coordinating long-term clean-up and restoration efforts, providing financial and social service support to hurricane survivors and offering spiritual and emotional care to those impacted by the disaster.

The Salvation Army is an international Christian Church that serves in 111 countries throughout the world. It began its work in Canada in 1882 as a Christian movement with an acute social conscience.

As the largest non-governmental provider of social services in Canada, The Salvation Army continues to provide professional services that are relevant to the diverse needs of vulnerable people and their communities.