The Salvation Army Readies for Hurricane Season 2009
April 6, 2009

As The Salvation Army of Florida gears up for this year’s hurricane season, it continues to partner with FEMA, local and state emergency management officials and local non-profits to ensure residents are protected.

Salvation Army Florida team members Dulcinea Cuellar and Kevin Smith are attending this year’s hurricane conference in Austin, April 6-10. The conference is a forum which communicates planning and strategy for federal, state and local emergency management officials.

The Salvation Army is committed to partnering with all levels of government to help become more efficient in its disaster relief, providing a collaborative response when no one entity can handle it alone. 

“Rumors have it that we may have a less active hurricane season this year,” said Kevin Smith, director of Emergency Disaster Services for The Salvation Army’s Florida division. “We are planning for the 2009 hurricane season as if it was 2004 coming again.”

With a fleet of more than 100 trucks, mobile kitchens and other vehicles, the Florida division is readying for whatever Mother Nature sends.

The Salvation Army fleet is strategically placed throughout the state of Florida. Along with the trucks and trailers, The Salvation Army also has an army of volunteers ready to help residents and emergency workers at the time of disaster.

In 2008, Salvation Army Florida volunteers and staff were deployed throughout the south. Following Hurricane Ike, The Salvation Army provided more than 5.3 million meals, drinks and snacks to residents and emergency workers in Galveston and the surrounding area. Volunteers and canteens also served flood victims from Tropical Storm Fay, which made four Florida landfalls in August 2008.

“We remain committed to be able to assist whenever disaster strikes,” Smith said. “It is vital to our mission as an organization to be prepared and continue testing and training.”

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