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<br />canteen had been set up on the
<br />western edge of Loveland. Generators
<br />from the canteen were used to light
<br />the area and keep track of the rising
<br />water, Hundreds of volunteers,
<br />firemen, policemen, and rescue teams,
<br />all under the direction of the Larimer
<br />County Sheriff Bob Watson, raced to
<br />the scene.
<br />As rescue workers braved the cold
<br />and rain, seeking out the stranded, the
<br />injured, and the dead, the services of
<br />the canteen began.
<br />The story of The Salvation Army
<br />Canteen on a disaster is not a
<br />dramatic, heroic story. Just the simple
<br />story of people concerned with
<br />people, trying to help those trying to
<br />help. No bravery. Just coffee,
<br />doughnuts, hot soup, a touch, a smile,
<br />a "God Bless You."
<br />As Sunday morning broke, the
<br />dimensions of the disaster became
<br />more evident. Helicopters were flown
<br />in from nearby private airports and a
<br />U.S. Army base. As soon as they were
<br />able the big Huey and Chinook
<br />helicopters roared off to pick up
<br />survivors, some still clinging to canyon
<br />walls, some from isolated pockets of
<br />high ground, and still others directly
<br />from the wreckage- and debris-laden
<br />river.
<br />It was an emotion-packed scene
<br />when the first helicopter touched
<br />down and tired, but glad-to-be-alive
<br />survivors streamed from the rear
<br />ramp. A Salvation Army worker was
<br />there. And when the survivors had
<br />boarded the buses which were to take
<br />them to the reception center they
<br />were handed a cup of hot soup, a
<br />sandwich, and coffee. It had been a
<br />long night and miserable day. Some
<br />protested that they were all right but
<br />
<br />gratefully accepted the simple
<br />expression of caring and settled back
<br />to the food and a moment to reflect on
<br />the miracle of being alive.
<br />The command post was moved
<br />nearer downtown Loveland where
<br />telephones could be installed. Here
<br />the Salvation Army canteen and the
<br />local Seventh Day Adventist
<br />Community Services truck served
<br />hundreds of volunteer rescuers,
<br />police, news people, and people who
<br />simply came to help.
<br />The cooperation between the
<br />various disaster assistance agencies
<br />provided a model worthy of comment.
<br />The Salvation Army canteen was early
<br />on the job to provide food and coffee
<br />for the rescue workers, the Red Cross
<br />quickly set up the reception center
<br />and missing persons operation. A
<br />truckload of clothes and food was sent
<br />by The Salvation Army to the
<br />reception center. A local computer
<br />firm lent equipment to help in
<br />registering the missing, the injured and
<br />the dead. The Seventh Day Adventist
<br />church provided food and volunteers
<br />for clean up and rebuilding. These
<br />groups were joined by hundreds of
<br />emergency rescue volunteers, Civil Air
<br />Patrol, medical, helicopter, mountain
<br />rescue teams, state and local police, in
<br />both an organized and individual basis.
<br />The Ministerial ASsociation
<br />provided clergy, on duty around the
<br />clock, at the temporary morgue and at
<br />the reception center. Churches and
<br />local agencies began setting up a
<br />clothing and furniture center at the
<br />local dog track. This gigantic effort
<br />was coordinated only by the simple
<br />desire to do what was needed - with-
<br />out special recognition or glory.
<br />After the first day and a half, it
<br />
<br />became evident at the Salvation Army
<br />Canteen that this was to be a long
<br />stay. So Salvation Army Officers,
<br />Soldiers, volunteers and Social Work
<br />staff were called in to help on an
<br />around-the-clock basis.
<br />Helicopters crews needed to be fed,
<br />mountain rescue teams needed to
<br />have food flown in to their base
<br />camps. CB volunteers, Sheriff's
<br />officers and State Patrolmen stationed
<br />on road blocks throughout the dark
<br />nights were visited every hour or so
<br />with hot coffee, food and a cheery
<br />word of encouragement. The
<br />Salvation Army prepared breakfast,
<br />the Adventists, lunch, and the
<br />Salvationists, dinner, around the
<br />clock, day after day.
<br />On Wednesday, August 4th, the
<br />Federal Disaster Assistance Agency
<br />set up its "One Stop" center for
<br />disaster aid. Salvation Army, Red
<br />Cross, and local, state and federal
<br />agencies joined to provide a place
<br />where survivors could come for all
<br />kinds of aid. Food, lodging, clothing,
<br />transportation, loans, employment,
<br />Social Security, Social Welfare, food
<br />stamps, all were made available. Again
<br />the spirit of cooperation was every-
<br />where. Salvation Army and Red Cross
<br />staff members decided that since both
<br />give similar types of aid that it would
<br />be better to split up the job. So the
<br />Red Cross provided assistance for the
<br />permanent residents and The
<br />Salvation Army served the vacationers
<br />and summer residents. . .many who
<br />had lost everything and simply wanted
<br />a way to get home.
<br />From Wednesday to the following
<br />Thursday the Salvation Army
<br />disbursed aid in the form of bus and
<br />airline tickets, gasoline, new clothing,
<br />
<br />"The spirit of cooperation was everywhere."
<br />
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