BELFAST — The Waldo County Emergency Management Agency, Belfast City officials, Regional School Union 71 and the recently established Belfast Transition have spearheaded the establishment of an as-needed afternoon warming center at Troy Howard Middle School. The warming center will be open to serve Belfast area residents should long term power outages occur during the winter months, and an informational meeting will be held Monday, Nov. 30 at 6 p.m. in the cafeteria at Troy Howard Middle School in Belfast.

The effort to establish a warming center is based on the recognition that without power in freezing weather, residents may not have access to drinking water, cooked food, warmth, functioning bathrooms and showers and lighting. They may not have access to information such as the status of the storm; repairs to the power grid; what services and assistance are being provided; available overnight sheltering; and general news of the event happenings.

RSU 71 and the City of Belfast have signed a contract to have the warming center located at the Troy Howard Middle School, where an auxiliary generator, gathering space, bathrooms and kitchen facilities will be made available for warming center use.

The warming center will be officially open between 2 and 6 p.m. on days deemed appropriate by Waldo County EMA personnel. During that time residents will be welcome to visit for warmth, comfort, information, showers, electronics charging and to share a community meal.

Volunteers will manage the warming center during its hours of operation. Consider signing up at the warming center information meeting Nov. 30 to help organize and staff the afternoon warming center during severe power outages. A brief training for volunteers will be held directly following the Nov. 30 meeting. Volunteer responsibilities will include assisting in cooking and serving a meal, welcoming everyone with warmth of spirit, participating in music and games, homework help, clean-up, communicating and providing information related to disaster services and needs on a community bulletin board.

During the winter storm and power outrage of 2013, close to 100 volunteers came together at Belfast Area High School to cook a breakfast for those restoring power to our region. It is that community spirit that will make the official warming center a reality in Belfast.

For more information call Susan at 603-372-2074 or Ridgely at 508-333-6230, or visit the Belfast Community Warming Center on Facebook.