Eye On Emergency Shelter Volunteers

This week, after winter storm Alfred, 96% of Middletown was left without power according to reports from CL&P. Middletown High School was without power until Wednesday of this week, despite this, the school was opened by the City as an emergency shelter Sunday. Tonight, the shelter closed, except to hand out sandwiches for people to take home. Before closing, Health Department officials and emergency personnel who have been on staff in 24 hour shifts since the storm, ensured anyone whom they confirmed did not have power restored as of yet had shelter for the nigh if they so required it. The City is putting families who still do not have power and need shelter up at no cost to the family, in a local motel for the night. Over 1,000 individual meals were served Sunday after the initial storm, and on Monday over 650 people were still using services provided at the shelter. On Monday night 600 people spent the night on cots in the high school's gym. Overflow of people spilled into the surrounding hallways. Middletown had 500 cots, and borrowed 100 extra from Old Saybrook and Wallingford when it was determined more were needed.

Services ranged from showers in the locker rooms, to a place to get warm, to a place to charge cell phones and computers, a place to get warm, as well as a place to seek medical attention and sleep. Many people without power who needed oxygen assistance or other acute medical care came to the high school and were assisted by volunteers and Health Department employees. Dozens of other City employees donated their time this week helping out. Employees worked setting up beds and keeping the school clean as well as other maintenance & janitorial duties to keep order. Volunteers were needed checking people in, calling road crews to send them out clear trees and meet CL&P crews, as well as cook, set up cots, and organize places for belongings. Other volunteers watched pets that had been brought in by families who sought shelter. Cat & dogs in kennels were sectioned off from the human shelter population, however, had round the clock volunteer care provided. One woman reportedly brought her five hairless cats that would not have survived in her home without heat; for her there was no choice not to come to the shelter as some hotels do not accept animal guests. Over 50 Wesleyan students came through out the week despite some still not having power themselves to help out residents. The Community Health Center also sent personnel to help. Volunteer City employees and workers not directly helping residents manned phones and coordinated with the City’s emergency management crews to assess damage and work with electrical crews to make sure that before a family was went home, it could be confirmed whether or not they had power restored.

I spoke with several C.E.R.T. (certified emergency response technician) volunteers at the end of the day today just as operations were winding down and the last few families needing places to stay were being sent to the motels. Resident and retired fireman, now C.E.R.T. volunteer Jim Loewenthal has been a volunteer now for 2 years, commenting after 25 years as a firefighter it seemed like the natural progression for him. “I really got involved when retired Chief George Dunn asked me, then we thought why not get Patti and Laura to volunteer.” Resident Patti Hines has also been a C.E.R.T. volunteer for 2 years, and she and friend Laura Nickolson, who is still in training, experienced their first emergency situation while working at the high school shelter that was set up after hurricane Irene.

“At first I was reluctant… I thought how can I do this? But once you just do it, you get so much out of it. I feel so good afterwards. To see how much people appreciate just the simple things we can do. Especially the elderly, they are the most grateful, just to have a warm place to go and someone to sit and talk too while all this is happening. I would want someone to do the same for me someday.”

Loewenthal expressed how much planning goes into a make shift emergency shelter set up. “There is so much. We have to check people in, and people get up set and ask why, and it’s because once they enter the shelter we are responsible for them, so we have to keep track of people coming in and out of the building for everyone’s safety- suppose there is a fire or another accident. We really are here to take 100% care of people.” Loewenthal went onto explain that other challenges the shelter faced was people with medical conditions arriving without medication or equipment.

“We take care of all of that, staff calls doctors or runs to the pharmacy. We have had local nursing homes lend bariatric chairs and wheel chairs. We have oxygen available.” When asked why he choose to continue in the field of emergency response after retiring from that same field, and about being burned out Loewenthal said,” I had a good life, a good job, I love giving back. It’s my reward. I feel the need to serve my community.”

Emotions often run high at the shelter, another aspect that volunteers must deal with. In the beginning of the storm whole neighborhoods were without power, as that number dwindles, it is hard for residents and emergency personnel alike to get answers from CL&P why there are still streets where all the houses have electricity except perhaps maybe one or two. Middletown as of web reports at this hour on the CL&P website still is showing about 1800 homes in Middletown without power. According to Loewenthal he saw double the families using the shelter after this storm than after Irene, he blames the cold weather.

“That’s hard. Seeing families with children come in who are upset, probably did not get any sleep, and aren’t getting the answers they need right away. I completely understand them being upset, I hope by coming here they can feel better at least for the time being while things get fixed at home.” said Hines. “The best part is when a mother hugs you, we had a mother of five stay here, and she hugged me she was so thankful, that felt wonderful to me.”

“I feel better knowing that even if it’s a hot shower, someone feels better.” Said Nickolson.

Volunteer James William is no stranger to helping others. Williams is a regular volunteer cook at St. Vincent DePaul Soup kitchen. “ I love it, this is a like a family to me now this past week.” Williams reportedly spent the whole week helping at the high school shelter.

I tried to interview a Health Department employee or other Emergency Management personnel, but with things still needed to be done, none had the time to stop and chat, and with good reason- Department employees were easily visible in blue vests and seen running down the corridors and on walk talkies coordinating the effort. Police & fire- both on and off regular duty were at the ready.

Photo above ( Loewenthal, Hines, Nickolson) Second Photo (Jeff Daniels, Mayor Giuliano man phones coordinating with road crews & CL&P)