Salvation Army launches FORTS shelter in the Tri-Cities to assist in flood relief efforts

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) — For the first time in Tennessee, The Salvation Army deployed its new FORTS (Fold-Out Rigid Temporary Shelter) unit in the Tri-Cities in response to Hurricane Helene.

A release from the organization said the unit is serving as an Incident Command Post at the Salvation Army Thrift Store parking lot in Johnson City. The post will coordinate The Salvation Army’s flood relief efforts in Johnson, Unicoi, Carter, Greene and Cocke counties.

The organization said the team has been using the Johnson City Salvation Army Corps building for the first week of flood relief operations, but relocating to the FORTS unit allows them to better maintain its regular community services alongside disaster relief efforts.

“This unit is a game-changer for us,” said Major Brooks Gilliam, Incident Commander for The Salvation Army’s Emergency Disaster Services (EDS) Response. “The FORTS unit provides the space and functionality we need to effectively coordinate our response across multiple counties, while also freeing up local Salvation Army facilities to continue their vital work in the community.”

The unit unfolds to provide crews with 273 feet of operational space and folds away into a 20-square-foot transportable base. The unit is designed for rapid deployment and constant adaptability, The Salvation Army said.

According to the release, The Salvation Army is operating six mobile kitchens that have been serving around 4,000 meals each day. The units also offer emotional and spiritual support to residents, emergency responders and anyone else in need.

According to The Salvation Army, the organization has provided the following items in the first seven days after the flooding hit:

• 11,123 meals served
• 935 drinks distributed
• 367 snacks provided
• 441 emotional and spiritual care (ESC) contacts made

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