At the request of Chief Sallman, Brent, Disaster Services Coordinator from the Oshkosh chapter, Wendy, a disaster area team member and emergency management volunteer and myself, Pam, Community Development Specialist of Columbia County came to Columbus to inspect and give our opinion, based on the standards set by the American Red Cross, whether the pavilion at Fireman's park would be appropriate for use as a shelter in times of a mass disaster. Present were also 2 Council members, Nancy and Darryl, Julie, a disaster area team member who resides in Columbus and I believe maintainance supervisor for the building.
 
We were given a full tour of the facility. After this tour, we discussed our opinion of the use of the facility. This discussion turned into a very heated debate between Red Cross members and Chief Sallman and building supervisor. They seemed not to agree with our findings and tried to convince us that this would be the best place for a shelter. Members of the Red Cross stated several times that because the building was not under ADA compliance(handicapped accessible) and did not have showers, it would not be an appropriate place. Many times I brought up the question why they were so opposed to use the high/middle schools which were ADA compliant, had showers and generators. The 2 gentlemen only stated cause the pavilion is city owned. As the chief talked, he was getting more and more off the subject of the pavilion being a shelter so when I attempted to get him focused on why we were all there, he came across the circle in a threatening manner and in my face yelling at me that he did not like my attitude. I was in a non-threatening position, with my hands in my pocket, standing there not believing what was being said to me. His actions were totally non-professional and threatening to me and the others around.
 
After the meeting broke up, my supervisor Brent, couldn't believe what just occurred on the part of a Police chief. I feel he verbally attacked me cause he wasn't hearing what he wanted to hear about the use of the pavilion.
 
It is the American Red Cross's view about the pavilion that it could be a good place to use for people to go to get assigned to one of the schools and to, if necessary store food and water. We do not feel it is an appropriate place to house people due to the above reasons.
 
Sincerely
Pam Oxman
Community Development Specialist