Local Salvation Army Personnel Deployed to Assist in Alberta

The Salvation Army locally has received a request for assistance from The Army in Alberta due to the ongoing flooding situation.  The Ontario Great Lakes Divisional Director of Emergency & Disaster Services, Perron Goodyear, was deployed early on Tuesday, June 25 to assist with leadership of the relief efforts on behalf of the organization.

Goodyear has vast experience in emergency response including 2 weeks in Galveston, Texas following Hurricane Ike in 2008 and, more recently, being in charge of The Salvation Army response following the Goderich Tornado on 2011.  “While we never want these types of disasters to happen, it is an honour and privilege to be able to assist in any way we can”, says Goodyear.  “Our goal is to try and mitigate the effects of this disaster on the local people”.

The Salvation Army has been providing food as well as emotional and spiritual support to those affected by the flood as well as to first response personnel.  In this next stage The Salvation Army has also been requested to be a part of re-entry teams which are being developed to assist residents once they have been given clearance to go back home.

The Salvation Army is well-equipped to handle any demands as requested by a local municipality, the province of Ontario, Emergency Services Personnel, or other Emergency Disaster Services unit.  The Salvation Army’s Emergency Disaster Services program in Canada began in December 1917 in response to the Halifax explosion. It has grown into an international network involving thousands of volunteers and trained personnel worldwide.