PRESS RELEASE
Salvation Army Serving in Rural Flood-Affected Areas
Relief Efforts Continue in Fargo/Moorhead
March 25, 2009 – The Salvation Army continues to help communities and families throughout North Dakota and Minnesota by providing support through meals, water, housing, and clean up kits, as the National Weather Service has predicted uncharacteristic river levels for surrounding areas.
The Salvation Army of Fargo—with the conjoined help of over 300 volunteers, employees, and officers—is working in collaboration with the Red Cross to meet the needs of the community as they respond to the flooding of the Red River Valley. Salvation Army volunteers in Fargo have put in over 2,200 hours of service in an attempt to prevent the predicted mass devastation due to flooding.
Beyond the Fargo/Moorhead area, The Salvation Army is also providing support to rural communities who are affected by flooding.
On Tuesday evening in Wahpeton, ND, The Salvation Army supplied food and water to the volunteers who feverishly worked to repair a breach in the dike, which threatened to cause a break in the levee. By 9:30 that night the situation was under control.
In Beulah, ND, The Salvation Army has been serving meals to approximately 60 people each day with the help of local churches. Some homes have been flooded with up to four feet of water, but 10 families have already been able to return to their homes.
Brian Skaar, a North Dakota Service Representative, said that The Salvation Army has been busy serving meals to volunteers working tirelessly to fill and place sandbags, as well as helping families who have been evacuated.
Skaar told of one family he worked with that was particularly distraught over the thought of leaving their pets while being evacuated from their home: “One of their kids even said he would sleep in the animal shelter if he had to so that he wouldn’t have to leave his dog alone.” Skaar was able to counsel and pray with the family and ultimately found the family housing that would allow them to bring their pets with them. “They were overjoyed.”
The Salvation Army will continue to remain in affected areas as the flooding increases and offer assistance to those in need.
Donations to The Salvation Army can be made by calling 800-SAL-ARMY or online by clicking below. Designate your donation “Disaster Relief.”
