YMCA could be used as a heating and cooling center

Newton Fire Chief Jarrod Wellik received city council’s support to establish a heating and cooling shelter at the local YMCA — or another facility — in cases of extreme weather or when a natural disaster leaves medically dependent populations without electricity.

After the derecho blew through Jasper County this past summer, there were several people without power for up to a week. At the time, Wellik said the weather was suitable. However, the fire chief noted if something like that had happened in extreme cold or hot temperatures, it could be problematic.

Newton Mayor Mike Hansen spoke with Jasper County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) Coordinator Jim Sparks about the possibility of coming up with a plan. Wellik told council members that Spark came up with three options; two of which would include Newton YMCA as the hosting site.

The YMCA gym could provide shelter for approximately 140-150 people.

People who need electricity to power their in-home oxygen concentrators or other types of medical equipment could benefit from this type of shelter, Wellik reasoned. Newton News previously reported how independent living facilities struggled during the derecho power outages.

“So the YMCA would provide the use of a large gym and adjoining restroom facilities,” Wellik said. “The city would provide and pre-wire an installation of a transfer switch so that could power up the building or power up that section of the building.”

Jasper County EMA would apply for a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Grant to purchase a 60-75 kilowatt, three-phase generator. Wellik estimated it would cost $40,000 to $50,000 for that. Likewise, the cost of the transfer switch is about $12,000. That’s option No. 1.

The second option would be a similar package with the transfer switch. But instead of purchasing a generator, Wellik said the EMA could sign a contract to rent a generator that would provide power to the facility. The fire chief said it would cost about $315 per day, meaning less money up front.

The last option was to find a smaller venue. However, there are FEMA guidelines that would have to be followed. Occupancy would have to be about 50 square feet per person for shelter purposes. This could potentially mean a cheaper transfer switch install or give organizations the option of other generators.

Hansen recalled the calls he got for medically dependent individuals and the “scramble” that was going on in order to find people and facilities to meet their needs. The mayor said he quickly realized it is something the city council needed to talk about and come up with kind of resolution.

“So that — God forbid — next time we find ourself in this situation that we would be prepared to assist as many as we possibly could,” Hansen said.

This isn’t the first time a heating and cooling center has been proposed to elected officials. Last year, Michelle Smith, of Mingo, asked the Jasper County Board of Supervisors to use the county community center in a similar fashion, particularly for the homeless population. But her request was seemingly denied.

Contact Christopher Braunschweig at 641-792-3121 ext. 6560 or cbraunschweig@newtondailynews.com