Chatham-Kent residents displaced by rising river waters will have a shelter ready.
The municipality has designated the John D. Bradley Convention Centre as an evacuation centre for residents driven out of their homes by the rising waters of the Thames River.
Chatham-Kent Mayor Randy Hope has declared a state of emergency for Thamesville, which was starting to be affected by flood waters Friday morning. A voluntary evacuation order was imposed around that time.
The Bradley Centre has been designated a shelter for anyone who may not have relatives or friends they can stay within the affected areas, or may not have the financial means for a hotel.
Audrey Ansell, Chatham-Kent's manager of community attraction and promotion, says the objective is to make things as comfortable as possible.
"We are being proactive and making sure we are prepared for any displaced residents in the community, making sure they have a safe place to come to, a warm and welcoming place for them in such circumstances," says Ansell.
The centre was quiet Friday afternoon, but volunteers were ready to man the registration table. The giant main exhibit hall has been set up to accommodate any residents needing it. At one end are dozens of tables where people can eat and relax, and charging stations will be available for those with cell phones or electronic devices.
At the other end of the hall, scores of cots have been set up in neat rows. In one corner, dog cages and cat carriers were available for those bringing their pets. Pets would be housed temporarily at the centre before being transported to an animal shelter, where they would remain until their owners pick them up.
Mary Alice Searles, the program manager for the municipality, says this evacuation centre is the first one she's seen that will be prepped for shelter lasting longer than 24 hours.
"This is the first one in my recollection that we've had that was planned for overnight," says Searles. "We've had short-term evacuation centres, a couple in the last few years, but they weren't open any longer than two or three hours, and then we closed them."
Searles says the Red Cross will be on hand starting late Friday afternoon to help process those looking for shelter. She also says transportation options for those without vehicles are in the process of being worked out.
The municipality is asking people to make sure they bring enough for a 72-hour stay. These include clothing, toiletries, and medication.
The Bradley Convention Centre is located on Richmond St. near Keil Dr. S in Chatham. Anyone in the Thamesville area requiring transportation to the centre should call 519-360-1998.