Salvation Army helps in Itasca County state of emergency
Roseville, Minn. – Late in the evening on July 5, Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services volunteer Tom Isle received a call. A storm had just ripped through Itasca County and the small town of Ball Club needed a lot of help.
“I got a call from the emergency manager of the Leech Lake Reservation asking if we could assist in the cleanup effort,” explained Isle. “We were there the next morning serving food, drinks and snacks out of our mobile kitchen.”
The Salvation Army delivered more than 500 bottles of water and hundreds more snacks.
Fast forward to July 10 — officials declared a state of emergency in Itasca County. It’s the first step in seeking state and federal funds to assist in recovery efforts. (Make a donation to The Salvation Army’s disaster relief fund to support our continued service there.)
Although it’s still too early to know how much the clean up is going to cost, there’s no question that it left more than 10,000 homes without power and downed hundreds of trees. Electricity has been restored to most, but the clean up is expected to take weeks.
“It was a humbling experience,” said Isle. “I’m just glad we were able to help and be a part of the community for that day.”
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