Disaster struck the small town of Cache Creek, B.C., in May when a heavy localized rainstorm dropped 30 cm of rain in one hour, causing severe flooding.

“The local storm water channels were no match for that amount of water, and overflowed from the ditches on to the streets, becoming rivers of water, mud, debris and tree roots,” says John McEwan, divisional emergency disaster services director, British Columbia Division.

The Salvation Army's emergency disaster services quickly sprang into action, sending a community response unit from nearby Kamloops, B.C. On their first day on the scene, Salvation Army workers handed out 200 sandwiches, 500 bottles of water and hundreds of snacks to residents and workers who were removing mud and water from homes and streets. Salvation Army workers from Williams Lake, Chilliwack and Abbotsford, B.C., also joined the effort.

After five days in Cache Creek, the Army had distributed more than 400 prepared meals, 1,200 drinks and 700 snacks.

“We drove around trying to find people outside working, and we offered water and Gatorade,” says Captain Lisa Trickett, corps officer, Kamloops Community Church. “The people were very blessed to have our presence there.”