Commissioners Willis and Barbara Howell, are getting an up-close look at the destruction of Hurricane Laura in Lake Charles, Louisiana, and The Salvation Army’s work in bringing relief to the people of the area. The USA South’s territorial leaders arrived in Louisiana Thursday and will continue viewing the Army’s relief effort today, joining canteen crews as they provide relief services around the area.

The Army’s Emergency Disaster Service is currently operating 24 canteens in Louisiana as residents continue to try to recover after the hurricane made landfall last Friday and ravaged parishes in the southwestern corner of the state and continued over into southeast Texas as a tropical storm, where it did additional significant damage.

Seven canteens have been working in Texas’ Golden Triangle area (Beaumont-Port Arthur-Orange), but with power being restored throughout the area, the Texas Division is beginning to transition more canteen services across the border to Louisiana, where eight feeding units are working in the Lake Charles area. The Army will continue providing food to residents at drive-thru sites in the area for the immediate future.

With high heat and humidity, poor cell phone service and many local roads and highways closed or blocked by storm damage, working conditions for disaster relief teams have been difficult. Warehouse space for supplies and donated goods is at a premium, and Army disaster personnel are seeking additional space.

The Salvation Army continues the distribution of water, food and cleanup kits in the affected area, where many residents will be without power for three to four weeks.

Louisiana

Food services

• 67,605 meals
• 57,723 drinks
• 40,204 snacks
• 18 active mobile feeding units
• 6 support vehicles and emergency equipment

Product distributed

• 279 cleanup kits (per kit)
• 110 cleaning supplies / tools (per order)
• 752 comfort / hygiene kits (per kit)
• 656 food boxes (per box)
• 801 infant supplies (per order)
• 6 meals ready to eat (MREs) (per item)
• 37 pet supplies (per order)
• 237 water (per case)
• 51 water (per gallon)

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• 54 disaster workers have given 3,280 hours of service
• Emotional and spiritual care to 1,012 people

Texas

Food services

• 5,436 meals
• 32,929 drinks
• 16,358 snacks
• 16 active mobile feeding units

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• 45 disaster workers have given 3,929 hours of service
• Emotional and spiritual care to 643 people