Town Shows off its New Mobile Emergency Shelter

The Vernon Office of Emergency Management and the Vernon Fire Department set up a new mobile shelter for the first time on Sunday at the public safety building.

According to Emergency Management Director Michael Purcaro, the structure inflated in less than three minutes and it took two emergency response staff members less than 15 minutes total to unpack the shelter and set it up - including inflation.

Purcaro described the shelter as a "multi-use, rapid-deployment mobile field shelter that will enhance our emergency response capabilities." 

Some examples are that it can be used a rehab station for firefighters during an emergency, a mini-shelter for the public in response to a local incident, a warming or cooling center, or even a mobile command post for larger scale operations, Purcaro said.  

The total cost of the shelter was about $8,000 and it was paid for with Federal Homeland Security grant money, Purcaro said.

The idea to acquire the shelter was brought forward by Health and Safety Officer Chris Hammick, Purcaro said.