MILLINGTON, Tenn. - Bobby Arpert, owner and site manager of the Canteen Catering Incorporated stands outside of the dinning tent at the U.S. Navy Support Activity Center - Mid-South in Millington, Tennessee. The catering company based out of Brandon, Florida and Dunn, North Carolina has set up a dinning tent in support of the natural disaster drill "Vigilant GUARD 08". The catering company specializes in feeding victims and rescuers in the aftermath of a disaster " We can be set up and serve the first meal 48 hours after receiving the phone call requesting our service" said Arpert. "Food is one of the first things needed when a disaster strikes" he added.
"Vigilant Guard 08" is a Tennessee National Guard-hosted exercise designed to test the National Guard as the first military responder in support of the Governor and local governments, in the event of a catastrophic emergency within the state. This particular exercise is a response to a simulated 7.6 Richter magnitude scale earthquake along the New Madrid fault line near Memphis.
Arert said the on-site dinning tent is currently feeding over 400 hundred people per meal twice a day during the five-day exercise. The cooks prepare a nutritious breakfast consisting of eggs, grits, sausage, biscuits, coffee, and juice. The evening meal consists of meat, two vegetables, and a dessert. The first responders can leave the base camp with a hot meal and know there will be one waiting for them when they return.
Canteen Catering has responded to several real world events such as Hurricanes Katrina and Rita as well as several tornados and floods. Apert and his crew stand ready to respond to any event in a moments notice. "All that the officials on the ground need to do is give us a call, and we can be there to feed as many people as needed" said Apert. The catering company is one of few that will respond to such events nationwide.
The National Guard, State, and local agencies can respond to any disaster with expertise, lighting speed, and with the latest technology available, but their efforts are greatly enhanced by companies like the Canteen Catering Inc.