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Shelters on standby, should power go out

By Codell Rodriguez, the southern

Thursday, February 21, 2008 8:13 PM CST

While they are thinking about it, most Southern Illinois counties are not opening warming centers until a need arises.

Sandy Webster, director of the American Red Cross office in Herrin, said the agency has places to fall back on if power goes out, but has not received any requests yet. She said in the past, they used Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center in Anna and First Church of God in Marion. She said if it needs to, the Red Cross would probably go to them again.

"We don't have any requests right now," Webster said. "We're just waiting."

That is the same sentiment from other counties as representatives from Jackson, Pope and Franklin counties said they are not going to make a move unless they need to.

Steve Land, deputy director at Williamson County Emergency Management Agency, said they're taking the same stance.

"We would definitely open something up," Land said. "We're just playing it by ear."

A dispatcher at the Johnson County Sheriff's Office said, like the Red Cross, they would rely on centers used in the past, such as Simpson Baptist Church, Goreville City Hall and Cypress Grade School.

A representative of the Union County Sheriff's Office said they would even pick up people at their homes and take them to a warming center, if they needed to.

If power goes out or anyone is in need of warm shelter, representatives urge them to call their local sheriff's office for more information.

codell.rodriguez@thesouthern.com

351-5804