ALM Division Launches Disaster Training Series in Monroe, LA
Thad Hicks | thad_hicks@uss.salvationarmy.org | (601) 969-6868
MONROE, LA (02/22/2014) -- Salvation Army officers, employees and volunteers from across the region gathered in Monroe, LA on Friday & Saturday for the first in a series of Emergency Disaster Services training taking place throughout the ALM division over the coming months.
Two separate trainings were offered this past weekend including Incident Command Systems (ICS) and Public Information Officer (PIO). This ICS course provides participants with a general orientation to The Salvation Army Incident Command System (ICS) and explains how it is used to command, control and coordinate disaster relief operations. This course is especially important for disaster workers interested in serving in a supervisory position within a Salvation Army disaster relief operation. The PIO course is designed train individuals to serve in the Public Information function during a Salvation Army disaster relief operation and to effectively communicate "The Salvation Army's story" to both internal and external media.
According to Lt. Jerry Williams Corps Officer at the Monroe, LA Salvation Army, and host of the training, "We are taking on more and more responsibility during disasters, and we need to understand how these events are effectively managed, so we can better serve our communities.”
The PIO course on Saturday was extra realistic in that William Hale, the PIO trainer, enlisted the help of KTVE News, giving the course participants an authentic interviewing experience in front of an actual news camera.
For more information, and a link to the KTVE coverage of the event click here!
About The Salvation ArmyThe Salvation Army annually helps more than 30 million Americans overcome poverty, addiction, and economic hardships through a range of social services. By providing food for the hungry, emergency relief for disaster survivors, rehabilitation for those suffering from drug and alcohol abuse, and clothing and shelter for people in need, The Salvation Army is doing the most good at 7,600 centers of operation around the country. In the first-ever listing of “America’s Favorite Charities” by The Chronicle of Philanthropy, The Salvation Army ranked as the country’s largest privately funded, direct-service nonprofit. For more information, visit www.SalvationArmyUSA.org. Follow us on Twitter @SalvationArmyUS and #DoingTheMostGood.