Club NewFit will conduct a mock Disaster Relief Shelter Drill this weekend. The event is scheduled for Sunday, May 29, from 3:30 to 6:30 pm, at the health and fitness club, 23 Commerce Road.

Club NewFit is outfitted for Disaster Relief capabilities according to FEMA's Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) guidelines. Stations will be set up to demonstrate and practice medical triage, basic First Aid instruction, and other short instructional subjects that will help participants be prepared and able to assist family and friends when another Sandy or other natural disaster occurs.

There will be stations for overnight shelter, child care, bathing, clothes washing and other basic necessities that provide comfort and consistency, a necessary component of disaster relief. In addition, the FEMA approved intake station for survivor registration as well as a central command and communication post will be demonstrated.

This is a free event. Community members, Scouts, and other organizations are welcome to participate in the drills as either a victim, a response volunteer, or an observer. Boy Scouts who attend and participate will satisfy requirement 7 of the Emergency Preparedness merit badge.

The Disaster Scenario

Instructors have set up the following practice scenario. While Sunday will be a drill, organizers have created a scenario similar to disasters this have happened in the past, and are very likely to happen again.

"Hurricane Baden, a Category-5 hurricane, has hit the North East Coast and caused catastrophic damage to many Connecticut towns.

"The towns of Newtown, Monroe, Southbury, and Bethel have been severely damaged. In the aftermath of the storm the Connecticut National Guard has been mobilized and a curfew has been set for dusk. Over 100,000 people have lost their homes and thousands have been injured and many have died.

"The Newtown Fitness Center [aka Club NewFit] has been repurposed as a Disaster Relief Shelter to assist the State & Federal Agencies," according to organizers.

For further information or to volunteer, contact Tom Tavar, 203-417-7787.

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