NEWS
Emergency Shelter Volunteers Needed
The Poland Emergency Management Agency is currently seeking
volunteers to serve in the town’s two emergency shelters. Volunteers are needed
to serve in either the town’s human shelter located at the Poland Community
School and/or the new pet shelter at the Public Works Garage. Training will be
provided, and volunteers will become members of the Poland Unit of the
Androscoggin County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and/or the new
Community Animal Response Team (CART) administered by the Androscoggin County
Emergency Management Agency.
Applicants must be 18 years of age, have a valid driver’s license and be able to stand/walk for long periods of time. In addition, they must be able to lift and carry objects and equipment up to 30 lbs and be able to complete the CERT certification requirements. Volunteers must also be able to work in a stressful environment and will be required to undergo a security background check before being allowed to join the team.
All Volunteers will be required to take Basic CERT Training,
which includes CPR, First Aid, Introduction to the Incident Command System,
Introduction to the National Incident Management System, Disaster Preparedness,
Disaster Fire Suppression, Disaster Medical Operations, Light Search &
Rescue Operations, Disaster Psychology and Team Organization, and a Disaster
Simulation. Additional training will be required in specific areas, depending
on the volunteer’s choice of which shelter they wish to serve. For service in
the Human Shelter, additional training will be provided by the American Red
Cross, and for the Pet Shelter, training will be provided by the Androscoggin
County EMA in Pet Sheltering and Pet First Aid. The Basic CERT training will
take approximately 20 hours to complete, and upon completion of the training,
volunteers will receive credentials, and will be placed on the Poland Unit of
the County CERT team. All training will be provided at no cost to the volunteer.
Contact EMA Director Wayne Cotterly at 998-2282 for an application.
New Pet Shelter Approved by Board of Selectmen
On June 17, 2008, the Poland Board of Selectmen approved a new Animal Protection Annex to the Town's Emergency Operations Plan. This annex outlines the procedures for sheltering pets during a disaster or large scale emergency. Currently, the town has designated the Wash Bay at the Poland Public Works Garage as the Pet Shelter. Information on procedures for sheltering your pet will be released to the public soon. The shelter was required by the Department of Homeland Security as a response to the problems that were encountered during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Residents are requested to review the "Preparing Your Pets for Emergencies" Link to the left to be ready in the event of an emergency.
This personal web site has been
created, maintained, and paid for by EMA Director Wayne
Cotterly
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