PARIS – The Oxford County Emergency Management Agency should have a decision on grant funds for two power generators before Christmas, according to agency director Scott Parker

Parker said dollars requested from the federal Department of Homeland Security would go toward installing generators at Telstar Regional High School in Bethel and Buckfield Junior/Senior High School. Both schools are among seven regional buildings considered larger scale Red Cross shelters capable of serving more than 200 people in the event of an emergency.

Generators have already been installed at Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School in Paris, Molly Ockett Middle School in Fryeburg, Mountain Valley High School in Rumford, and Sacopee Valley High School in Hiram. Parker said he will request funds to outfit the final large shelter, Dirigo High School in Dixfield, in 2008.

The EMA has made agreements with the school administrations and Red Cross to establish the shelters, he said. Costs associated with running a shelter are handled by the Red Cross and Federal Emergency Management Agency, while school administrations have agreed to assist shelter operations with faculty members.

Parker said the EMA, Red Cross and administration do inspections of a school both before and after it is used as a shelter. The recipient of the grant funds is responsible for determining the power requirements of the shelter prior to installing a generator.

In addition to the seven large shelters, the EMA has also designated 10 buildings as shelters capable of serving 50 to 150 people. These are the Oxford Hills Middle School in Paris, Sacopee Valley Middle School in Hiram, Mountain Valley Middle School in Mexico, Dirigo Middle School in Dixfield, Crescent Park Elementary School in Bethel, Hartford-Sumner Elementary School in Sumner, Agnes Gray Elementary School in West Paris, Woodstock Elementary School, Waterford Elementary School and the Paris Fire Department.

Parker said the EMA has been outfitting two large shelters per year with generators and will look into installing generators at the smaller shelters in 2008.

Parker said members of the Community Emergency Response Team have received shelter training for the Buckfield and Fryeburg regions. Those interested in receiving shelter training must be CERT trained and may contact the EMA office for more information.