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During this week recognizing Severe Weather and Preparedness Week, it’s very appropriate to spotlight our Division’s Director of Emergency Disaster Services, Stephanie Nicklas, who’s been with the Army since 2013.
Within ten days of her start date, Stephanie jumped in to coordinate the Division’s disaster response to the Central New York and Mohawk Valley floods. Last year, she’s directed the Army’s response to flooding in Gowanda and Penn Yan.
Aside from disasters, Stephanie is focusing on establishing Emergency Disaster Services volunteer teems for the corps and service units. She has also been travelling across the division training volunteers, Army officers and staff in courses such as Incident Command System (ICS), Introduction to Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services and CPR and First Aid training.
Both Stephanie and Rome Salvation Army’s Major Stan Newton are active in an organization called Herkimer – Oneida Organizations Active in Disaster or (HOOAD). Formed in 2012, HOOAD brings together non-profits, government and other organizations who share knowledge and resources throughout the disaster cycle—preparation, response and recovery —to help disaster survivors and their communities.
Because the Army is a presence in communities across the country, The Salvation Army is often among the first to provide assistance when disaster strikes, providing food, hydration and emotional and spiritual care to the survivors. “We provide a real grass roots advocacy by working with each of our county emergency disaster service response coordinators to collaborate with local emergency management, first responders and community agencies in the community,” she said.
Previously, Stephanie worked for the City of Boston’s Office of Emergency Management as a project manager for two multi-million dollar investment areas and assisted city officials in the creation of regional projects. She helped organize and facilitate a 48-hour multi-discipline full scale exercise which occurred at many sites simultaneously around Boston giving EMT’s, SWAT, police and fire departments realistic hands-on training.
Stephanie also worked for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) identifying shortfalls in the states of Maine and New Hampshire during disaster response. She was also deployed by FEMA to work on five federally declared disasters in Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Tennesee.
She’s a graduate of SUNY Oneonta.
Each Salvation Army Worship and Community Center and volunteer driven service units always welcome volunteers for Emergency Disaster Services.
Tags: Disaster