HORNELL, Aug. 18, 2009 -- The Salvation Army is postponing emergency disaster training scheduled Friday and Saturday, Aug. 21-22, in Hornell because its disaster teams, including the instructor, are on the scene in flood-struck Gowanda providing food, water, personal care items, clean-up kits, and emotional and spiritual care.

Leslie Vattimo, the certified instructor and director of disaster services for The Salvation Army's Empire State Division, has been in Gowanda since severe rains and flash flooding damaged 400 homes and compromised the local reservoir, working with Emergency Management officials as The Salvation Army incident command coordinator.

She has been overseeing a comprehensive response that includes setting up a warehouse in the old fire hall to receive supplies, operating a meal preparation and distribution center out of the new fire hall, and sending three mobile canteens and disaster volunteers into the hardest hit areas to bring food, water and cleaning supplies to flood victims.

For information about joining a local disaster response team, including putting your name on a list for future training, contact Captains Rodney or Cindy Fowles at the Hornell Salvation Army, 607-324-1933.