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TORNADOES EVOKE EMERGENCY DISASTER RESPONSE B Y LT. C O L O N E L A L L E N S AT T E R L E E Sweeping across parts of Alabama and Georgia, a devastating series of tornadoes touched down, leaving in their wake 23 dead, scores injured and millions of dollars in property damage. Particularly hard hit were Selma and Opelika in Alabama as well as LaGrange, Greenville and Griffin in Georgia. “Such strong tornadoes are rare in January,” commented Jeff Jellets, Territorial Disaster Coordinator for the USA Southern Territory, “Not surprisingly with storms of this caliber, the Army not only ministered to those affected but did so even though it sustained damage itself.” Both in Selma and in LaGrange, the Salvation Army family stores suffered major damage. Caught in the storm, the staff in the Selma Family Store, which doubles as the service center, sheltered in place even as the roof was being ripped off the building. Fortunately, no one was hurt despite the frightening possibilities. Donald Felice, Divisional Communication Director for the Georgia Division, reported that a similar catastrophe happened at the family store in Griffin. “The roof was completely sheared away by the high-force winds of the tornado. ‘The staff sheltered in a storage room when we saw the tornado coming our way,’ said Michael White, manager of The Salvation Army Family Store in Griffin, ‘It just tore the roof off and put it all in a big pile against a tree across the street.’ There were no customers in the store at the time the tornado struck, as out of an abundance of caution, Mr. White, had asked customers to leave earlier when he saw there was a possibility of severe weather
approaching. In addition, thanks to quick thinking of Mr. White, all of the staff who sheltered in the storage room came through the storm safely.” A heartwarming story from Selma brings to the fore the importance of a gentle touch amid crushing events. Michelle Hartfield, Divisional Marketing Director for the ALM Division tells of a team of Salvation Army disaster workers coming upon people working around the wreckage of a home owned by “Mr. Danny.” He had weathered the storm with his dog but lost his home because of the storm. Seeing his home destroyed led him to a different way of thinking because of the response of his neighbors and The Salvation Army. “Things have been tough. I even thought I might end my life, but this has pulled me through. I feel like I have purpose. So many people are coming to take care of me. I know I’ll have PTSD, but I have a new purpose. I’ve seen pure love that is a
straight connection to God. It’s what I needed, and I’ll never be the same. In the big picture, this might have helped more than hurt me. People coming together like this has changed me.” Mr. Danny’s story has been replicated countless times through the compassionate response of the Army, volunteers, family, neighbors and friends as well as other helping agencies. The numbers marking the assistance rendered by the Army alone are impressive. As of January 17, The Army had served over 6500 meals, 5000 drinks with another 5000+ snacks. Spiritual care contacts, including prayer, caring listening and counsel numbered over 350. In addition, material assistance included cleanup kits, tarps, blankets and clothing. As the canteens withdraw, more assistance will be at hand as the communities affected move to put things together. The Army will be there as long as it is needed.
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An Interview With Major Algerome Newsome Southern Spirit: How did you meet The Salvation Army? Major Algerome Newsome: I grew up in New Orleans. Lt. Steve Smith came knocking on doors in the community. We lived just around the corner from The Salvation Army. He was the first white man I can recall coming into my home. We saw a lot of activity at The Salvation Army but never quite knew what was going on; we never were invited to come until now. But my parents did not allow me to go because all of them were white, and we were African-American. It wasn’t something my parents felt was a safe environment at that time. In our neighborhood, we had gangs, not like gangs today, but just kids who got into trouble. To move from the smaller gang to the older gang, you had to do certain things. A group of kids came around on my thirteenth birthday and told me I had to go through an initiation process. So, we went to a drugstore with a list of
things to steal. For one of the big items, they took me to The Salvation Army. We were supposed to go back that night and break in to steal things. We looked through the windows to see what we would steal. Lt. Smith saw us, came out, and invited us into a Boy Scout meeting, so we thought, “What better way to scout out the place?” We all went inside for a Boy Scout meeting. We never returned that night to break in, but we all became Boy Scouts. It was the atmosphere of love that we were embraced with when we walked through the doors that kept us coming back. Southern Spirit: How were you called to be an officer? Newsome: The Salvation Army was perceived by my family as an all-white organization. My family grew up Baptist; two grandfathers were Baptist ministers. My grandfather had designs on me becoming a Baptist minister and taking over his church one day. In The Salvation Army, you got out after an hour of worship, and the Baptists were there for 3-4 hours. It encouraged me to attend The Salvation Army to spend less time at church and more time doing other things I wanted to do. I received the call at youth councils. I had “Newsome...” continued on page 2