Emergency response center closes

By MARTY VAN DUYNE
Published: May 19, 2008

BEREA — The North England Run Storm Response Service Center was closed on Sunday.

The county halted all operations at the center for the day in order to allow employees to have a day off.  Many of the county staff has been working extended hours seven days a week since an EF 2 tornado struck the area May 8.

In the aftermath of the twister that ripped through a four-mile area of the county, Stafford County Planning and Zoning Assistant Director Kathy Baker was designated the service center manager for the disaster recovery process.

On Saturday Baker indicated that the impacted citizen’s immediate short-term needs have been met and therefore the center will cease operations. For the remainder of the long-term recovery phase of the emergency, “Citizens need to contact the appropriate county office for specific services, just as they did before the tornado,” she said.

However, the county does plan to keep some key personnel at the former Emergency Response Office in the Berea Fire Station.

Beginning Monday, the center will operate as a satellite building permit office. Building inspectors will also be available, but these local satellite services are strictly for tornado victims and their contractors in order to expedite their rebuilding process.  The office, located at 22 Sebring Dr. will continue to operate from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday until the end of this week.

When the office opened on May 10, the county only anticipated keeping the facility open through May 16.  However, they kept the response center open to customers on Saturday while they were in the process of packing up.

Citizens can find specific contact information for county services online at co.stafford.va.us 24 hours a day, or by calling (540)658-8600 during normal business hours Monday through Friday.

County offices are located at the Stafford County Administration Center, 1300 Courthouse Rd., off Exit 140 from I-95. Offices are open from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Marty van Duyne often contributes articles to the Stafford County Sun. Reach her at .