With a few days’ notice of the storm, several nonprofits have been preparing and setting plans in motion to help county residents who may be at risk during the storm.
United Way of Johnson County staff implemented their winter contingency plan, which provides guidance to the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office and fire departments in Greenwood and White River Township if they come across someone homeless who may need to be taken out of the elements.
The agency has worked with hotels in Greenwood, Franklin and Edinburgh to secure rooms for those who may be homeless. Officials have also lined up transportation for people who find themselves without shelter as the storm bears down, said Nancy Lohr Plake, executive director.
“Our goal is to get everyone who is currently homeless someplace, and to have those who are currently being housed in hotels, keep them there,” she said.
Though United Way staff will be working remotely starting today, their Helpline at 317-738-4636 is still open to anyone who needs assistance, Plake said. First responders have been asked to have those people call the Helpline to access emergency shelter.
KIC-IT officials, an agency that assists homeless youth, have been speaking with their clients to prepare them for the potential of winter weather, said Katie Schwarz, executive director.
They advised them to get gas before Wednesday, buy groceries they might need and look to food pantries for resources, if they need them, earlier in the week.
“We’re trying to be more proactive and ready for a storm, instead of reacting once the snow comes,” Schwarz said.
KIC-IT’s youth center is open on Wednesdays for clients who need assistance, and this week, the agency will have pre-assembled bags with provisions to help the 16- to 25-year-olds who frequent the center.
Clients will receive food, blankets, hand warmers, hats and gloves, batteries and other emergency provisions. Also, KIC-IT’s planning to have any extra items on tables outside the center, in case people need help after the center closes, Schwarz said.
Johnson County Senior Services is making preparations to ensure older adults throughout the county have access to food, transportation and other resources if they need them. Staff and volunteers have been preparing orders for seniors who have called in needing food, and planned to have them distributed by today. People can also call in and place an order, said Kimberly Smith, executive director.
“We are doing everything we can do to get these seniors their needs met prior to it coming, just because we don’t want anybody to be in their homes wondering when their next meal is,” she said. “That is a very, very scary thing for our seniors.”
If someone needs medical equipment or anything else, the agency is ready to help that way, as well, Smith said.
The organization has drivers and vehicles lined up to transport seniors who need life-saving treatment at local hospitals or doctors.
