They hope there will never be a need for it, but in the case of an emergency or a disaster, the American Red Cross is now better equipped to handle it in the Valley.
On Wednesday, contingents from the groups that made it possible were on hand in the West Main Street Parking Lot to christen a new disaster response trailer that will be stationed at Ansonia High School and available to serve the five Valley communities.
“This is a wonderful new addition to the region,” said Ansonia Mayor David Casetti about the emergency trailer, which will be housed in Ansonia and mobilized to provide disaster relief to Ansonia, Derby, Oxford Seymour and Shelton. “So congratulations on getting that and welcome to Ansonia.”
“We are thrilled to be part of this process,” said American Red Cross Chief Program Director Richard Branigan.
The Valley Community Foundation contributed more than $11,000 toward the trailer, with money coming from from funds within the VCF from the Palazzi Family, Joseph A. Pagliaro Sr. Family, and the John and Paraskeve Vartelas “Agape” fund.
The trailer will help the Red Cross mobilize quickly in response to disasters by allowing for the rapid deployment of materials that might be needed in a regional shelter, according to a press release.
“There will be times where, unfortunately, we will need to mobilize this trailer,” Branigan said. “We can’t avoid that, and that’s what we prepare for.”
The Red Cross pitched the idea of the trailer to the Valley Council for Health and Human Services, which picked up the idea and ran with it, according to Pat Scharr, the Director of Resource Development for the Red Cross.
“They said, ‘Oh, we want one!’” Scharr said, “And we said OK, let’s work on that.”
Red Cross volunteer Missy Lundeen of Ansonia said the trailer is a welcome addition. In the event of an emergency, people are frightened and need help, she said, and this will make it easier to provide that assistance.
“This trailer is fantastic,” she said. “By having this trailer available to the Naugatuck Valley, it allows us to get [victims] shelter in a safe amount of time.
“It’s a true blessing for the Valley,” she said.
