Katrina placed heavy demands on Army
Continued from page 1
Jeff Jellets,
territorial disaster services coordinator, said Salvation Army personnel and
resources were sent from the other three USA territories, as well as Canada and
Mexico.
"I came to work here in early 2001, and within
a few months we were faced with 9-11," Jellets said. "I thought at
the time that nothing could be bigger than this. A few hurricane seasons later,
four storms tore through Florida, and again I thought the same thing.
"Now that we are still dealing with Katrina and Rita, and
will be for some years to come - it's hard to imagine anything bigger
ahead," he said.
Jellets said that the Army's
disaster service efforts are ongoing, especially along the Mississippi gulf
coast, south Louisiana (including the New Orleans area) and the east Texas
coastline. In addition, corps continue to minister to evacuees all over the
country.
Jordan and Jellets agree that several benefits were
realized during the past year.
"We did a lot of things
right," Jordan said of the Army's relief and recovery efforts over the
last year. "First, we didn't panic. Second, we placed the right people
in the right places, reflecting the universality of The Salvation Army which
came into play. Third, our work with other volunteer agencies has been
outstanding and enhanced."
The Army's disaster work
is a ministry, Jordan said. "It is not a part of ministry, or a certain
kind of ministry - it is ministry in its own right. We are there as Christ
Incarnate among people who are suffering."
The
Salvation Army has made the transition from emergency disaster relief and
response to community-based long-term recovery, with services that vary
depending on the survivors' needs.
"The Army has
forged a variety of partnerships, some of our partnerships with NGO's and
FBO's (non-governmental and faith-based organizations) have been long-term
and somewhat traditional, such as our relationship with the Southern
Baptists," said Kevin Tomson-Hooper, territorial social services
department director.
Due to the complexity of the social
services continuum of care the Army has implemented in the recovery phase, new
partnerships have been established to provide the broadest spectrum of service
delivery. These new partnerships with Habitat for Humanity focus on supporting
1,000 households toward home ownership opportunities, Tomson-Hooper said.
"Plus, we have developed a partnership with the National
Business Service Alliance, with a goal to provide 5,000 individuals with skill
certification training to enhance their job skills. We are a member of the
Katrina Aid Today National Case Management Program with the United Methodist
Committee on Relief, through which The Salvation Army will provide 13,000
households with intensive case management support on their road to recovery
throughout the gulf coast and across the country."
The
goal is to continue seeking out the best approach to home reconstruction and
new home construction with the intent being to maximize the generosity of the
public who continues to support Salvation Army recovery programs.
