Programs Will Map Shelter Locations

— The Northwest Arkansas chapter of the American Red Cross hopes a project by area high school students contributes to improved disaster response.

The Environmental and Spatial Technologies programs at four high schools, including Har-Ber and Springdale high schools, were each awarded $10,000 to create a map of the chapter’s emergency shelter locations. Cedarville and Berryville will also participate.

“Hopefully, it will make it easier for the volunteers and responders to get to these places,” said Karrie Hutchins, Springdale program facilitator.

The grants were awarded by the Environmental and Spatial Technologies Initiative, a nonprofit organization in Little Rock. It promotes using technology in community service projects.

The Tontitown-based Red Cross chapter serves 19 counties, 18 in Arkansas and Sequoyah County, Okla., said Jeff Patrick, chapter director of school and community. It uses schools, churches and other buildings as shelters during disasters, he said.

The organization does not have a Geographic Information Systems map of the locations, he said.

Students use a program called ArcGIS. They will also take photos to develop virtual models of the shelter sites, Patrick said.

“We’re hoping to be done by May,” said Debbie Lamb, Har-Ber program facilitator.

Students from each school will visit different sites after school hours. The grant money pays the students $8 an hour for work done outside school, Hutchins said.

The last time the chapter set up a shelter was during the 2009 ice storm, Patrick said.

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