Preparing for emergencies

In 2013, Foodshare was able to implement an emergency preparedness project with Enfield Loaves & Fishes, SafeNet Ministries Food Cupboard in Stafford, and the Christian Fellowship Center Storehouse in Bristol.  At each site over the past year, a generator was installed for backup power and a consultant helped to prepare and implement an Emergency Preparedness Plan outlining the agency’s detailed responses, procedures, key collaborations, etc. during a disaster.

This work was funded with a generous grant from CL&P supporting Foodshare’s own disaster preparedness as well as that of its partner agency network.  The project came about as a result of the October 2011 snowstorm that left so many without power for so long.  While Foodshare was operating because we have a generator, very few local food pantries were open because they had no power.  With grocery stores also closed due to lack of power, how people got food that week became a real problem.  Based on its evaluation of the above three demonstration projects, Foodshare will make recommendations for further expansion of this type of emergency preparedness work.

 

Pictured from left to right are James Ferrigno of Assurance Power Systems (APS), Chris O’Rourke and George Lombardo from Foodshare, Don Clark (Member Board of Directors Enfield Loaves & Fishes and CERT Team Town of Enfield), Priscilla Brayson (Exectuvie Director of Enfield Loaves & Fishes), and Mike Ferrigno of APS.