• Thad Hicks

FEMA Corps Trains with The Salvation Army

Jackson, MS (10-21-2014) - The Salvation Army ALM Division’s Emergency Disaster Services hosted The Southern Region Coast 4, FEMA Corps team at the Emergency Disaster Services center on October 20th and 21st.

FEMA Corps is the result of a partnership between The Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS).  FEMA Corps teams are groups of individuals solely devoted to disaster preparedness, response, and recovery.  In response to a new effort developed by FEMA in conjunction with a number of states, FEMA Corps teams are now being assigned to work hand in hand with state level organizations and groups.  As one of these groups, The Salvation Army’s Emergency Disaster Services Department was included.

The EDS Department within the ALM division hosted the team for 2 very full days.  The team was trained on the Intro to Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services course, as well as an 8 hour VOAD Liaison course.  In addition, the team was introduced to the different resources that The Salvation Army can bring to a disaster scene, including a walk-thru and explanation of all the larger pieces of equipment.  Divisional Logistics Coordinator, Ken Freeman stated, “We are introducing tomorrows potential FEMA leadership to The Salvation Army, and all the good we can do at a disaster scene; this sort of program is invaluable.”   

About The Salvation Army

The Salvation Army, an evangelical part of the universal Christian church established in London in 1865, has been supporting those in need in His name without discrimination for more than 130 years in the United States. Nearly 30 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year through a range of social services: providing food for the hungry, relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter for the homeless and opportunities for underprivileged children. Eighty-two cents of every dollar The Salvation Army spends is used to support those services in 5,000 communities nationwide. For more information, visit SalvationArmyUSA.org.