Bethel Residents Needed for American Red Cross Sheltering Exercise

According to Tom Galliford, director of Bethel's Office of Emergency Management (OEM), the town will be participating in a statewide sheltering exercise in conjunction with the American Red Cross of Connecticut.

"We are looking for volunteers to come and sleep over at the Bethel Municipal Center Friday night on June 3 into Saturday morning," Galliford said. "We are simulating a weather event in which people's homes are not habitable and need a place to stay. In a real event, we would use the Municipal Center and we will be testing out a response and plans."

The shelter at the will open at 6 p.m. Friday, June 3 and will close at 8 a.m. on Saturday, June 4. Residents are welcome to arrive anytime between 6-10 p.m.

There will be light snacks and pizza Friday night for volunteers and breakfast on Saturday morning.

Families are encouraged to attend, but children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. 

"You will be sleeping dormitory style in Gymnasium on cots," the OEM's memo said. "Volunteers must bring their own blankets, pillows and toiletries."

OEM will also be operating a “pet shelter” as well. Volunteers with pets such as dogs, cats, turtles, birds, etc. are encouraged to bring them. They will be registered, housed in separate part of building, and owners are responsible to walk them, feed them, etc. Owners must bring food and carriers for their pets, be restrained/leashed, with current rabies vaccine health papers.

Bethel residents interested in participating in sheltering exercise can fill out the attached form and return it to the OEM located in the municipal center at 1 School Street. It can also be faxed to 203-778-7518 or e-mailed to Galliford at gallifordt@betheltownhall.org. 

Interested residents call the OEM at 203-794-8522 or view the OEM's Facebook page for more information.

About the American Red Cross in Connecticut:
The American Red Cross in Connecticut helps people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. Last year, more than 8,000 volunteers and a small corps of employees helped victims of nearly 500 local disasters; taught emergency preparedness and lifesaving skills to nearly 200,000 Connecticut Residents; provided international tracing and message services to more than 80 Connecticut residents seeking loved ones separated by disaster or war; and helped more than 1,400 Connecticut military families with emergency communications and other services.

Nearly 100,000 Connecticut citizens gave blood through the Red Cross, which supplies blood and blood products to the State’s acute care hospitals and transfusing facilities. The American Red Cross is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. An average of 91 cents of every dollar the Red Cross spends is invested in humanitarian services and programs. The Red Cross is not a government agency; it relies on donations of time, money and blood to do its work.