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June 6, 2008 For more information, contact: Shelter Trailers Now In Place In All Six Region I Counties ST. JAMES—Thanks to a partnership between the American Red Cross and the Region I Homeland Security Oversight Committee, all six counties in Region I—Crawford, Dent, Maries, Laclede, Phelps and Pulaski—now have sheltering trailers, complete with food serving equipment, blankets, pillows and cots. Three laptop computers and printers are available for mass care services. The cost of the six cargo trailers, stocked with over 800 blankets, 800 pillows and 800 cots, six food serving kits, computers, software and printers totaled $84,120, with Region I Homeland Security Oversight Committee picking up the bill, using its 2006 Homeland Security Grant funds. "We at the Region I Homeland Security Oversight Committee are pleased to have been able to fund this project for disaster supplies. We all agree that it is not enough but it is a good start and we are hopeful we may be able to do more in the future," said Paul Rueff, Region I HSOC chairman. The Phelps/Pulaski Chapter of the American Red Cross developed the grant request on behalf of all Red Cross chapters serving the six-county area. Once awarded, director Edna Bridges made arrangements to locate the trailers—one in each county. Crawford County’s trailer is in Leasburg; Dent County’s trailer is in Salem; Maries County’s trailer is in Vienna; Laclede County’s trailer is in Lebanon, Phelps County’s trailer is in St. James; and Pulaski County’s trailer is in Waynesville. “These trailers and equipment will enable a quicker response during a disaster, especially when a large area is affected,” said Edna Bridges, manager of the Phelps-Pulaski Red Cross. “We are thankful to the Region I Homeland Security Oversight Committee for providing funds to help provide assistance in a time of need.” Since then, the Region I HSOC has awarded the American Red Cross of Phelps and Pulaski counties grant funds to purchase a truck to pull the trailers. “In emergency planning, the goal is to be able to shelter 10 percent of the population at any given time,” explained Tammy Snodgrass, HSOC program administrator for Meramec Regional Planning Commission. “We still have a ways to go but we are better prepared than we were, and we are pleased that the American Red Cross stepped up the plate to assist with this. Edna Bridges of the Phelps-Pulaski County Chapter of the Red Cross has put in a lot of time on behalf of all six counties,” Snodgrass said. Under a contract with the State Emergency Management Agency, MRPC acts as the HSOC’s administrative entity and fiscal agent. The Region I HSOC, established along the boundaries of the State Highway Patrol Troop I, includes Crawford, Dent, Maries, Phelps, Pulaski and Laclede counties. Jurisdictions represented include emergency management, police chiefs, sheriffs, fire, county health departments, homeland security rescue teams, public works, mayor/city administrators, county commissioners, private industry/public utility, emergency medical services, 911, volunteer groups and schools. Paul Rueff of Rolla, representing the Phelps County Disaster Committee, serves as chair, and Linda Hanrahan, St. James Ambulance District, is vice chair. The HSOC also includes ex-officio representatives from various agencies, including Missouri State Emergency Management Agency Area Coordinator, Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Missouri State Highway Patrol, Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Missouri Division of Fire Safety, Missouri Department of Agriculture, Missouri Department of Transportation, Missouri Department of Conservation, Missouri Water Patrol, Meramec Regional Planning Commission, Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri University of Science & Technology, Mark Twain National Forest, United States Geological Survey, National Park Service and United States Department of Agriculture. Three counties in the Meramec Region—Gasconade, Osage and Washington—are served through other regions. Gasconade and Osage counties are a part of Troop F, which is being coordinated by the Mid-Missouri Regional Planning Commission at Ashland while Washington County is a part of Troop C, which is coordinated by the Southeast Missouri Regional Planning Commission at Perryville. |