NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
September 24, 2018
CONTACT: Scott Lesnau, Emergency Preparedness Coordinator
218-471-7619 (office) • 218-780-9651 (cell)
Emergency shelter drill planned for Tuesday in Virginia
St. Louis County Public Health is hosting a large-scale emergency shelter drill involving more than 60 people from six counties and other service organizations. The shelter training will take place Tuesday, September 25, at the Miners Memorial Building, 821 South 9th Avenue West in Virginia.
The all day session will include both classroom training as well as hands on practice setting up an emergency shelter. Public Health staff from Aitkin, Carlton, Cook, Koochiching, Lake, and St. Louis County will participate, along with representatives from the American Red Cross, 148th Fighter Wing, Salvation Army and other human service organizations, plus ham radio volunteers.
"This is training that we hope we never need," said St. Louis County Emergency Preparedness Coordinator Scott Lesnau, "But as we saw with the Husky Refinery Fire and resulting evacuations last spring, we can be called at a moment's notice to set up a shelter, so it's important we practice with our community partners so we all understand each other's roles, what needs to be done, and what resources we each have to contribute."
For media interested in reporting on the training, the best times for viewing would be between 10 a.m. and noon, or 12:30-2:30 p.m.
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