Emergency Response: Salvation Army supports victims of the UK floods

Volunteers from The Salvation Army have been out in force helping people affected by the floods in the South West and South East of England.

In Bridgwater, Somerset, The Salvation Army has been on hand 24/7 to offer a listening ear to people affected by the severe weather. A rest centre at North Peverton Golf Club and later at Westfield Church in West Street, organised by Sedgemore District Council, has been offering people a place of safety and calm with local residents donating clothes and food to the centre for people affected by the floods. The Salvation Army in Hertfordshire and Worcestershire is on standby to provide assistance if required.

The Salvation Army mobile canteen has also been deployed to Kenley Pumping Station, Purley in South London which is in danger of being flooded. Volunteers will be on site for the next few days providing support to emergency services. Croydon Citadel Salvation Army is on stand-by should a rest centre be required.

View UK floods: February 2014 in a larger map

A team has also been to Yalding in Kent and Bridge, near Canterbury, handing out much needed food and hot drinks to responders. A request has come from Kent County Council for The Salvation Army to provide a shuttle service for isolated pensioners in the village of Kingston - bus services are currently disrupted.

The London South-East support vehicle, based at Croydon, has been sent to Central South Division so that The Salvation Army can support the additional firefighters drafted to the area.

Hadleigh Farm, working with Essex Young Farmers, has also sent haylage and silage animal feed and straw to farmers in the South West.

Our National Emergency Response Coordinator Major Muriel McClenahan said: "Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by the floods. The Salvation Army's emergency response teams are working hard to support those whose homes have had to be evacuated or affected in other ways.  As always, we'll continue to provide support to emergency services, and those affected for as long as we're needed."

The Salvation Army has set up an emergency support centre at its church (corps) in Staines, Surrey, which is acting as a food collection point for victims of the floods. It is also a rest centre and feeding station for emergency services and military personnel who are helping those affected. We are working in conjunction with Surrey County Council, and would like to thank Tesco which is contributing food to the centre.

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Phone donations can be made by calling 0207 367 4800 between 8:30 & 16:00 Monday to Friday.

Donate online by visiting https://secure20.salvationarmy.org/donation.jsp and entering Flood Relief in the Specific Use box.