{"id":10647,"date":"2026-04-14T18:28:38","date_gmt":"2026-04-14T18:28:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/salarmyeds.org\/?p=10647"},"modified":"2026-04-14T18:28:38","modified_gmt":"2026-04-14T18:28:38","slug":"ready-together-regional-disaster-trainings-strengthen-disaster-readiness-across-florida","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/salarmyeds.org\/index.php\/2026\/04\/14\/ready-together-regional-disaster-trainings-strengthen-disaster-readiness-across-florida\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cReady Together\u201d Regional Disaster Trainings Strengthen Disaster Readiness across Florida"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Lakeland \u201cReady Together\u201d training brings volunteers and resources together for improved disaster response<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

LAKELAND<\/strong>, Fla. (April 14, 2026) \u2014 Nearly 50<\/a> community members gathered at The Salvation Army in Lakeland, Fla. on April 10-11, 2026, for a two-day \u201cReady Together\u201d training, an Emergency Disaster Services (EDS) event designed to prepare volunteers and neighborhoods to respond quickly and safely when disaster strikes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe always need trained volunteers who can help serve food, pass out supplies and offer a shoulder to lean on,\u201d said Steven Hartsook, Director of EDS for The Salvation Army Florida Division. \u201cThis might sound simple, but there are food safety considerations and processes and procedures to learn before distributing meals to people, so training is imperative.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Friday night: Preparedness and the canteen experience<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Participants kicked off the weekend by learning practical steps to help keep families and neighbors safe before, during, and after a disaster. The evening also offered a firsthand look at Salvation Army EDS canteen operations, with dinner and beverages served from mobile feeding units (canteens).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To support realistic instruction, EDS teams staged more than a dozen canteens, vans and trucks from around the region, along with additional pieces of equipment, so participants could see how a response is set up and what it takes to safely serve meals, manage supplies, and care for neighbors in crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saturday: Volunteer response trainings<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

On Saturday, attendees chose half-day and full-day courses focused on Salvation Army disaster response roles, from food service and safety to disaster readiness. Trainings<\/a> included lunch and were led by experienced EDS staff and instructors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n