In case of disaster… find your own ice
by Larry S. Chowning
In 2003 when Hurricane Isabel hit Middlesex and many homes were without power for up to a week, the National Guard distributed truckloads of ice to county residents.
If a similar disaster occurs this year in Middlesex, it will be up to county residents to fend for themselves.
The Middlesex County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously on July 20 not to purchase or distribute ice if there is an emergency this year.
In 2003, Middlesex County was declared a National Disaster Area by President Bush and ice was provided to the citizens through a federally-funded FEMA program. The National Guard was deployed to give out bottled water and ice and a small distribution center was set up behind the courthouse. Shortly, thereafter, the county became a regional deployment site, and the distribution center was moved to the parking lot of old Rappahannock Central Elementary School at Cooks Corner.
At the July 20 meeting, Middlesex County Administrator Charles Culley reported that the state will not endorse distributing ice again, fearing that citizens will use it to keep food from spoiling which, according to state officials, is unsafe. So, the Virginia National Guard would not get involved.
County supervisors appeared to be more concerned about the logistics involved in delivering ice during a disaster rather than the cost. “We don’t have the manpower to deliver ice to everyone in the county,” said Culley. “We are going to need refrigerated trucks and volunteers to give it out.”
“I just don’t see how we will be able to continue this without the help of the state,” said supervisor Carlton Revere.
Supervisors voted unanimously not to purchase ice during a disaster, but agreed that Revere, who is the Middlesex County Director of Emergency Services, could reconsider the matter in the event of an emergency.