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Red Cross will open disaster shelter in Brattleboro

Submitted by tim on
Shelter to serve area residents affected by widespread power outages

Vermont Business Magazine The American Red Cross will open a regional disaster shelter at the Brattleboro Union High School (131 Fairground Rd.) to provide safe shelter for residents in Brattleboro and surrounding communities affected by widespread power outages due to heavy snow and winds. The shelter will open at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, March 15th. Until then, given the hazardous travel conditions, those impacted by this storm are urged to shelter in place.

This is a Red Cross managed shelter operating in coordination with the Greater Brattleboro community. The Red Cross is also working closely with local and state emergency management and government officials.

Individuals evacuating to a Red Cross shelter should bring essential items for each member of their family, including:

  • Prescription and emergency medications
  • Foods that meet special dietary requirements
  • Extra clothing, pillows, blankets, hygiene supplies and other comfort items
  • Chargers for any electronic devices
  • Books, games and other forms of entertainment

The Red Cross is partnering with the Vermont Disaster Animal Response Team (VDART) to welcome and manage pets at the shelter.

If you are in need of Red Cross assistance, please call 1-800-464-6692 or Vermont 2-1-1.

The Red Cross wants to remind Vermonters that winter weather can bring life-threatening conditions. Stay indoors and wear layers of loose fitting, lightweight warm clothes.

PREPARE FOR WINTER WEATHER

  • Assemble an emergency preparedness kit. Full details here.
  • Check on relatives, neighbors and friends, particularly if they are elderly or live alone.
  • Avoid overexertion, such as shoveling snow, pushing a vehicle or walking in deep snow.
  • Caulk and weather-strip doors and windowsills to keep cold air out. Install storm windows or cover windows with plastic from the inside to provide an extra layer of insulation to keep cold air out.
  • Make sure you have enough heating fuel on hand.
  • Visit here to learn how to keep your pipes from freezing.
  • If possible, bring your pets inside during cold winter weather. Move other animals or livestock to sheltered areas and make sure they have access to non-frozen drinking water. If the animals are outside, make sure their access to food and water is not blocked by snow drifts, ice or other obstacles.

POWER OUTAGE SAFETY

  • Use flashlights in the dark — not candles.
  • Don’t drive unless necessary. Traffic lights will be out and roads could be congested.
  • Turn off and unplug any appliances, equipment and electronics. When the power comes back on, surges or spikes can damage equipment. Leave one light on, so you’ll know when power is restored.
  • If a power outage is two hours or less, don’t be concerned about losing perishable foods. During a prolonged outage, keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible to protect your food. Use perishable food from the refrigerator first. Then, use food from the freezer. If the power outage will continue beyond a day, prepare a cooler with ice for your freezer items. Keep food in a dry, cool spot and cover it at all times.
  • If you are using a generator, keep it dry and don’t use it in wet conditions.
  • Never use a generator, grill, camp stove or other gasoline, propane, natural gas or charcoal-burning device inside a home, garage, basement or other partially enclosed area. Keep this equipment outside and away from doors, windows and vents, which could allow carbon monoxide to come indoors.
  • Plug appliances directly into the generator. Never plug a generator into a wall outlet.

WINTER DRIVING SAFETY

Stay off the road during severe weather. If you must drive, follow these tips:

  • Keep in your vehicle:
    • A windshield scraper and small broom. A small sack of sand for generating traction under wheels and a set of tire chains or traction mats. Matches in a waterproof container. A brightly colored (preferably red) cloth to tie to the antenna.
    • An emergency supply kit, including warm clothing.
  • Keep your vehicle’s gas tank full so you can leave right away in an emergency and to keep the fuel line from freezing.
  • If you become stranded:
    • Stay in the vehicle and wait for help. Do not leave the vehicle to search for assistance unless help is visible within 100 yards. You can quickly become disoriented and confused in blowing snow.
    • Display a trouble sign to indicate you need help. Hang a brightly colored cloth (preferably red) on the radio antenna and raise the hood after snow stops falling.
    • Run the engine occasionally to keep warm. Turn on the engine for about 10 minutes each hour (or five minutes every half hour). Running the engine for only short periods reduces the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning and conserves fuel. Use the heater while the engine is running. Keep the exhaust pipe clear of snow, and slightly open a downwind window for ventilation.
    • Leave the overhead light on when the engine is running so that you can be seen.

All Red Cross assistance is provided free of charge and made possible by the generosity of the public. To donate to Red Cross Disaster Relief and help people affected by disasters big and small, visit www.redcross.org or call 1-800-RED-CROSS. To become a Red Cross volunteer visit www.redcross.org/volunteer.

About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.

BRATTLEBORO, MARCH 14, 2023 — American Red Cross Vermont