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UPDATE: National Capital Area Command Disaster
Response Team Responds Immediately to Provide Support to First Responders and
Victims
WASHINGTON,
D.C., June 23, 2009 - The National Capital Area Command
Disaster Response Team was activated during the evening of June 22nd in response to a deadly commuter train accident in the District of
Columbia. One Metro train slammed into
the back of another on the Red Line at the height of the evening rush hour,
killing at least six and injuring 70 others in the deadliest accident in
Metrorail's 33-year history. Metro
officials expected the death toll to rise to at least nine. The National Capital Area Command has
activated the newly received FedEx Disaster Response Unit for the first
time. The unit with appropriate
personnel has been on the scene since approximately 8pm Monday evening.
The
Salvation Army has been able to offer the first responders cold and hot
beverages along with a distraction from the grueling work of handling the
emotional pressures related to their work at the scene of the crash. The Salvation Army's Disaster Response Unit
is positioned immediately across the street from the only access to the train
and is directly in the path of those responding to the incident as they walk to
and from the crash scene. Throughout the
night The Salvation Army provided additional cold and hot beverages, sandwiches,
chips and snacks.
Early
this morning a warm breakfast was prepared at the Harbor Light
Center on New York Avenue and
was delivered to the crash site. The
Salvation Army continues to rotate personnel to and from the scene and plans to
provide both lunch and dinner to the emergency responders throughout the day.
"It
is indeed an honor to be able to respond to this disaster and provide support
to the emergency response personnel ," notes Major Steve Morris, The
Salvation Army's National Capital Area Commander. "As we arrived the police and fire
department personnel assisted our disaster team members with moving our
disaster response unit as close to the scene as possible so that we could
provide a place of comfort to those emergency responders working the scene. "
As Major Morris remembers, "One NTSB investigator approached the canteen and
commented, ‘I have just come from another scene in another state and you guys
were there too . . . it's like everywhere I respond . . . you guys are
there! Thanks!'"
The
Army will stay on sight until the scene is closed.