01/29/2026
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The Salvation Army Deploys Disaster Team in Kentucky and Tennessee
By Eric Short on January 29, 2026
Glasgow, KY â Four days after a powerful winter storm swept through the region, thousands of residents in south central Kentucky and north central Tennessee remain without power, as temperatures continue to stay well below freezing. Road conditions also remain hazardous, particularly on secondary and rural routes, complicating both travel and recovery efforts. Electric utilities continue restoration work, but infrastructure damage is extensive, and officials warn that full restoration may take considerable time.
In response to the ongoing crisis, The Salvation Army of Kentucky & Tennessee has established a dedicated Emergency Disaster Services (EDS) team in the hardest-hit areas. The deployment includes four mobile kitchen units from Sevierville, Paducah, Louisville, and Knoxville, which will serve communities across seven counties:
Kentucky: Barren, Monroe, and Allen counties
Tennessee: Sumner, Robertson, Clay, and Macon counties
Meal service is scheduled to begin Thursday, January 29, with The Salvation Army partnering with Southern Baptist Disaster Relief, whose field kitchen will prepare massâproduced meals. Lunch and dinner service will be provided daily in impacted communities for as long as the need continues.
âOur teams have been planning this operation carefully from the moment the storm hit,â said Major Mark Hunter, Incident Commander for The Salvation Armyâs response. âWe are here to meet physical needs with hot meals and essential supplies, to support emotional and mental wellâbeing during a difficult time, and to offer spiritual care to anyone who seeks it. Our mission is to bring comfort, strength, and hope to our neighbors who are still enduring the stormâs aftermath.â
Warming Centers Continue Operating; Murfreesboro Shelter Activated After Hotel Evacuation
While response operations expand in rural communities, The Salvation Army continues to operate 15 warming centers across Kentucky and Tennessee, providing safe refuge from freezing temperatures.
This week, The Salvation Army of Murfreesboro was contacted by the Murfreesboro Police Department after a burst water pipe at a Rutherford County hotel displaced approximately 200 guests. On Tuesday, January 27, Salvation Army personnel, led by Sergeant George Keith, activated an emergency shelter inside the Corps gymnasium in cooperation with the American Red Cross, which supplied cots and bedding.
The Salvation Army housed 39 evacuated guests on Tuesday night and 33 guests on Wednesday night, providing warmth, safety, meals, and compassionate care.
âWhen people suddenly find themselves without a safe place to stay in subfreezing temperatures, every minute matters,â said Sergeant George Keith of The Salvation Army of Murfreesboro. âOpening our shelter was simply the right thing to do. We are grateful we could step in quickly to protect these families during a dangerous and stressful situation.â
How the Public Can Help
The extensive services provided in response to this winter storm, including meal distribution, mobile kitchen deployments, emergency sheltering, and emotional and spiritual care, are made possible only through the generosity of donors.
The Salvation Army extends heartfelt thanks to everyone who has already contributed. Yet with widespread power outages and extended recovery expected, financial support is still urgently needed.
The most effective way to help is by giving financially:
Online: http://www.helpsalvationarmy.org
Phone: 1-800-SAL-ARMY
Mail:
The Salvation Army
PO Box 436437
Louisville, KY 40253
(Memo: January 2026 Winter Storm)
Committed to Serving for as Long as Needed
As communities across Kentucky and Tennessee continue to endure freezing temperatures and delayed power restoration, The Salvation Army will remain on the ground, providing meals, shelter, essential supplies, and compassionate support, for as long as relief is needed.
Help us reach our goal! Your support will make a meaningful difference. Every contribution brings us closer to success. Join us today and be part of something impactful.
