Walton County Emergency Management announced the installation of a new Tradewinds Mobile 375 KW generator at Freeport High School for future sheltering operations. In coordination with Walton County Administration, Walton County School District, and the Florida Division of Emergency Management, WCEM secured funding through state and federal grant programs to purchase the generator and install the transfer switch.
Walton County’s primary shelter is located at Freeport High School and houses both general population residents and special medical needs residents during a disaster. During Hurricane Michael sheltering operations in 2018, staff discovered the existing generator did not have the capability to support the HVAC system throughout the building.
“While air conditioning can be seen as a luxury for most during a disaster, it is essential for the elderly population and our special needs registry residents,” said Jeff Goldberg, Director of WCEM. “We have witnessed the devastation that inadequate equipment can bring during a disaster, and we are both thrilled and relieved to bring this resource to our county.”
This process took more than three years to come to fruition. The funding for this investment is a combination of the FDEM’s Shelter Retrofit program and American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), costing roughly $126,000 to install the transfer switch and $350,000 to purchase the generator. In addition to providing for Walton County, this generator is an asset that can be deployed to neighboring communities in the event of a disaster.
“As we move into the peak of hurricane season, our team would like to encourage the Walton County community to develop their families’ disaster plans,” said Goldberg. “Shelters are lifeboats, not cruise ships, and while we are taking steps to support our sheltering operations, we strongly encourage our community to make alternative plans and only use this resource as a last resort.”
For more information on qualifications for Florida’s Special Needs Registry and to learn how your family can become disaster ready, visit waltoncountyem.org.
