The Canadian Disaster Response Team to partner.
The Canadian Disaster Response Team is pleased to announce to that it has entered into a memorandum of understanding with The Salvation Army in Canada that provides a framework for partnership and cooperation between the two organizations in providing assistance to future disaster victims. The Canadian Disaster Response Team (CDRT) and The Salvation Army inCanadawill work closely together during disaster relief operations to strengthen assistance to victims. The CDRT is recognized as an organization of qualified Crisis Responders prepared to assist in facilitating the provision of necessary disaster response services and practical needs to victims of disaster. The Salvation Army’s unique, quasimilitary structure enables it to move quickly into action during an emergency situation. Each year, the Army assists thousands during these situations with immediate assistance that includes food, clothing, shelter, transportation and counselling. “The Salvation Army is thrilled to be partnering with the Canadian Disaster response Team,” says Major Rick Shirran, Territorial Emergency Disaster Services Director. “When disaster strikes, people often don’t know where to turn, and this partnership will provide a great deal of support for those that find themselves in need.”
The CDRT is a nationwide network of Mental Health, Victim Services and Social Workers that are accredited and specifically trained to help stabilize individuals traumatized by a crisis such as an earthquake, flooding, tornadoes, and fires. Trauma survivors may suffer an immediate distress reaction, characterized by feelings of horror, shock and nervousness. The CDRT responder is concerned about those individuals whose reactions are so intense and persistent that they significantly interfere with their ability to function. Intervention in the immediate period of response, whether directed at the community, family or individual, is focused on empowerment, building on strengths, capabilities, and self-sufficiency. In all phases of a disaster, the CDRT is a valuable and essential member of an emergency response team. Service delivery is designed to be provided in diverse settings such as general/population shelters, special needs shelters, field hospitals/ medical triage areas, staging area/ respite centres for first responders/ relief workers, emergency operations centres, site visits feeding locations, disaster assistance centres, family reception centres and other community settings.