Registering shelters can help with rescue after disaster strikes

Nevada Daily Mail

Vernon County Emergency Management Director Dennis Kimrey has announced two new, convenient resources local residents can use when disaster strikes.

A damage assessment form and a shelter registration form are now available online, at www.vernoncountyoem.org, to allow residents a quick and easy way to take advantage of some of the services available.

The damage assessment form will allow people to report any property damage received during any type of event, such as a fire, flood or storm.

The shelter registration form is a place to register shelters -- storm cellars, basements, safe rooms and so forth -- and record information about where the shelter is located on the property, names and the number of people in the family, and what fire department responds to the area. This form will be shared with the fire department that serves the corresponding area; the information on it will give rescuers information about where to look for survivors, in case debris has covered the shelter, a press release noted.

Information from both forms will go into aVernon County Emergency Management database.

Kimrey noted that he "highly recommends" that Vernon Countians register their shelters.

For more information, call (417) 667-8236 or send an e-mail to vcemd@vernoncountymo.org.