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CNN Live Today

Interview With Salvation Army Workers

Aired May 07, 2003 - 10:09   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: The Salvation Army is here in town in force taking care of a lot of that, and we're joined here by two Salvation Army workers. We have got Simon Henley and Kimberly George here, who stopped by to talk to us. I know you don't have a lot of time because you guys have a lot of work to do, but give us an idea right now of the scope of your operation.
KIMBERLY GEORGE, SALVATION ARMY: Well, right now we have four feeding units that are in the area. We have two more on their way. One of the greatest assets of the Salvation Army, our feeding units are mobile, so they can go roaming through the neighborhoods and meet the needs in each little pocket of the community where the devastation is.

HARRIS: How many people do you think you're dealing with right now, Simon?

SIMON HENLEY, SALVATION ARMY: Well, in the past two days, we have served over 2,000 meals and we have probably helped over 3,000 people, and that's just in a 48-hour time span, and we really see those needs increasing as the weather clears up.

HARRIS: Now, are these people all in shelters right now, or are you talking about actually going out to the homes like these and finding people who need your help?

GEORGE: We're actually going into the neighborhoods. A lot of people have made it to friends and family, trying to stay with them. We're going -- we are also helping the emergency workers that are on the outlying parts of the community. So we're going in. And again, we are serving more than just a meal. We're providing comfort and support because with all of this rain coming in, these storms just happened less than 48 hours ago and so, it's still fresh on their mind. People are very scared.

HARRIS: We talked about that a little while ago. You are saying that you think this weather is actually causing even more stress on people who have gone through these storms?

HENLEY: Absolutely. Imagine the horror that they went through on Sunday night. And then again last night with tornado touchdowns in close vicinities and now we are still under tornado watch. People are scared, and that horror and that memory sticks with them for months to come. So to have it so fresh, it just adds to their stress. And that is where counseling needs, having pastors on hand to go around with mobile units really helps. HARRIS: As a matter of fact, I heard stories this morning about how because of the weather last night, people were scared, wouldn't even go to sleep or lay down or relax because of the weather.

GEORGE: And that's why we're serving 24 hours right now at this point for the emergency workers who have to be on stand by for 24 hours, they are out serving, and also for these people who have these needs.

HARRIS: Yes. Can't forget about the emergency workers. There is a lot of them out there, and they are working, and they are going through the same conditions that the families who actually have suffered losses are going through as well.

GEORGE: That's right, because it's their community, just like it's the Salvation Army's community. We are based here. Our local offices and our local residence for our officers, their residence had been hit. And so they have no electricity, and they have similar-type damage. The Salvation Army is a part of this community. It's our neighbors, that's why we're here.

HARRIS: Thank you. Glad you were here to give us an update on that, and by the way, quickly, if anybody wants to send in donations, where to?

GEORGE: Yes. They can call 1-800-SAL-ARMY. 1-800-SAL -- S-A-L -- ARMY -- A-R-M-Y for any type of credit card donations or to see how they can mail one in.

HARRIS: All right. Simon Henley, Kimberly George, good luck. Thank you very much for your time this morning.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired May 7, 2003 - 10:09   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: The Salvation Army is here in town in force taking care of a lot of that, and we're joined here by two Salvation Army workers. We have got Simon Henley and Kimberly George here, who stopped by to talk to us. I know you don't have a lot of time because you guys have a lot of work to do, but give us an idea right now of the scope of your operation.
KIMBERLY GEORGE, SALVATION ARMY: Well, right now we have four feeding units that are in the area. We have two more on their way. One of the greatest assets of the Salvation Army, our feeding units are mobile, so they can go roaming through the neighborhoods and meet the needs in each little pocket of the community where the devastation is.

HARRIS: How many people do you think you're dealing with right now, Simon?

SIMON HENLEY, SALVATION ARMY: Well, in the past two days, we have served over 2,000 meals and we have probably helped over 3,000 people, and that's just in a 48-hour time span, and we really see those needs increasing as the weather clears up.

HARRIS: Now, are these people all in shelters right now, or are you talking about actually going out to the homes like these and finding people who need your help?

GEORGE: We're actually going into the neighborhoods. A lot of people have made it to friends and family, trying to stay with them. We're going -- we are also helping the emergency workers that are on the outlying parts of the community. So we're going in. And again, we are serving more than just a meal. We're providing comfort and support because with all of this rain coming in, these storms just happened less than 48 hours ago and so, it's still fresh on their mind. People are very scared.

HARRIS: We talked about that a little while ago. You are saying that you think this weather is actually causing even more stress on people who have gone through these storms?

HENLEY: Absolutely. Imagine the horror that they went through on Sunday night. And then again last night with tornado touchdowns in close vicinities and now we are still under tornado watch. People are scared, and that horror and that memory sticks with them for months to come. So to have it so fresh, it just adds to their stress. And that is where counseling needs, having pastors on hand to go around with mobile units really helps. HARRIS: As a matter of fact, I heard stories this morning about how because of the weather last night, people were scared, wouldn't even go to sleep or lay down or relax because of the weather.

GEORGE: And that's why we're serving 24 hours right now at this point for the emergency workers who have to be on stand by for 24 hours, they are out serving, and also for these people who have these needs.

HARRIS: Yes. Can't forget about the emergency workers. There is a lot of them out there, and they are working, and they are going through the same conditions that the families who actually have suffered losses are going through as well.

GEORGE: That's right, because it's their community, just like it's the Salvation Army's community. We are based here. Our local offices and our local residence for our officers, their residence had been hit. And so they have no electricity, and they have similar-type damage. The Salvation Army is a part of this community. It's our neighbors, that's why we're here.

HARRIS: Thank you. Glad you were here to give us an update on that, and by the way, quickly, if anybody wants to send in donations, where to?

GEORGE: Yes. They can call 1-800-SAL-ARMY. 1-800-SAL -- S-A-L -- ARMY -- A-R-M-Y for any type of credit card donations or to see how they can mail one in.

HARRIS: All right. Simon Henley, Kimberly George, good luck. Thank you very much for your time this morning.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com