Salvation Army Ramps Up Preparations Ahead of Ana

Homelessness in Hawaiʻi. Photo at The Salvation Army on Kamehameha Avenue in Kahului, April 8, 2014, by Wendy Osher.

By Wendy Osher

The Salvation Army emergency disaster services division is making preparations ahead of Tropical Storm Ana, which is forecast to intensify to hurricane status later today or tonight.

Organization leaders say they have teams and volunteers situated on each island that are ready to go into action as needed, and are prepared to respond with community assistance on the major Hawaiian Islands.

The Salvation Army is part of a team of agencies providing assistance during the pending event and is working closely with the State of Hawaiʻi Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster also known as VOAD.

“The Salvation Army has an established presence on Hawaiʻi, Maui, Molokaʻi, Oʻahu and Kauaʻi and we are in place to respond in our island communities as needs arise,” said Captain Shane Halverson, Emergency Disaster Services Coordinator for The Salvation Army – Hawaiian & Pacific Islands Division in a press release statement.

Halverson said the organization is accepting monetary donations via its website with 100% of donated funds to be used to support emergency disaster services in Hawaiʻi.