Anniston Star
July 1, 2003

Protection equipment, information can still be picked up

By Jessica Ravitz
Star Staff Writer
07-01-2003

Protective equipment is being distributed to the more than 3,000 Calhoun County residents on the "special-needs" list, people who are bedridden or cannot be transported to pick up their equipment.

But there are those who haven't made this list who still need assistance getting prepared, people such as inmates, residents in rehabilitation centers or those with no residence at all.

If you don't qualify as someone with special needs and you're not self-sufficient, what can you do?

That depends on where you live and what resources are available to you.

For the homeless, who have no permanent addresses or ready access to information, the options are few.

"The homeless issue has been brought up," said David Ford, spokesman for the Calhoun County Emergency Management Agency. "But it would be practically impossible to initiate [provisions for them] because of the very nature of the population."

Anniston's Salvation Army provides homeless and domestic violence shelters, as well as a residential drug rehabilitation center. All told, there are about 70 people, including staff, in the facilities at any one time, said Maj. Mark Smith, the new corps officer.

Smith said some of his residents seem "pretty nervous" about the prospect of an accident.

"In their view they've been oppressed by the system their whole lives, so their confidence in it is low," he said.

Fortunately for them, he said, the Salvation Army has put some safety measures in place.

Smith said the Salvation Army was contacted and visited by Innovative Emergency Management, a Baton Rouge consulting firm contracted by FEMA to offer response plans. Smith said the plans include the selection of the room that would be sealed as a shelter-in-place, and he will be holding drills in a matter of days.

IEM, however, only offers the plan, not the equipment.

"I'm thinking we have to go and get that," said Kim Lumpkin, the executive director of Second Chance, a women's and children's shelter that was also visited by IEM. "I guess I need to follow up on that."

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has provided safety measures through the Army Corps of Engineers for large facilities that would have trouble evacuating residents, such as prisons, jails and hospitals.

The Calhoun County Jail, which holds more than 300 inmates, underwent testing and was sealed for protection a couple of months ago, Sheriff Larry Amerson said.

"We don't have the means to evacuate people," he said. "You can't ignore them and leave them behindbut you also can't open the doors and let them go."

But some smaller shelters and group homes have not been offered plans, let alone equipment.

"They live here and they need the masks like everyone else," said Director Joyce Harkins, of the 10 women living in Alpha House, a 6-month-old, privately owned halfway house in Eastaboga that sits within two miles of the Anniston Army Depot.

Ford said the EMA will offer smaller facilities preparedness guidelines for protection in the event of a chemical weapons accident.

"Those who have had something done, it's because we were aware of their existence," he said.

Ford encourages facilities that haven't been reached by the EMA to call the agency at 435-0540.

Other program directors, however, seem less concerned about not being contacted.

"What we try to do is teach our guys to be responsible. They listen to the radio like anybody else," said Kathy Evans of Tri-County Outreach in Oxford, a halfway house for 42 men.

While she wants the men to take care of themselves, Evans did say she'd post information and provide transportation for any residents who want to pick up equipment.

County Commissioner Rudy Abbott encouraged all people to pick up their equipment. Those who need transportation can call for it.

The Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Plan has subcontracted with Alabama Limousine to provide rides to pick up equipment. To request this free service, Calhoun County residents should call 241-0058.