• William Hale

The Salvation Army Participates in National Disaster Response Simulation

Atlanta, GA – May 17, 2011 - The Salvation Army, along with governmental agencies and fellow disaster response organizations, will take part in the three-day National Level Exercise (NLE) 2011 beginning May 16^th.  The NLE’s stated purpose is to “prepare and coordinate a multiple-jurisdictional integrated response to a national catastrophic event.”

This year, the NLE will simulate a major earthquake in the central United States.  Participating organizations, such as The Salvation Army and FEMA, will engage in a virtual response coordinating mass care operations, critical resource logistics, medical provisioning, shelter set-up and management, citizen evacuations, public information efforts, and long term recovery in Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee, Illinois, Indiana, Arkansas, and Missouri.

The Salvation Amy, an international leader in emergency disaster response operations, will place representatives, called Liaison Officers, at command posts throughout the affected regions.   The Liaison Officers will connect critical Salvation Army assets such as feeding units, satellite/radio communications trailers, and mobile showers with state and federal authorities.  Through an inclusive, coordinated response, resources will be utilized to serve survivors in the most effective and efficient manner possible.

The importance of the NLE cannot be overstated as it allows state, federal, private, and public disaster response organizations an opportunity to evaluate and refine coordinated response efforts at both the regional and national level.  As a result, all parties will be better able to meet survivor needs in times of crisis.

For more information regarding the NLE, please visit:

http://www.fema.gov/media/fact_sheets/nle2011_fs.shtm

About The Salvation Army

The Salvation Army, an evangelical part of the universal Christian church established in 1865, has been supporting those in need in His name without discrimination for 130 years in the United States. Nearly 30 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year through the broadest array of social services that range from providing food for the hungry, relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter to the homeless and opportunities for underprivileged children. 82 cents of every dollar spent is used to carry out those services in 5,000 communities nationwide.  In times of disaster, 100% of donations go to relief efforts.  For more information, go to www.salvationarmyusa.org.