Policy G71 — Comfort Centre Policy

Kentville, Nova Scotia

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Town of Kentville Policy State Purpose1.1 The purpose of this policy is to provide guidance and information to Kings County Regio If an emergency happens in Kings County, it may take emergency workers some time to r During an emergency situation there may be the need for citizens to find respite from ad Definitions2.1 Comfort Centre is a facility that is primarily used for residents who are remaining in their 2.2 Emergency Shelters. In large-scale emergencies, these types of facilities are opened Kings County includes the Municipality of the County of Kings, the Town of Berwick, the Scope3.1 This Policy is applicable to all facilities within Kings County that are designated as a Comfo Procedures4.1 Assumptions4.1.1 During a prolonged extreme weather event, the demand on the electrical grid m Opening and operating a comfort centre will be aKings REMO decision.4.1.3 Responsibility for staffing, resources and liabilities will be that of the local jurisd Transportation to/from the facilities will be the citizen's responsibility or that of th Occupants of comfort centres may need to transition to an emergency shelter i During differing types and phases of an emergency incident, Kings County may need bot Volunteer Responsibilities 4.3.1 Each organization designated responsibility for operating a Comfort Centre/Emer Each organization shall have a written emergency response plan that outlines in County/Municipal Responsibilities4.4.1 If Kings County REMO requests that the municipal facilities become operational a Comfort Centres4.5.1 Comfort Centres may provide different services depending on resources availabl Some Comfort Centres may provide:- Light snacks and/or food prepared by Comfort Centres are not overnight shelters.4.5.4 Depending on the severity of the emergency and its impact on the telephone an Emergency Shelter managers are to ensure that the Amat Procedure for Opening a Comfort Centre4.6.1 The decision to open a Comfort Centre may be made by the community group re In situations of widespread emergency or where Kings REMO has been made awar Once the decision has been made to open a Comfort Centre, the Regional Em Comfort Centres are to be staffed with volunteers from within the community as Once Kings REMO is made aware of Comfort Centre activation, Kings REMO will Comfort Centres are not intended for overnight shelter. If, during the daytime o If long-term initiation of a Comfort Centre is required (more than 72 hours dura The decision to de-activate a Comfort Centre will be made by the community notified of the intent to de-activate and will report the de Procedure for Opening a Reception Centre/EmergencyShelter4.7.1 The decision to open a Reception Centre/Emergency Shelter will be made by Ki In consultation with Emergency Service Partners and First Responders, Kings REM Once the decision to open a Reception Centre/Emergency Shelter has been ma Kings REMO will notify media sources of the Reception Centre/Emergency Shelte The decision to de-activate a Reception Centre/Emergency Shelter will be m Communications4.8.1 The opening of a Comfort Centre will be disseminated by the Regional Emerge Sample Script:"Kings County has opened a Comfort Centre at Location Name, from hours of operation to/from today. This is not an emer Policy Review4.9.1 This policy will be reviewed every year from effective/amended date.5.0 Associated DocumentsAppendix A: Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) -Use of Facil Policy Revision HistoryDate Created: September 24, 2018 AppendixAMemorandum of UnderstandingUse of Facilit A Comfort Centre is a building owned and operated by a community group or fire department with the An Emergency Shelter is a building owned by a community group or fire department but operated by costs, power, water, sewer charges, clean-up, including food