The War Cry | AUGUST 2014
40
RELIEF IN ACTION
Essence
Emergency Services Reach Remote Alaskan Villages
A
bout 470 people live in Galena, a town in the
Alaska interior just south of the Arctic Circle.
Travel in and out is only by air, water, snow
machine or dog sled.
When a flood along the Yukon River caused
severe damage to three-fourths of the town
a year ago last May, the challenges survivors
and emergency workers faced were like
nothing encountered in the lower 48 states.
Jenni Ragland, appointed emergency
services director for The Salvation Army
in Alaska two weeks before the flood,
attended a State Preparedness Conference
days before the
waters surged in
Galena. It was
the first of many
meetings where
she would forge
partnerships
with agencies
and local re-
presentatives as
she persistently found creative ways to bring
rescue and restoration to the devastated
inhabitants.
Galena was not the only village in distress,
but with 90% of its homes flooded, it suffered
the most damage. When the area was declared
a federal disaster, local, state, tribal, non-
governmental and federal partners formed
a multi�agency task force to provide life
sustaining services in three distinct phases.
In the first stage, state agencies, The Salvation
Army (TSA), the American Red Cross (ARC) and
the Tanana Chiefs Conference evacuated, sheltered
and fed flood victims. The second phase involved
plans for sheltering, feeding, and extended support.
Representatives from AmeriCorps, the Bureau of
Land Management (BLM), and the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) joined the task force to
shelter displaced persons in BLM Barracks and temporary
housing. In the third phase Jenni, as the lead for the
feeding task force, devised and managed strategies for
The Salvation Army to prepare meals for long-term shelter
residents and feeding plans for families and seniors.
"Jenni continuously bolstered the morale of
responders," said one associate. "Her positive and
persevering spirit, attention to detail and profound
ability to know exactly when to say or do just the right
thing makes Jenni the person you most want by your
side as a working partner or friend. She extended herself
month after month on behalf of flood victims."
JENNI RAGLAND'S EFFORTS IN GALENA INCLUDED:
�
Arranging transport of frozen and canned salmon offered
by the Food Bank of Alaska to Galena, Fairbanks and
other communities, working with tribal and food bank
officials to ensure the salmon's regional origin.
�
Developing a service delivery plan to feed
over 250 people, 2 meals per day, plus a sack lunch,
for over 60 days.
�
Coordinating with the State Dept. of Education on
the donation of over seven pallets of surplus USDA
commodities from the State School Lunch Program.
�
Arranging for ongoing transport/delivery of bread, milk
and snack items from the Food Bank of Alaska.
�
Personally deployed to Galena with each new relief team
to provide guidance and training.
�
Coordinating within state and Salvation Army channels
to determine funding solutions.
�
Working with the Army's kitchen in Anchorage and
government officials to produce, package and transport
nutritious meals.
�
Organizing special events to restore a sense of community.
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