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By MEGHAN V. MALLOY
Staff Writer 01/07/2008

But a handful of communities lack an ingredient crucial to emergency planning -- a generator.

The Jan. 8, 1998, storm covered the state in ice. Schools and businesses were shut down, residents went without electricity and heat for up to three weeks, and at least two people died of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Much has changed since then, said Kelly Amoroso, director of the county's Emergency Management Agency.

Officials have been diligent over the past several months bringing municipal emergency plans and shelters up to date and into compliance with American Red Cross standards.

"I think the big question is whether or not we are more prepared than we were in 1998," Amoroso said. "I can say that we definitely are."

Daniel Vachon, of Farmingdale, has been hired by the county on a temporary basis to work with the Red Cross and Kennebec County towns to evaluate and update emergency shelters -- both for daily and overnight stays.

Of the 29 incorporated communities in Kennebec County, only nine are listed by the county as having a back-up generator at an approved Red Cross shelter. Amoroso said not all of the nine shelters are equipped for overnight guests, and some of the generators are not made to power an entire facility if the lights and heat go out.

"It's very alarming," Vachon said. "If we were to have another ice storm, (the Red Cross) would not be able to open a shelter in every town."

There are several other shelters in area communities -- in schools, churches, and community centers -- that are wired to use a generator, but the towns cannot afford one, Vachon said.

"Money is a big issue, yeah," Vachon said. "Depending on the type of generator, you're looking at $25,000 to $100,000."

Vachon said he has evaluated nearly all the county's communities and hopes to finish the job in the coming weeks.

Amoroso said in addition to a lack of heating sources, the "number of supplies (cots, blankets, etc.) and the number of staff and volunteers to run the shelters is finite."

Amoroso said if another ice storm or similar natural disaster were to hit central Maine today, it would make more sense to open two or three larger regional centers that could accommodate hundreds, as opposed to individual towns opening a community center that could shelter far fewer overnight.

"If there is a disaster that requires us to open shelters, between EMA and the Red Cross, we will get the shelters open," Amoroso said. "We will not leave anyone stranded."

In the event of disaster, any town can open a shelter wherever they want, though the expense for supplies and a helping hand would have to come from the town itself, rather than the Red Cross or the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Amoroso said.

Only shelters that area approved by the Red Cross are eligible to receive financial reimbursement.

"We encourage all our towns (in Kennebec County) to have their shelters Red Cross approved," Amoroso said.

To be considered a Red Cross-approved shelter, the building must have enough space for people to eat and sleep in separate rooms. There must be a certain number of toilets and showers. Most important, Vachon said, facilities need to be accessible to people with handicaps.

In 1998, an emergency shelter was opened at the Augusta Civic Center.

A Sidney couple with two young sons -- one of whom was an infant -- took refuge there because they had no heat at home. The baby was getting sick, and the parents weren't even able to warm a bottle for him.

A woman sought out an emergency shelter with her father when an icy branch fell through their roof.

In addition to evaluating shelters, county officials are working with area towns on disaster plans. Every community in the state of Maine is required to have a plan that outlines where people should go if they cannot stay in their homes. The state provides guidelines, but each town designs its own emergency plan, subject to approval by selectmen, Amoroso said.

Dennis Bouley, another temporary county employee, was recruited to work with towns on updating those plans. Twenty-two of the 29 towns have updated their plans, or are scheduled to meet with Bouley in the coming weeks.

Amoroso, for her part, remains positive about the future if such a storm should strike again.

"We're a lot more prepared than we were last time," she said. "The ice storm of 1998 revealed our vulnerabilities and a lot of work has gone into preparedness because of that."

Meghan V. Malloy -- 623-3811 Ext. 431 or

mmalloy@centralmaine.com

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