The Salvation Army in the USA is responding, after a bridge in Minneapolis collapsed at rush hour, hurling cars into the Mississippi and killing at least three people.

Salvation Army emergency disaster services personnel are bringing physical, emotional and spiritual aid to people at the scene.

Three Salvation Army emergency disaster services vehicles (canteens), along with more than a dozen emergency responders, are on scene at the I-35W collapse. The primary focus will be to provide food and water for emergency personnel on site as well as survivors who are on the scene and to provide for spiritual and emotional care.

The Salvation Army is prepared to serve throughout the evening, with each feeding unit having five to six volunteers and/or staff members serving. Salvation Army emergency staff and volunteers are trained both in food service and Critical Incident Stress Management.

Salvation Army Captain Adam Moore witnessed the collapse. He was about a half mile south of the bridge on Washington Avenue, ready to head north on I-35W.

Once he realised what had happened, he immediately began coordinating Salvation Army disaster services efforts and offered spiritual care to people at the scene.

'This is why the Salvation Army exists,' Moore said. 'We help people make sense of tragedy and help them put the pieces back together.'

The Salvation Army becomes part of the Emergency Operation Centre set up in times of disaster, responding to calls for help from local authorities and the police.


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[Re-printed in Christian Today with the kind permission of The Salvation Army]