**THIS IS A DRILL** Salvation Army Serves Lunch to Wildfire Victims

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**THIS IS A DRILL**


At today's disaster drill, volunteers from DrPepper Snapple Group portrayed victims of a wildfire in the White Rock Lake area of Dallas. The Salvation Army served lunch to the "victims" at 11:30 a.m. just as it would during an actual disaster response.

The organization will be responsible for serving three meals a day at all local disaster shelters whenever a disaster occurs that requires mass care services.


**THIS IS A DRILL

**THIS IS A DRILL** Wildfire Affects 1,000 Home Area Near White Rock Lake

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**THIS IS A DRILL**

An urban wildfire has affected a 1,000 home area within Dallas city limits (White Rock Lake area). The entire area has been evacuated. We are currently unsure of the number of the homes that have been burned or affected by the wildfire.

Approximately 25% of those evacuated are being sent to our shelter at the Knights of Columbus, located at 10110 Shoreview Road Dallas, TX 75238.

If you have pets: The Red Cross is currently working with their government liaison to find the safest way to accommodate them during this disaster.


Thank you for your patience. We'll provide more information as it comes.


**THIS IS A DRILL**

Mass Care Task Force to be Tested at Disaster Drill

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Disasters are an unfortunate part of life, but must be responded to with the utmost professionalism and compassion. As a result, agencies such as the American Red Cross, The Salvation Army, the North Texas Food Bank and the Volunteer Center of North Texas, all part of a collaborative initiative called the Mass Care Task Force (MCTF), must be prepared at a moment’s notice to respond to the unexpected.

While these organizations have trained and drilled together, for the first time, the group will be called upon to respond collectively in a full-day, unplanned surprise-attack exercise with actors playing disaster victims who need shelter and meals. The drill will be all day on Tuesday, October 18.

In the disaster scenario, wildfires sweep across the area, impacting thousands of homes and forcing neighborhood evacuations. Each agency must perform their area of expertise; from sheltering evacuees to setting up feeding operations, registering spontaneous volunteers or managing donations of material goods. This drill will best simulate what would happen in a real-life situation, and will reveal how the organizations would respond if an actual disaster were to happen in Dallas. In the past year, the four disaster relief agencies have increased their ability to respond collectively by 26%, making their readiness level at 42%.