NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
September 20, 2019
CONTACT: Dana Kazel, Communications Manager
218-725-5049 (office) • 218-591-2219 (cell)
Emergency shelter training set for Tuesday in Virginia
St. Louis County Public Health is hosting a large-scale emergency shelter drill involving more than 60 people from nine counties and tribal health departments. The shelter training will take place Tuesday, September 24, at the Miners Memorial Building, 821 South 9th Avenue West in Virginia.
The all day session will be a live exercise, complete with volunteer actors, for participants to practice setting up an emergency shelter and serve residents. Public Health and Human Service staff from Aitkin, Carlton, Cook,Itasca, Koochiching, Lake, and St. Louis County, as well as Fond du Lac and Bois Forte, will participate, along with representatives from the American Red Cross, 148th Fighter Wing, Salvation Army and home health care agencies, plus ham radio volunteers, the Virginia Fire Department and other various first responders.
"This is our second annual training of this nature," said St. Louis County Emergency Preparedness Coordinator Scott Lesnau, "We hope to never need these skills in a real situation, but we know disasters can and will happen, and we want to be ready. 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."
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For media interested in reporting on the training, the best time for photos/video would be between noon and 1 p.m. A mock news conference will be held at 1 p.m., and any reporters who could assist with this would be welcome and much appreciated.
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