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Salvation Army Disaster Case Managers

As of November 13, 2023: Disaster case managers through the Salvation Army are now available to assist with fire recovery. Case managers will help those impacted establish a fire recovery plan and access needed resources, including Wildfire Response Funds at Innovia. If you have been impacted you can contact one of the following case managers at Salvation Army:

Elk, WA Oregon Road Fire Disaster Case Managers:
Don Simpson, Case Manager
Office: 509-325-6810
Cell: 509-389-6470
Email: Donald.Simpson@usw.salvationarmy.org

Lynna Macleod, Case Manager
Office: 509-325-6810
Cell: 509-315-7594

Medical Lake, WA Gray Road Fire Disaster Case Managers:
Alaysha Cavitt-Breithaupt, Case Manager
Office: 509-325-6810
Cell: 509-263-1957
Email: Alaysha.Cavitt-Breithaupt@usw.salvationarmy.org

Bill Shields, Case Manager
Office: 509-325-6810
Cell: 509-389-6286
Email: William.Shields@usw.salvationarmy.org

Other Organizations Providing Resources

Grants from the emergency response fund are supporting local organizations providing assistance to those impacted by wildfires. These organizations include:

Those needing assistance should contact one of these organizations, or contact Innovia at 509-624-2606.

FEMA Disaster Recovery Assistance

Federal funding is now available for fire recovery assistance for Elk, WA Oregon Rd and Medical Lake, WA Gray Rd wildfire survivors.

Asbestos Testing Reimbursement

Contact a Salvation Army Case Worker to sign up for asbestos testing reimbursement.

Grants are being distributed as needed to nonprofit organizations providing assistance and relief in the Elk and Medical Lake communities. Funding to date is helping with food, clothing, gas cards, propane, tree removal, utility hook-ups, RV winterization and more.  The Spokane Region Long Term Recovery Group is working in partnership with Innovia and other funders to coordinate resources.

Some of the community-based organizations providing immediate assistance include:

  • Salvation Army
  • New Hope Resource Center in Elk
  • Re*Imagine Medical Lake
  • Medical Lake Community Outreach

A Long-Term Recovery Group is a cooperative body that is made up of representatives from faith-based, non-profit, government, business and other organizations working within a community to assist individuals and families recover from disaster. The Spokane Region Long Term Recovery Group includes community members from Elk and Medical Lake representing the region as a whole. Learn more about the SRLTRG in this recent Spokesman-Review article: Here for the long haul.

No one program can meet all the disaster-related recovery needs of the hardest impacted individuals and families. This serves as the “clearinghouse” for all those who desire to help with recovery.

Collaborations among organizations increase capacity and efficiency for recovery as additional helping resources are brought to the table.

    • Ensures resources are distributed fairly
    • Avoids duplication of benefits and services.
    • Communities with Long-Term Recovery Groups respond to and recover from disaster faster and more effectively.

Local, community based LTRGs are the key to increasing capacity and providing a centralized location for resources to funnel in.

  • Disaster Case Management & Unmet Needs
  • Volunteer Coordination
  • Reconstruction/Rebuild Coordination
  • Management of Donors and Fundraising
  • Advocacy for Ongoing Needs
  • Emotional and Spiritual Care
  • Communications and Public Relations
  • Debris Removal and Site Preparation

Disaster Case Managers will work with fire survivors to establish a fire recovery plan and present any disaster-caused unmet needs to the Long Term Recovery Group. Members of the group have a variety of resources (human, in-kind, financial) and collaboratively provide all or parts of the resources needed to assist the survivors. This includes access to the dollars in the Wildfire Response Fund at Innovia. Disaster case managers through the Salvation Army are now available to assist with fire recovery.  Please call the Salvation Army at 509-325-6810 for additional information.

A coordinated approach to resource distribution is necessary to make sure the funds can be stretched as far as possible, doing the most good for the most people. Funding is addressing immediate needs through the nonprofit organizations working with fire-impacted families and individuals in Medical Lake and Elk. Through these organizations, assistance is available now for needs including food, gas cards, propane, utility hookups, RV winterization, and emergency shelter.