Calendar House Shelter, the blizzard of Dec. 26^th 2010. 

The Southington Police Department requested that CERT be activated via SFD and that Southington’s Shelter be opened.  The initial call for volunteers was put out on Sunday afternoon for CERT volunteers to man Southington’s shelter.  CERT leadership formed a crew consisted of nine CERT personnel including officers and team leaders in setting up the shelter.  Most of these spent the night at the shelter and were subsequently relieved by eleven personnel from Southington’s CERT organization.

CERT personnel provided the set up of the shelter by helping the Calendar House staff with food and area preparation initially.  Local restaurants came forward with food supplies (Family Pizza, Dairy Farms, and Napoli Pizza) while the American Red Cross delivered cots and blankets.

Some CERT teams were then formed and sent out with the police department to knock on doors at General Pulaski Terrace to make residents aware of the Shelter and help transport them to the Calendar House via their mini-buses.  CERT provided listings to the police of all residents who opted not to go despite the loss of electricity and heat.

CERT personnel recorded information on those residents who did take advantage of the shelter, got them settled in and assisted in the preparation of breakfast and lunch.  CERT personnel also assisted in the return of residents to their homes when it was safe and they were notified power had been restored.  CERT RNs checked residents, finding that some would require oxygen. They contacted Health Director Motes who had the oxygen delivered by AMR.  The nurses attended to the administration of the oxygen where needed.

CERT personnel were on stand by up to Monday evening had the shelter continued to remain open.  Some CERT personnel were unable to participate as they themselves were without power. A number who committed their time to man the shelter, returned home after their duties were completed to then dig themselves out.

By 5:00 pm on Monday, the last family was being picked up from the shelter. With no additional requests for sheltering being received, the shelter was order closed Monday evening.

Southington CERT is grateful to any and all who assisted with the sheltering of Southington residents and is proud to be able to offer its service when needed to aid the town’s needs.  “This is exactly why CERT plans and has drills” said CERT Chief Ted Janelle.