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Tuesday, September 6, 2005
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Preparations under way Receiving area set up at Camp Ripley for hurricane survivors Staff Writer CAMP RIPLEY -- The Recreation and Training Center at Camp Ripley was geared up Monday for the influx of an estimated 3,000 Hurricane Katrina survivors later this week.
Outside, five 20-foot by 20-foot Army tents as well as portable lights were set up near the entrance to the training center for an anticipated 24-hour operation. Inside, the center was sectioned off into small cubicles that include an identification card station, medical and mental health stations, a briefing area and a children's coloring area.
The reception center will be manned by a combination of Minnesota National Guard soldiers and airmen and state employees.
"Our goal is to get them through the reception area and into their rooms comfortably," said Guard spokesman Senior Master Sgt. Mark Moss.
It still isn't known when the hurricane survivors will begin arriving.
Doctors, nurses and other medical personnel also will be at the center. Moss said the camp is prepared to receive hurricane survivors 24 hours a day.
Brig. Gen. Jon Trost, the incident commander of the operation, named Operation Northern Comfort, and his staff completed a walk-through of the center Monday.
Guard spokesman Staff Sgt. Kenneth Toole said the entourage's mission was process suggestions and consider improvements.
Lt. Col. Greg Thingvold, the in-processing officer in charge, said his staff was in the final stages of preparation. "We want them to in-process here in 10 minutes or less if they don't have issues," he said.
Capt. Audra Flanagan, another in-processing officer, said all survivors will be thoroughly medically screened and immediate care personnel will be on site.
Thingvold said a capturing system database will be in place, which will allow staff to find the survivors in a timely manner.
If the survivors don't have any form of identification, temporary identification cards will be issued.
Pet patrol
Many Hurricane Katrina survivors will bring their pets with them to Camp Ripley.
John Tschida, director of Heartland Animal Rescue Team in Baxter, said Monday they'll bring an estimated 500 to 1,000 pets.
Tschida is seeking volunteers to go to Camp Ripley on Wednesday to build a shelter for the pets. Animal shelters across the state will help care for the pets at Camp Ripley, he said.
Anyone interested in helping build the pet shelter Wednesday should call Tschida at 829-4141. Volunteers can't simply show up at Camp Ripley; they must contact Tschida, he said.
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Supplies, including bedding, were moved into the 20 dormitories that each will house 184 survivors.
"The goal of Camp Ripley is basically temporary housing," said Department of Public Safety spokesman Kevin Smith. "We would like to move people into their own places or other places as quickly as possible."
Smith said the survivors were expected to arrive by air, but he didn't know if they would be coming through airports in the Twin Cities, Brainerd or landing at Camp Ripley's airstrip. It's also possible some will arrive by road.
Smith said the state could take more hurricane survivors if the Federal Emergency Management Agency asks.
(This story includes information from The Associated Press.)
CLINT wood can be reached at clint.wood@brainerddispatch.com or at 855-5869.
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