The Salvation Army Hawaiian and Pacific Islands Division stepped up to save teen campers and feed communities across the Islands over the past 24 hours during a tsunami warning.
The Salvation Army’s Divisional Secretary for Business Maj. Tom Stambaugh told Aloha State Daily that there were 90 campers at Camp Homelani on Oʻahu’s North Shore when the first emergency alert was sent out Tuesday.
“The camp is in a flood zone, so officers and camp staff quickly mobilized after that,” he said. They headed to Hale‘iwa Park, fed the kids McDonald’s and later took them to The Salvation Army Kroc Center Hawaiʻi to play, while waiting for the all clear.
“Everyone was safe, and we moved them back to camp without anyone getting injured or lost," Stambaugh continued.
Also on O’ahu, the nonprofit paid for Papa John’s to be delivered to an emergency operation center. “Going to the grocery store and traffic were two major hardships. So, if we are unable to prepare meals, we’ll purchase the food and send it out.”
He added that the organization delivered 35 cases of water to those sheltering at Kauaʻi Community College.
“Some of our takeaways were to always have resources on hand like bottled water and ready-to-go foods,” Stambaugh said. “We’re making more provisions for that now. Also, logistically understanding the best routes to take, I think that will be an ongoing lesson for us and our state partners.”
On Wednesday morning, Salvation Army officers and staff prepared breakfast for 1,200 individuals across five shelters statewide, he noted. Nearly 400 meals were served on Hawaiʻi Island at Waiakea High School in Hilo.
“The officers who were there said people were grateful for a hot breakfast with the good news that they could return home.” As of 10:38 p.m. Tuesday, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center downgraded the tsunami warning to a tsunami advisory, and by 10 a.m. Wednesday, the advisory for Hawai‘i was canceled, ASD reported.
Approximately 25 officers and staff helped aid in response, Stambaugh said.
“We’re grateful for our Salvation Army officers, employees and frontline volunteers that quickly mobilized,” he said. “This community makes us stronger, whether it be support through donations, contributions, volunteerism, etc. We do this work together.”
Across all tsunami refuge areas, more than 1,800 individuals sought shelter, with approximately 150 visitors who stayed overnight at the Kaua'i Veterans Center, per a Kaua'i County update.
ASD reached out to Kaua'i County and American Red Cross Pacific Islands Region, which took to Instagram to plug its Red Cross Emergency App.
The Salvation Army’s mission is “to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and meet human needs in His name without discrimination.”
To support The Salvation Army's local disaster relief, click here. Sign-up to be a standby volunteer in disaster response here.
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Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros can be reached at kelsey@alohastatedaily.com.
