Downrange Emergency Disaster Center Launches Outside of New Orleans, LA

New Orleans, LA (October 03, 14) - The Salvation Army of New Orleans has opened up their new warehouse facility in Covington, LA.  The location is a new program spearheaded by the ALM division which partners the Divisional Emergency Disaster Services department and the local area command in New Orleans.  This program allows for both divisional EDS staff and personnel from the Area Command to operate out of the location.  In addition, materials and resources, from both groups will be kept at the center for use during an emergency event.  This program establishes a beachhead into one of the most at-risk areas in the division.  In addition to the storage space, the location was designed and outfitted with incident command offices, a kitchen, showers, and a large conference room. 

As quickly as it officially opened, the center was scheduled for use.  The New Orleans area commander, Capt. David Worthy arranged a meeting with all the area disaster volunteers at the center for Saturday.  In addition, Capt. Worthy will be offering an Introduction to Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services course at the location.  Worthy advised, “The area is extremely busy, and prone to disaster events. This new disaster center will allow us to be more effective and efficient as we go about serving the community in Christ’s name.”

ALM divisional EDS director Thad Hicks stated, "Prior to this move to Covington the warehouse space being used for EDS activities was in the city.  This location put it at a high risk of flooding, even in the case of a lower category hurricane."  The move to Covington, LA was a natural one.  Many of the businesses from New Orleans fled to the relative safety of Covington, LA after Hurricane Katrina.  Hicks added, "This location will allow for a downrange headquarters for our emergency disaster work.  Having a location so close to a major population center will be invaluable during a response."

About The Salvation Army

The Salvation Army, an evangelical part of the universal Christian church established in London in 1865, has been supporting those in need in His name without discrimination for more than 130 years in the United States. Nearly 30 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year through a range of social services: providing food for the hungry, relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter for the homeless and opportunities for underprivileged children. Eighty-two cents of every dollar The Salvation Army spends is used to support those services in 5,000 communities nationwide. For more information, visit SalvationArmyUSA.org.