Camden, Red Cross partner to provide emergency shelter
Comet staff report

The Town of Camden and the American Red Cross have joined together to help the citizens of Camden and Carroll County in the event of a natural or man-made disaster by providing a safe shelter. That shelter will be the Camden Community Building.

At the Oct. 16 meeting of the Camden Town Council, the town and Red Cross signed an "Agreement to Permit the Use of a Facility as a Red Cross Emergency Shelter."

During 2006, the Red Cross reports that nearly 450,000 people were sheltered following disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, other storms, fires, and explosions. It is estimated that at least onethird of those seeking a safe haven were children.

The goal of the Town of Camden, said town council president Pete Wagoner, is to be proactive and have a plan in place in the event of an occurrence in the immediate future.

The agreement signed defines the broad cooperative actions of the town and the Red Cross. Depending on the scope and scale of the disaster and impact and available resources, the Red Cross may operate an emergency shelter for the benefit of the community or the organization may provide the necessary training for local leaders to properly staff and operate the shelter. If the crisis warrants, the Red Cross will also provide food, cots, blankets and sanitation supplies.

The community room in the building meets Red Cross standards to hold 160 persons as a post impact shelter of 320 persons if used as an evacuation shelter, said Wagoner.

The council also agreed to provide additional emergency aid with the purchase of a natural gas powered generator.

Since the blizzard last February, town officials have been concerned that the town is not adequately prepared in the event of long-term power outages and other disasters. They began to investigate emergency power options.

The town has purchased a generator, sized appropriate to the building, to operate the heating units, power the stoves and refrigerators in the kitchen area, and office/communications equipment in the town's business, utility and marshal offices.

The council is moving rapidly to have back-up power in place before the next winter storm, said Wagoner.

Citizens are encouraged to assemble a disaster supply kit for their homes. Included should be a first aid kit con- taining essential medications and at least three gallons of water per person in the home. Canned food and a not-electric can opener are a must, along with warm clothing. Be sure to also include a battery powered radio, flashlight and extra batteries, and store supplies in a waterproof, easy-to-carry container, such as a plastic tub with handles.