Chiques congregation hosts evacuees of toxic fire.

Chiques Church of the Brethren, Manheim, Pa., hosted evacuees of a toxic fire that closed 19 miles of Pennsylvania turnpike for nearly 11 hours on Oct. 7. The truck fire involved the toxic chemical potassium cyanide, which was spread by the wind forcing the evacuation of 12 square miles near Mount Gretna and Mastersonville. The evacuation included at least 100 homes, an RV park, an elementary school, and a retirement center.

More than 50 evacuees were sent to the church for shelter. The call to the deacons came very early that morning, with some homes evacuated as early as 5:30 a.m. A deacon's wife—who preferred not to be named in order to give credit to the whole congregation for its hospitable response—happened to have the day off from work. She also had taken Disaster Child Care training and was familiar with emergency response and the needs of those in disaster situations.

She and five other church members opened the building and made the education wing and the library available to the evacuees, as well as toys for the children. "We just tried to make people feel at home," she said, adding that those who sheltered at the church were of all types and ages ranging from an elderly couple to a young mother with three children. As soon the hosts realized that evacuees had not had time to eat, and would need lunch, they also arranged meals.

She gave high marks to firefighters from Lititz who came to the church to give an update on the situation—filling a need for information that the hosts could not provide—and gave credit to Lancaster Church of the Brethren for an offer of help and the Salvation Army for sending a food truck, that unfortunately arrived too late.

The evacuation was covered by local media, with television crews at the church doors asking for access to the evacuees and a call from a radio station. "I'm not used to managing an evacuation center," the deacon's wife said. She struggled with the decision to let the media in, agreeing only after reporters said they would get individuals' permission before filming.

The Chiques church had agreed some time ago to be an emergency shelter, "not thinking it would be necessary," she said. "It was necessary."

Source: 10/15/2004 Newsline
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