Meeting People at the Point of Need
The Salvation Army is known for going into places where others might not be comfortable. Whether it is in impoverished neighborhoods, prisons, hospital rooms or nursing homes, The Salvation Army is there to meet people at the point of need. It is this brave approach that takes The Salvation Army into the immediate scene of natural disasters.
The Salvation Army is one of the first agencies to respond when disaster strikes. In the DFW Metroplex, the Army maintains mobile emergency feeding units to provide around-the-clock meals for disaster victims and relief workers. In addition, the Army's services include counseling and emotional support, as well as furnishing clean-up kits, food, bottled water and various donated goods.
The Salvation Army regularly responds to house, apartment and building fires in Dallas as a support for the Dallas Fire Department. In the event of a larger disaster in the Greater Dallas area, the local response would be supplemented by resources and personnel from Salvation Army disaster relief units throughout Texas.
The Salvation Army operates under a Statement of Understanding with the State of Texas for disaster relief efforts and provides services in cooperation with local governments.
The Salvation Army is identified as a disaster services organization in The Federal Relief Act of 1970 and The Disaster Relief Act of 1974. In its official capacity, The Salvation Army maintains representation in the Emergency Operations Center set up for each disaster.
As an official provider, the Army works in conjunction with other relief organizations, such as Local/State/Regional Emergency Management Organizations, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters (NVOAD), and Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters (VOAD).
The Salvation Army also has reciprocal operating agreements with the American Radio Relay League, American Red Cross, Civil Air Patrol and Radio Emergency Associated Citizens Teams International (REACT). These relationships help avoid duplication of services and enable all participating organizations to help the greatest number of people in crisis.
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