Salvation Army seeks cash for Hurricane victims

Tuesday, Sept. 10, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

If Las Vegans want to help victims of Hurricane Fran, cash will do nicely.

The local Salvation Army, which once collected two vans-full of supplies for nearby California earthquake victims, says because of the cost-prohibitive distance of shipping materials to the East Coast they are confining their efforts to raising cash to help tens of thousands of Fran's victims.

Last weekend's storm, with winds in excess of 125 mph, killed 12, submerged Atlantic beach towns, washed away boats, snapped church steeples and uprooted trees in addition to leaving more than 1 million people without power.

"We are accepting checks, but not clothing and blankets," said Sumner Dodge, spokesman for the Clark County chapter of the Salvation Army. "The cost would be too great to send them such a long distance (by truck)."

Dodge noted that because there was sufficient warning that the storm would hit and could cause great damage, disaster emergency supplies were stockpiled by the Salvation Army and others throughout Georgia and North and South Carolina.

"Money can be used to purchase cleanup supplies and bottled drinking water as well as pay for temporary housing for the victims," Dodge said.

Dodge acknowledged that pleas like this could affect local fund-raising efforts if donors reroute their regular donations for the hurricane disaster victims.

"We're hoping that people will realize that our local programs will be going on and that we need their continued support," Dodge said. "Hopefully, they will look at this as an extra donation this month to help others in need."

And there were many in need from the storm that ripped through eastern North Carolina and swamped central Virginia.

President Clinton has declared a major disaster in North Carolina, making the state eligible for federal emergency assistance.

"Our hearts go out to these families and individuals who are suffering the effects of this terrible disaster," said Lt. Col. Jim Sullivan, the Salvation Army's Clark County coordinator.

"We have been asked to send donations to the Salvation Army in that area for purchase of much-needed relief supplies."

Donations can be sent to the Salvation Army, PO Box 28369, Las Vegas, NV 89126.