The Salvation Army in the Caribbean responds to Hurricane Ivan

The Salvation Army working at capacity to help people in the Caribbean who have been affected by Hurricane Ivan, reports Colonel John Matear, Territorial Commander for the Caribbean. The colonel is currently in London and unable to fly following surgery but he is in regular contact with Salvationists in the storm-hit region.

The hurricane, in which winds topped 150 miles an hour, hit Grenada first at the end of last week. Ninety per cent of accommodation was flattened but Colonel Matear reports that all Salvation Army personnel on the island are safe.

When the storm hit, the island's Salvation Army officers sheltered in the hall along with some of the Salvationists who had been made homeless. The island is part of The Salvation Army's Trindad and Tobago Division, and staff at divisional headquarters in Trindad obtained space on a container heading to Grenada and sent food and water for distribution. The divisional commander and divisional secretary have been trying to get over to Grenada but have so far been unsuccessful. Once there, they will conduct a needs assessment before deciding on the next course of action.

Salvation Army personnel from neighbouring Antigua and Barbados are preparing to head to Grenada and help with food distribution. Territorial headquarters in Kingston, Jamaica, is standing by to see what further help is needed.

Salvationists in Kingston report that the electricity supply in the capital has been reinstated and most people have been able to return to their homes. Nineteen people are reported to have been killed and rural Jamaica has suffered heavily, with many parts of the island cut off because of flooding. The Salvation Army is preparing food parcels and, accompanied by the police, has begun to distribute these in rural Jamaica.

While the storm was over Jamaica, Salvation Army personnel provided assistance in public shelters. Many Salvation Army halls were used as shelters, both in Kingston and in rural areas. On Saturday more than 1,000 meals were prepared and given out in the shelters, followed by a further 500 on Sunday.