Classes Offered this year.
were trained in disaster classes.
hurricanes, tornadoes,
floods, wildfires and
seismic activity, the
major disaster about every three
years--from four hurricanes in
Florida in 2004, Hurricane Katrina
in 2005 and Hurricane Ike in 2008
to the Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and
Moore, Oklahoma, super-tornadoes
of 2011 and 2013. The frequency of
these major disasters, along with
a host of local emergencies, gives
emergency services in the South
ample opportunity to implement and
refine its disaster work. The territory
has more than 250 disaster vehicles
to mobilize for emergency response.
Most of these are canteens, but they
also include field kitchens, shower
trailers, satellite communications
trailers and even a laundry unit
strategically placed across the
territory and along a string of disaster
warehouses and EDS centers, the
largest of which are in Dallas, Texas,
Tampa, Florida, Ridgeland, South
Carolina, and Jackson, Mississippi.
disaster preparedness. The territory
maintains close relations with state
emergency management agencies
and offers a robust training program,
offering 85 certified disaster classes
so far this year, which have trained
2,301 participants. In addition to a
dedicated core of Salvation Army
officers and volunteers, the territory
is also fortunate to have a team of
seasoned disaster professionals within
the program, 11 of whom (including
two Salvation Army officers) have
been recognized by the International
Association of Emergency Managers
(IAEM) as Certified Emergency
Managers (CEM).