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Council and residents raise shelter, generator and staffing concerns after storm
Summary
Residents and council members said local schools lack whole-building generators and warned that directing elderly or vulnerable residents to distant schools for shelter may be unsafe; Administrator Kevin Bronson said the city relies on the county for shelter logistics and that staffing and generator capacity limited local options.
At the Feb. 10 Westminster City Council meeting, residents and council members raised questions about sheltering and generator capacity after recent storms.
Resident Brent Ross said he could not imagine elderly and vulnerable residents being driven to distant schools during extreme weather and questioned the plan to rely on schools that lack whole-building generators. "I just can't imagine... our elderly and our vulnerable folks, to try to get in a car together to Seneca School," Ross said. (Brent Ross)
Mayor and Administrator Kevin Bronson said the county manages the formal shelter operations and logistics and that the city is not set up to staff and operate ad hoc shelters without personnel. Bronson said the city had offers from local property owners who would permit temporary shelter use (including one business with a large heater), but staff could not open public access to buildings without proper staffing and coordination with the county.
Bronson said he and staff communicated concerns to the county emergency department about safety and generator constraints and that staff will continue outreach to county partners about shelter options.
What happens next: Administrator Bronson said he will contact county emergency officials and follow up with council about feasible local options for sheltering and generator support.
