Citizen Preparedness
Knox County Community Shelters
The 2022 - 2023 Winter Season Community Sheltering Brochure is now available. You can either download a PDF of the document HERE, or download the jpegs below:
Regional Shelter vs. Community Shelter/Warming Centers. What's the difference?
Regional Shelters are larger, more formal overnight dormitory operations conducted by the Red Cross at one of our four pre-designated locations in Knox County. These are staffed with trained Red Cross Volunteers, many from our local area. Generally, only one regional shelter can be opened at a time in Knox County. The decision of which location will open is based on serving the part of the county where the need is greatest. Regional Shelters are generator equipped, fully accessible, have sleeping-showering and restroom facilities and can provide hot meals. They are staffed with intake and other volunteers, medical and mental health providers and security.
Community Shelters/Warming Centers are more temporary than Regional shelters and may be set up for 24 hour operation. They are located, established, funded and operated by volunteers of the community where the municipality has opted to provide this valuable community service. The location may be a town library or community center, the town office or city hall or a church. Communities may opt to make agreements with school districts for use of facilities which have been designated as Regional Shelter Facilities when those are available. The facilities are generally equipped with emergency power, rest rooms, telephones and many have WiFi connectivity. Some towns offer meals, snacks and warm drinks. Services provided are at the discretion of the sponsoring municipality. To see if you have a community shelter in your town or to learn more, contact the Local Emergency Manager in your town (or city).
You can access a variety of valuable information, including sheltering info, by simply dialing "2-1-1" or by visiting www.211maine.org.
Get the American Red Cross Emergency App- Stay connected with family and friends - get maps to the nearest open Red Cross or Community Shelter- customizable alerts - Get help with your family emergency plans!
Contact Knox County EMA 301 Park St Rockland, ME 04841 Tel (207) 594-5155 kxeoc@knoxcountymaine.gov
Last updated 12/5/2022
"Disaster & Preparedness" Metro KC telling it like it is!
NWS Flood Awareness Video
Do you know your flood risk?
Each year thousands of homes in the US sustain flood damage. FloodSmart.gov has tools to help you better understand your risk. To quickly determine in you live in an area with a flooding risk, go to this website and simply type your address into the "How Can I get Covered" box.
There is additional info available on the "Hazard Mitigation for Municipalities" page of our website.
Evacuation Routes from Knox County
In 2011, the state of Maine completed an initiative to designate coastal emergency evacuation routes and erect signage to assist should evacuations ever become necessary. In Knox County, these routes generally lead a traveller unfamiliar with the area to the Route 17 corridor and inland towards Augusta and the interstate system. The signs are only a part of the evacuation planning strategy. Should evacuations ever be necessary, signs would be augmented by law enforcement personnel at key intersections and additional route signage where necessary. Maine was reportedly the last coastal state in the nation to undertake an emergency evacuation route marking effort.
The 2022 - 2023 Winter Season Community Sheltering Brochure is now available. You can either download a PDF of the document HERE, or download the jpegs below:
Regional Shelter vs. Community Shelter/Warming Centers. What's the difference?
Regional Shelters are larger, more formal overnight dormitory operations conducted by the Red Cross at one of our four pre-designated locations in Knox County. These are staffed with trained Red Cross Volunteers, many from our local area. Generally, only one regional shelter can be opened at a time in Knox County. The decision of which location will open is based on serving the part of the county where the need is greatest. Regional Shelters are generator equipped, fully accessible, have sleeping-showering and restroom facilities and can provide hot meals. They are staffed with intake and other volunteers, medical and mental health providers and security.
Community Shelters/Warming Centers are more temporary than Regional shelters and may be set up for 24 hour operation. They are located, established, funded and operated by volunteers of the community where the municipality has opted to provide this valuable community service. The location may be a town library or community center, the town office or city hall or a church. Communities may opt to make agreements with school districts for use of facilities which have been designated as Regional Shelter Facilities when those are available. The facilities are generally equipped with emergency power, rest rooms, telephones and many have WiFi connectivity. Some towns offer meals, snacks and warm drinks. Services provided are at the discretion of the sponsoring municipality. To see if you have a community shelter in your town or to learn more, contact the Local Emergency Manager in your town (or city).
.jpg) (Above: The Hahn Center - the Town of Friendship's Community Shelter & Warming Center) |
Get the American Red Cross Emergency App- Stay connected with family and friends - get maps to the nearest open Red Cross or Community Shelter- customizable alerts - Get help with your family emergency plans!
Contact Knox County EMA 301 Park St Rockland, ME 04841 Tel (207) 594-5155 kxeoc@knoxcountymaine.gov
Last updated 12/5/2022
"Disaster & Preparedness" Metro KC telling it like it is!
NWS Flood Awareness Video
Do you know your flood risk?
Each year thousands of homes in the US sustain flood damage. FloodSmart.gov has tools to help you better understand your risk. To quickly determine in you live in an area with a flooding risk, go to this website and simply type your address into the "How Can I get Covered" box.
There is additional info available on the "Hazard Mitigation for Municipalities" page of our website.
Evacuation Routes from Knox County
In 2011, the state of Maine completed an initiative to designate coastal emergency evacuation routes and erect signage to assist should evacuations ever become necessary. In Knox County, these routes generally lead a traveller unfamiliar with the area to the Route 17 corridor and inland towards Augusta and the interstate system. The signs are only a part of the evacuation planning strategy. Should evacuations ever be necessary, signs would be augmented by law enforcement personnel at key intersections and additional route signage where necessary. Maine was reportedly the last coastal state in the nation to undertake an emergency evacuation route marking effort.