PRESS RELEASE: The Salvation Army Combating Natural Disasters with Acts of God

Emotional and Spiritual Care are integral aspects of Salvation Army Disaster Response

The Salvation Army always does its best to be prepared for any disaster headed its way. That includes getting all the supplies, staff, officers, and volunteers ready. On that team to serve victims and first responders is someone with a very special role. That role is to provide everyone, including The Salvation Army staff, with the emotional and spiritual care that they need during times of disaster.

“Disaster Relief crews don’t always take the best care of themselves during crisis. They are so concerned with taking care of victims and first responders that they forget to take care of themselves,” said Major Mel James, Emotional and Spiritual Care Officer for the Incident Command Team in New Orleans for Hurricane Gustav.

“We’ve been praying and trying to reassure the residents that things will get better. I think it is something that people needed to hear. We told them that the light at the end of the tunnel is not the light of a freight train headed your way,” said Major James.

The Salvation Army has had opportunity to pray with hundreds of people throughout the hurricane crisis, but one particularly neat opportunity was when The Salvation Army was asked to pray on a Clear Channel radio station that was simulcasting throughout the Greater New Orleans area to possibly several hundred thousand people.

One special moment was when Canteen Coordinator Captain Bill Mockabee was praying with a New Orleans resident and as he finished she asked if she could also pray for him to have strength to finish the job.

“It makes a huge difference when people go through crisis like this to know that someone cares for them, tries to understand what they are going through and wants to help them recognize the hope that we have for the city,” said Captain Ethan Frizzell.