Salvos Respond to Floods Across Australia

As citizens of Nathalia prepare to leave their homes for the nearby towns of Shepparton and Echuca, The Salvation Army is mobilizing to provide bedding, toiletries and towels to evacuation centres.

Bedding and other supplies have been sent from Salvation Army centres in Melbourne, Bendigo, Ballarat and Wangaratta. Evacuation centres in Echuca and Shepparton will use these supplies to support evacuees from Nathalia in the coming days. Financial assistance is beginning to be provided to flood affected individuals and families from the area

The Salvation Army is ready and standing-by to provide more supplies and assistance to flood-affected areas as requested.

5 March, 2012

The Salvation Army's Emergency Services are continuing to respond to the needs of flood affected communities with teams working across Victoria and New South Wales. In addition to providing meals, emergency bedding and supplies, The Salvation Army has released funds to support individuals and families affected.

Salvation Army Emergency Services staff and volunteers in New South Wales are currently in full swing; operating evacuation centres in Hawkesbury, Cowra, Cooma, Goulburn, Queanbeyan and Bega with thousands of people assisted in the last 72 hours.

In Victoria, The Salvation Army centre in Wangaratta is currently on stand-by to provide whatever assistance may be required. In the shires of Shepparton, Rochester, Mildura, Castlemaine and Echuca, teams continue to be prepared to respond to the needs of the affected communities.

'Our teams are ready to respond to the floods in Victoria and are working closely with local shires and council and will continue to be on hand as the situation develops,' said Major Neil Venables, Communications and Fundraising Secretary for The Salvation Army.

'We expect in the coming days, as flood waters recede, people will need emotional, practical and financial support as they come to terms with the damage left behind. Our local response teams will be part of the relief effort as well as being part of the longer term recovery response,' said Major Venables.

In coming days, The Salvation Army will assess the impact of the floods in individual communities and will develop a response plan specifically for the community to ensure that local needs are met.

Donations made to the Red Shield Appeal ensure that The Salvation Army can respond to emergencies and disasters from small scale responses through to large scale relief and recovery operations. To help support communities affected by flood and other disasters please donate by calling 13 SALVOS (13 72 58) or visit www.salvationarmy.org.au.

For more information please contact:
The Salvation Army, Australia Southern Territory
Territorial Communications & Fundraising Department, 95-99 Railway Road, Blackburn VIC 3130
T: 03 8878 2400 
E: salvosaus@aus.salvationarmy.org