The city will open its Emergency Operations Center at Council Chambers on Washington Avenue if there are a large number of residents without power for an extended period or if 75 percent of resources in one area - for example, road crews - are deployed, said Tim Hileman, the city's emergency management coordinator. The center would enable city officials to get the necessary additional help, he said. A trigger could occur quickly, and given the weather forecast, likely will by the end of today, he predicted.
The Red Cross will be prepared to open a shelter if necessary, possibly in a school building, as the agency has an agreement with the Altoona Area School District, Hileman said.
Boyles will be discussing another potential location that could be used to serve the whole county, if school is in session.
Such a site wouldn't need to handle more than 100 people, as few Blair County residents seek refuge in shelters, he said.
Most of those seeking refuge would be those with special medical needs, predicted Hileman and Boyles.
