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Red Cross to survey Castleton American Legion shelter; local agencies plan EOC and ICS trainings
Summary
REMC members arranged a Red Cross site survey of the American Legion Post 50 in Castleton, discussed shelter staffing and mass-care coordination with the Red Cross and Medical Reserve Corps, and noted EOC operations and ICS training opportunities.
Chief Mantello and local staff asked the American Red Cross to perform a site survey of Post 50 American Legion in Castleton to confirm the facility’s readiness to serve as a Red Cross shelter. Lindsey Moran, the American Red Cross community disaster program manager for Southern Vermont, said the Red Cross can schedule the survey and that shelters are typically re-surveyed every five years.
Moran offered Red Cross support for canteen and mass-care operations in Rutland County and said that volunteers are available in the county. She also said the Red Cross and the Medical Reserve Corps have an MOU to coordinate mass-care response and that the state is working to integrate RACES ham operators into the Medical Reserve Corps to preserve radio capabilities.
Chief Mantello said the Post 50 facility will be examined by Red Cross surveyors and also by G.J. Garrow from the Division of Fire Safety to ensure the building meets code and operational needs ahead of winter sheltering. Moran said that if a town requests a shelter survey they are prioritized and that the Red Cross aims to have surveys completed and to update its shelter list.
Separately, meeting members discussed training opportunities: an intermediate EOC operations course scheduled Jan. 5–7 in Hingham, Massachusetts; local interest in hosting ICS courses (IS 200/300/400) and other EOC-level trainings; and Red Cross shelter-fundamentals training that can be delivered locally with a minimum of eight participants. A Rutland City facility (Project Vision Center) was suggested as a potential training site that can accommodate about 40 people.
No shelter activations or new formal agreements were announced at the meeting; staff said they will follow up to schedule the Red Cross site survey and to share training opportunities with REMC members.
