The Salvation Army is deploying more people from Chattanooga to Texas in the wake of Hurricane Harvey.
Two officers from Chattanooga and others across Tennessee are preparing to leave this weekend for Houston to work relief efforts after Hurricane Harvey caused widespread destruction and historic flooding, according to a news release. This team will replace a previous team that immediately traveled to Houston as the storm barreled down.
The Salvation Army of Chattanooga is sending Lt. James Harvin and Lt. Tansena Spears, who will join the response teams sent so far from Tennessee now on rotation providing ongoing relief and long-term recovery services.
Specialized equipment has already been sent from Tennessee including mobile canteens to Houston.
"The Salvation Army has a long history of serving in disasters, from localized tornadoes or flooding to long-term responses after 9/11 and Katrina. We are positioned to be serving on the front lines because the Salvation Army ministries touches every ZIP code in the U.S.," said Maj. Robert Lyle, Chattanooga's area commander who is now serving in Houston.
The Salvation Army is also keeping an eye on Hurricane Irma as it barrels toward Florida.
"The situation is changing literally hour-by-hour as we focus on preparing for Hurricane Irma relief efforts and providing long-term recovery in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey," said Bo Sells, the agency's disaster services coordinator for Kentucky and Tennessee.