Published: April 08, 2009 01:53 pm      

Salvation Army still hard at work after Ike

Although the pace has slowed down as of late, more than six months after Hurricane Ike slammed Orange County the Salvation Army is still helping out residents in need, according to Major John Queener.

The organization wasted no time after Ike roared ashore, getting in contact with the Orange County Emergency Operations Center to ensure their return would be allowed. Salvation Army personnel were back in Orange County Sunday afternoon.

“When the storm first hit, we were open on Monday, after the storm hit on Saturday,” Queener said. “For the first month and a half after the storm, we were working out of this office, taking donations and supplies. We have a desire to help as many as possible.”

Queener said the Salvation Army was also giving out clothes after Ike, adding, “We let them come into the gym and pick out the clothes they needed. There was no limit to how much they could take.”

The Salvation Army also extended financial assistance to Orange County residents affected by the storm, based on the size of the family and the family’s individual circumstances, Queener said; the organization received $265,600 from the East Texas Emergency Relief Fund, along with about $200,000 in donated funds.

Queener said he surprised by the assistance Orange County residents lent each other, even though those residents had suffered enough damage themselves.

“So many people were devastated, but they came by and helped others,” Queener said. “We had a lot more volunteers. It’s amazing; it says a lot for Orange County.”

There were 9 people on the paid staff of the Salvation Army helping out in Orange County, Queener said, with between 30 and 40 volunteers helping out every day; over 900 people were being served every day for the first month after Ike, with over 1,000 a day being served out of the organization’s mobile canteens in West Orange, Bridge City and Vidor.

Our staff worked feverishly every day to accommodate the community the first few weeks after Ike,” he said.

After that frenetic first six weeks, the number of people seeking assistance decreased; however, Queener said, the organization is still helping individuals via appointment if anyone needs help.

“We still have some money left, and about 25 sets of pots and pans,” he said. “”Not as many people are looking for clothes now; they’re seeking more financial assistance.”

The Salvation Army worked with local and state officials and other organizations such as the Red Cross to ensure there was no overlap or duplication of services, although they shared knowledge and resources when the need arose. The Orange Fire Department helped unload donated supplies that came in via truck; Triple L Honda in Orange also donated forklifts to help unload the trucks as well, and the Valero Corp. refinery in Port Arthur also assisted with donations. At the height of the relief effort the Salvation Army was receiving two trucks full of supplies each day.

“The Salvation Army maintains a small stockpile of supplies, but we don’t budget for a disaster. We stock based on what happened the prior year,” Queener said. “We called our divisional office in Dallas and asked them to transfer $50,000 into our account to get supplies. Our first goal is to meet the need, and we did that.”

Like other organizations, the Salvation Army does its best to learn from previous disasters; still, however, it’s difficult to get ready for an individual disaster.

“Ike came in with a vengeance,” Queener said. “The storm surge that hit, we didn’t see that with Rita. It’s hard to prepare, but we do the best with the knowledge we have. We are always vigilant.”

Queener expressed appreciation for the local community.

“I’m proud of Orange, and the way they came together,” he said “It’s hard to listen to some of the stories; it really hurts your heart. This lady came in from Bridge City came in, and her kids and husband got a FEMA trailer. One day the kids were playing a FEMA trailer game with the boxes on the floor, and every time it rained the kids would ask if they would have to evacuate again. She had to reassure them that no, they weren’t.

“But before the conversation’s over, they have the positive feeling that they’re going to recover,” he said. “We’re glad to help. We don’t take anything for granted.”