PRESS RELEASE
Relief Teams from Mankato, Albert Lea
Deployed for Iowa Flooding
June 16, 2008 –ROSEVILLE, Minn. – Salvation Army officers (pastors), staff and volunteers from two Minnesota towns – Mankato and Albert Lea – have been deployed to provide meals, cleaning kits and emotional support in the flooded Iowa towns of Cedar Rapids and Iowa City.
“I’m driving over the (Iowa River) right now and you could probably surf down it – the water is moving that fast,” said Captain Bill Mealy, leader of the Mankato Salvation Army, while en route to setting up a mobile kitchen (canteen) this morning in Iowa City at a shopping mall doubling as a disaster service center. Hundreds of residents were forced to evacuate their homes Sunday. The Iowa City Salvation Army has served 1,078 meals and brought comfort and hope to nearly 2,500 individuals.
Salvation Army personnel from Albert Lea are serving in Cedar Rapids, where late last week the Cedar River submerged more than 9 square miles of the city and forced 24,000 residents to flee. According to Amy Grunewaldt, incident commander for The Salvation Army’s relief efforts in Cedar Rapids, the organization is coordinating and providing all meals and hydration in Cedar Rapids as well as Palo, a small town that has been completely evacuated. EDS volunteers and personnel have served 11,168 drinks and 5,370 meals to approximately 6,100 residents, emergency responders and volunteers.
Both Minnesota crews will stay through Friday. They will be replaced with other staff and volunteers if needed.
To learn about becoming a trained Salvation Army volunteer click here or call 651-746-3400. Free trainings will be held Aug. 2 and Aug. 19.
The Salvation Army is asking the public to help. To donate, please click the button below or mail a check to 2445 Prior Ave. N., Roseville, MN 55113.
