INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — The Salvation Army of Florida is preparing should Hurricane Irene make landfall on Florida. With 42 mobile canteens (kitchen on wheels), two field kitchens, a field communications unit, shower trailers, a command center and more than 700 trained disaster volunteers, the organization stands ready.
The Salvation Army of Florida held emergency disaster services training and public information officer workshops earlier this month in Tampa. The training and workshop was intended for Salvation Army development and public relations professionals who may be deployed if disaster strikes.
“Personnel from across Florida participated in the training, which focuses on integrating with emergency management utilizing the National Incident Management System,” said Kevin Smith, The Salvation Army of Florida’s emergency services director.
The goal of the training is to empower Salvation Army employees while teaching them about national emergency management standards, Smith said.
“Bringing these folks together helps The Salvation Army to strategize on the best communication methods to let people know when and where we are serving,” Smith said. “We talked about using traditional media as well as finding ways to engage the ever-changing social media world.”
