National Preparedness Month is observed in September, and the Emergency Disaster Services teams of The Salvation Army stand ready to respond to disasters of all description. Through extensive training and response experience, The Salvation Army is prepared to deploy staff and volunteers throughout the state and beyond, providing critical support before, during and after severe weather events, a news release said.
As natural disasters become increasingly frequent and severe, being prepared is more crucial than ever. National Preparedness Month reminds and encourages individuals, families and communities to learn how to be ready for disasters and emergencies that could happen at any time.
“The Salvation Army has been active in disaster relief for almost 125 years. Our first response effort was right here in Texas, when Salvation Army Officers from around the country were sent to serve in Galveston in September of 1900 after a massive hurricane destroyed the coastal city, killing thousands of people,” Captain Robert Coriston, Commanding Officer for The Salvation Army in Midland/Odessa, said in the release. “Since then, The Salvation Army has remained committed to serve those in crisis, by providing drinks, meals, and emotional and spiritual care to first responders and survivors.”
The Salvation Army in Texas operates a fleet of 19 mobile kitchens, each with the capacity to provide 2,500 meals per day. They can be stocked and ready for deployment at a moment’s notice in times of disaster and travel the streets to provide hot meals to survivors and relief workers. 12 rapid response units, modified pickup trucks that can deliver snacks, drinks and food into affected areas, are also strategically assigned to locations in Texas. After Hurricane Beryl struck the Gulf Coast in early July 2024, Salvation Army teams served across the region for 13 days, providing more than 100,000 meals to those affected by the storm. Even today, Salvation Army teams are serving impacted communities in South Louisiana after Hurricane Francine brought flooding rain and high winds resulting in widespread power outages.
One area in which The Salvation Army is different from many other relief organizations is the provision of emotional and spiritual care. “When you feel hurt, upset or overwhelmed, our Salvation Army staff and trained volunteers are there to provide support,” said Coriston. “In addition to handing a hot meal or bottle of water to a survivor, our staff will listen and pray with a person in his or her time of need. This spiritual support is an integral part of The Salvation Army disaster response and just another example of how we Love Beyond the Storm.”
Working in communities across the state, The Salvation Army is uniquely positioned to mobilize and respond wherever they are needed.
“Our trained Emergency Disaster Services staff and volunteers are known for being the first to arrive and the last to leave a disaster site. We are committed to helping those affected,” said Coriston. “We respond to local disaster events right here in the Permian Basin, as well as large-scale hurricanes and storms that impact millions of people. Once the dust settles, our staff and volunteers stay for days, weeks and sometimes months, until we’ve done all we can to help. We’ll be there and will Love Beyond the Storm. During this National Preparedness Month, we encourage everyone to have a plan of action and response for a disaster event.”
For more information on how to get involved or support The Salvation Army, please call 432-683-3614, visit them online at salvationarmymidland.org or stop by the office at 600 E Wall St., Midland.
