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According to Territorial Emergency and Disaster Services Coordinator Tom McSherry, the West will be sending personnel to the Dominican Republic, where they will support Salvation Army relief efforts in assisting victims of Hurricane Georges.
“The Dominican Republic absorbed a major impact,” stated Major David Dalberg, national disaster services coordinator. “There are major power and water disruptions to the island; unfortunately, the areas of greatest damage occurred to poverty-stricken neighborhoods.”
Hurricane Georges pounded the islands of the Caribbean in late September, causing the worst devastation in 70 years. It then pushed through to the Gulf states, hitting Mississippi and Alabama.
The Intermountain Division collected two semi-tractor trailer loads of items for flood victims in Mississippi and Alabama. From Cheyenne, Wyo., to Castle Rock, Colo., people donated nonperishable food, hygiene items, baby supplies, cleaning supplies and dropped them off at Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club stores.
With the help of KCNC-TV and the Rocky Mountain News and other local media, The Salvation Army was able to get the word out to the communities about the need for assistance in the southern states. Wal-Mart transported the items to The Salvation Army’s warehouse in Pascagoula, Miss.
Intermountain Divisional Commander Lt. Col. Harold Brodin said, “The responsiveness of the community to help is incredible. We’re encouraged by the fact that so many volunteers participated in sorting and loading the trucks, and we’re grateful for our friends in the business community that supported The Salvation Army’s Hurricane Georges Disaster Relief Drive.”
