Local Red Cross to offer free disaster preparedness training

    CARIBOU – The Aroostook County branch of the American Red Cross – Pine Tree Chapter will offer free disaster preparedness courses in shelter operations and client casework Saturday, Oct. 4 in Caribou, Sunday, Oct. 19 in Island Falls, and Saturday, Oct. 25 in Fort Kent.     “With winter approaching and heating oil costs expected to remain high, these courses are very important,” said Joyce Knorr, branch manager. “In fact, this year the training may be more important than ever before. Every community in the county should attend these one-day trainings to learn how to open a warming shelter, and how to work with the local Red Cross to provide immediate relief to friends, families and neighbors after a disaster such as a house fire, flood, or severe winter storm.
    “People in the county know how to deal with snow and cold weather, but more home fires occur during the wood, propane, kerosene and oil heating season than at any other time of the year, and storms can cause problems even for people who have experienced decades of them,” she said. “We all know that ice-out always needs a careful eye, and we saw what can happen when spring thaws combine with heavy rains.”
    The Caribou classes will be held Oct. 4 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Red Cross office at 111 High St. On Oct. 19, the Island Falls Towns Office will host the classes from 2-8 p.m., while the Fort Kent Town Office will be the site of the Oct. 25 class from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Refreshments will be provided at each location.
    “Your local Red Cross knows that the safety of people and their communities depend on knowledge like this, and on trained people to make sure that basic human needs are met whenever disaster or emergency strikes in the county,” said Hillary Roberts, the Pine Tree Chapter’s director of emergency services.
    The Chapter, which provides emergency preparation and response services for every Aroostook County community, has served Mainers since 1919.
    To register or receive more information, call the Aroostook County Branch office at 493-4620, or e-mail Knorr at knorrj@pinetree.redcross.org.