Ohio Christian University (OCU) Emergency Management students responded to the call to serve the men, women, and children of Panama City, Florida, following deadly Hurricane Michael striking Florida’s panhandle on October 10.
Salvation Army teams in Florida are tasked by the State of Florida to deliver food and supplies to the areas hardest hit, where has been very difficult to reach survivors due to the destroyed infrastructure.
Cayla Allen and Jerica Donald, who trained with The Salvation Army’s Emergency Disaster Services in Puerto Rico last year, were prepared to serve in Panama City. Cayla is on a response unit serving the Bayou George area. Jerica is working in Panama City. The two units are serving 525 and 600 meals per day, respectively. The Salvation Army has served over 500,000 meals following Hurricane Michael.
Two OCU Emergency Management alumni are also serving in Panama City. Dustin Hube ’14 is on an incident command team working as a liaison officer, and Josh Delph ‘13 is assisting Clean Harbors in assessing and responding to hazardous material issues.
“People take a lot of things for granted, and this experience has forever changed me,” says Jerica. “My decision to go into Emergency Management is affirmed daily.”
Jerica and Cayla agree emergency management is not just their career, but also faith mission.
