[BARC-List] Salvation Army Hurricane Preparations

[Frank Murphy]

forward from SATLIST

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, June 7, 2006


SALVATION ARMY PREPARED FOR 2006 HURRICANE SEASON


The Salvation Army has initiated preparations for the 2006 hurricane season
with key improvements to its technology, systems and training. These efforts
include the purchase of Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) locator beacons
for its fleet of emergency disaster services vehicles (canteens), as well as
positioning Salvation Army commanders in Emergency Operations Centers in
response to major storms. In addition, the organization has pre-positioned
supplies in strategic locations across the South and East and has provided
its relief workers with extensive emergency services training, among other
efforts. Even as residents along the Gulf Coast continue to rebuild from
last year's onslaught of hurricanes, the Army is preparing for what weather
experts expect will be another year of above average hurricane activity.

³We hope and pray that no hurricane response effort will be necessary this
year,² said Major George A. Hood, who oversees community relations efforts
for The Salvation Army in the U.S. ³But, with weather experts predicting as
many as 16-18 named storms in the Atlantic, we are preparing for the worst.²

As the backbone of its initial emergency disaster response services, the
Army is adding new canteens to its current fleet of 290 units. The canteens,
which resemble small RVs, are capable of providing as many as 20,000 hot
meals per day and carry first aid supplies.

                   
The canteens serve as outposts at the heart of a disaster. This season, all
of the units are being outfitted with GPS locator beacons, which will allow
Salvation Army commanders to track the kitchens minute-by-minute so they can
be efficiently deployed to the hardest hit areas.

In addition, the Army has pre-positioned relief supplies in strategic
locations within hours of potential disaster zones. This includes items such
as food and water, cleaning kits, first aid materials and other essentials.

This year, The Salvation Army also will have personnel, as necessary, in
Emergency Operations Centers run by each of the Gulf Coast states, as well
as at Wal-Mart1s Emergency Operations Center in Bentonville, Ark. Sitting
alongside other relief agencies, Army commanders will have access to key
decision-makers in both the public and private sector.


³Establishing a key communications link at Emergency Operations Centers will
allow The Salvation Army to more efficiently identify areas of need and
respond efficiently without doubling efforts of other organizations,² said
Major Hood. 

Moreover, The Salvation Army is conducting an extensive training regimen for
its officers, staff and volunteers, designed to strengthen and quicken the
response to disaster survivors. Hundreds of Army personnel from across the
country have been trained in critical incident stress management, public
information and food service preparation, among other relief initiatives.

To ensure the safety of its own staff and volunteers, The Salvation Army has
established contingency plans to evacuate personnel and key resources in
target areas that will be essential for mounting a response to a storm. The
Army urges all Americans to carefully evaluate the risk to their families
and property and take time to adequately prepare.

³Our job is much easier when individuals and communities work together to
set out preparations in advance of emergency scenarios,² said Major Hood.
³Donor dollars can be stretched that much further, to help those in greatest
need.² 

The Salvation Army also is expanding its SATERN (Salvation Army Team
Emergency Radio Network) network of two-way, ham radio operators which has
proven to be a vital communications link for those seeking loved ones when
cell phones and traditional landlines have failed. SATERN is the main
conduit for the Army1s Health and Welfare Inquiry System that can be reached
by visiting http://www.satern.org/.

In 2005, Hurricane Katrina was immediately met by the largest Salvation Army
deployment in its disaster relief history. More than 1.6 million people
throughout the country have been assisted with storm assistance since the
storm made landfall. Nine months later the Army has received donations in
excess of $363 million which is being used to meet the needs of those in the
hardest hit areas along the Gulf Coast as well as survivors who evacuated to
other parts of the country.

For more information, or for information on donating to The Salvation Army,
please call (800) SAL-ARMY or visit www.salvationarmyusa.org
<http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/>

For more information on Disaster Service work volunteering here in
Massachusetts,  and deployments, call MaryBeth Ryan at 617-542-5420 ext. 320
(You will be trained prior to any deployment.)

For more information on hams joining, or working with SATERN, call Frank
Murphy n1dhw  at  617-491-8451
( . . . there is a special need for hams with digital communications
experience.)

For more information on local Emergency Disaster Service work volunteering
here in the Greater Boston area     call Bill Foley kb1glf at 338-4155 ext.
513