As we all know Storm Ida hit Springfield hard. Streets were closed and many houses experienced flooding. During that time the Chisholm Center opened its doors for town residents, who either couldn’t make it home in the storm or had to leave due to flooding.
As the rain came down that night, Scott Seidel, Coordinator of OEM (Office of Emergency Management), began preparations to evacuate residents from their homes should it be needed. The Chisholm Center is often used as a disaster center, charging station, or cooling center; so the building is equipped for situations like these. Police, Fire, and OEM can enter into the building after hours. This was necessary; the night of the storm as those Emergency Departments began preparing for evacuees and others needing assistance. Cots were set up, personal protective equipment stocked and food was delivered to the center for the volunteers and evacuees,
“The credit must go to the first responders, they were incredible.”
-Adam Lieb, Director of Recreation
The next morning the Springfield Recreation Department came in to lend a hand. Most of the evacuees had left the building by lunch time. The center was kept open in case residents needed to be hosted again.
Springfield Recreation began giving out Red Cross Disaster Clean Up Kits, which included bleach, mops, brooms, and buckets. Amid the disaster assistance the Rec Department continued running their programs. (All programs were halted Thursday after the storm but resumed that following Friday.)
Though the storm is over, the Springfield Recreation Department is still making the Chisholm Center a place for town residents to escape to.
There are many clubs and activities running this season for just about everyone.
- Men’s 18+ Street Hockey
- Cupcake Decorating
- Running Club
- Flag Cheerleading
- Jr. Dawgs Cheerleading
- Softball Clinics
- Softball Travel Teams
- Lacrosse Clinics
- Jr. Dawgs Football
- Flag Football
- U.S. Sports Institute tennis lessons, soccer classes, and squirts classes
- TryCAN Programs for Special Needs
- Senior Citizens Club
- Senior Citizen Activities
- Men’s 35+ Basketball (coming soon)
At this time the Chisholm Center has opened its doors again as they are hosting 5 classes from the Edward V. Walton Early Childhood Center.
