The Salvation Army Assisting In Cyclone Crisis

The Salvation Army has been responding where needed in the national cyclone emergency response. Our Emergency Services responded to Cyclone Gabrielle by ensuring there were people assisting in Civil Defence Centres and a team was sent to an apartment complex in Auckland to offer welfare support to those being evacuated. Food is being provided as support for emergency services. There is practical and psychosocial support being offered in parts of the country, Auckland, Northland, East Coast and Hawke’s Bay, that have been most affected by the disaster.

The Salvation Army has prepared hundreds of emergency food parcels at their facilities in Auckland, Hamilton and Palmerston North for delivery to cyclone-affected families on the East Coast and Hawke’s Bay.

Four hundred pre-packed food parcels were delivered to Gisborne, while around 200 food parcels were delivered to the remote communities of Tikitiki and Rangitukia north of Gisborne.

Some 600 pre-packed food parcels were delivered to those in need in Hastings and Napier. Food parcel deliveries are ongoing.

Donated brand new bedding, baby products, non-perishable food items and gumboots are to be transported with the assistance of a donor to Gisborne, Napier, Hastings and Hamilton.

Other supplies being given by a donor include torches and batteries, along with supplies such as flat-pack beds, mattresses and vouchers.

Local corps (churches) on the ground in Gisborne, Napier and Hastings are active in the emergency response, which includes pastoral ministry and the provision of food and other types of support.

In Hastings, two Salvation Army staff flew with Red Cross colleagues by helicopter to cut-off areas where they went door to door to assess immediate needs.

In the Napier area, a Salvation Army officer who is also a military chaplain accompanied military teams as they travelled to isolated rural communities to provide supplies and welfare support.