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GOWANDA -- In an effort to assist in the long-term recovery from floods in Gowanda and surrounding areas, The Salvation Army is working with other agencies, including FEMA, to address unmet needs, reports Leslie Vattimo, disaster services director for The Salvation Army's Empire State Division.
Vattimo has been on scene coordinating the Army's relief effort since Aug. 10, when severe rains and flash flooding damaged some 400 homes and compromised the local reservoir. Up to the end of last week, The Salvation Army disaster response had included a warehouse disaster center for distributing supplies, a food preparation operation for feeding flood victims and relief workers, and mobile canteens assisting victims throughout the flood-stricken area.
"We are no longer in the response phase of the disaster, but now we are in the long-term recovery phase," Vattimo notes.
That response phase included distributing 1,005,190 bottles of water and serving 40,549 meals. Salvation Army disaster workers, including 210 volunteers donating 39,349 hours, also distributed:
- 51,590 gallon jugs of water.
- 66,927 bottles of Gatorade.
- 2,500 ears of corn.
- 24 pallets of bread.
- 1 ½ pallet of ice cream.
- 47 pallets of non-perishable food items.
- 12 cases of apples.
- 6 cases of oranges.
- 14 pallets of Pepsi.
- 12 pallets of energy drinks.
- 12 pallets of dog food and 2 pallets of dog treats.
- 2 pallets of cat food.
- 2,900 clean-up buckets.
- 3,836 personal hygiene kits.
- 400 back-to-school kits (400 backpacks and supplies).
- 16 pallets of Lestoil.
- 5 pallets of laundry detergent.
- 7 pallets of Clorox clean-up spray.
- 24 pallets of gallon bleach containers.
- 8 pallets of quart-size bleach containers.
- 10 cases of hand soap (24 to case).
- 11 cases of sponges (100 to case).
- 396 mops, 388 brooms, 125 squeegees, 30 shovels and 15 rakes.
Many of the supplies were donated or purchased at reduced cost, Vattimo says. Also, The Salvation Army spent $15,000 on miscellaneous items needed for the relief effort. In addition, some of the Salvation Army officers and volunteers had been providing emotional and spiritual care, she says.
Vattimo adds. "We still need the public's support for our long-term recovery effort as we help those folks who fall through the cracks."
Donations may be made online. Click on "donate now" and specify that it be used for the Empire State Division's Emergency Disaster Services. Checks made out to The Salvation Army may be mailed to Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services, Empire State Division, 200 Twin Oaks Drive, Syracuse, NY 13206.
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