“I live to solve problems,” Jacob Heiser said. “I am a very hands-on person—so when I go out on the road, I am out setting up the shelter tent; I am setting up the generators.”
Jacob began his work as the territorial disaster trainer and resource manager for emergency disaster services (EDS) in January 2024. He is based in Rockford, Ill., at the new 54,000-square-foot EDS warehouse that is under construction.
“Jacob has been an amazing addition to the team. He is a true emergency responder at heart,” said Kevin Ellers, then territorial EDS director. “He has the core characteristics essential to help the territory grow a stronger EDS program. Qualities such as flexibility, creativity and the ability to go into chaos and help bring order are essential.”
In the past year, Jacob has traveled around the Midwest, due to flooding and tornado damage. He also deployed recovery equipment and teams to Florida and North Carolina after Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
When a disaster hits, Jacob said he goes straight to the logistical side of his brain.
“I come into a situation, spend a few minutes and come up with a solution. First, I look at the unmet needs. Then I look at the equipment that’s needed, the number of volunteers, etc., and bring everything to the table. We want the local team to respond first. If it is larger than what they can handle, we step in from a territorial level,” he said.
Jacob is enthusiastic about the new warehouse in Rockford that will allow for larger training operations and many more service vehicles.
“I look forward to developing training aspects with all of the new specialized equipment and components and having a warehouse to support that equipment. We have to do bigger and better training.”
Jacob uses some of his fabrication and design skills to recycle EDS vehicles.
“I have a unit from Springfield, where they got a new canteen kitchen vehicle. We have their old canteen, and I am helping to refurbish that into a communications rig,” he said.
After working as a part-time auxiliary police officer for more than 20 years and receiving disaster training there, Jacob volunteered with a Salvation Army EDS team for 10 years. He then worked for five years as operations manager at the Winnebago County Area Coordinator’s Office in Rockford, Ill., until his current full-time position opened at Central Territorial Headquarters.
While volunteering with EDS, Jacob assisted when the roof collapsed on the Apollo Theatre in Belvidere, Ill., one stormy spring evening in 2023. The theater was just blocks from his home.
“I was out there within four minutes,” he recalled. “I was helping pull people out of the building. I sat out in the front with about six people, waiting for ambulances.”
Everyone is equal when a disaster strikes, Jacob said.
“We could be in a multi-million-dollar [home] area. It doesn’t matter. Everyone needs help during those times,” he said. “We give people some warm food, give them water. Some need emotional and spiritual care as well. We are there to help, regardless of their story.”
