Local Salvation Army Personnel Deployed To Assist in Saskatchewan

The Salvation Army locally has received a request for assistance from the Army in Saskatchewan due to the ongoing wild fires situation.  The Ontario Great Lakes Division’s Director of Emergency & Disaster Services, Perron Goodyear, is being deployed early on Wednesday, July 8 to assist with leadership of the relief efforts on behalf of the organization.

Goodyear, who is also a member of the Territorial (National) Crisis Support Team for the Army, has vast experience in emergency response including 2 weeks in Galveston, Texas following Hurricane Ike in 2008, being in charge of The Salvation Army response following the Goderich Tornado in 2011 and, more recently, was Operations & Logistics Chief for the Southern Alberta Flood response in 2013.  “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 and hydration as well as emotional and spiritual support to those displaced by the fires.  In addition clothing is being provided to those who require it.

The Salvation Army is well-equipped to handle any demands made of it, 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.