Federal money to turn Quincy school into disaster shelter

A former school building in Quincy may be getting a facelift and new purpose, thanks to a projected $4.6 million that may potentially come to Gadsden County from the federal government.

In a press release issued last week from the office of Representative Al Lawson, Gadsden County was announced as a beneficiary of $4.6 million that Representative Lawson had secured for the county with the intent of turning William S. Stevens High School into a disaster shelter.

The high school - which is located on Fourth Street in Quincy - will be compliant with the American with Disabilities Act, and is projected to serve 150-200 people.

During previous natural disasters, such as Hurricane Michael in 2018, local schools have served as disaster shelters for Gadsden County residents, and non-residents alike.

While the schools have functioned well in giving shelter-seekers a place to stay during the storm, Gadsden County Chairwoman Brenda Holt says the arrangement is not ideal.

“The concern is that when people stay - such as during Hurricane Michael - that it conflicts with the return to school for students,” said Holt.

Due to the level of devastation during Hurricane Michael, many people were not able to return home immediately, and when school was slated to return after the hurricane, the people in the shelter were left without a nearby place to go.

Currently, there is no place in Gadsden County that operates solely as a disaster shelter.

“The experience of recent years has made clear the critical importance of having disaster relief facilities in place to support communities during times of crisis and natural disaster,” Representative Lawson said. “This funding will ensure that Gadsden County residents are adequately supported and sheltered when disaster strikes.”

The shelter may also be used as a staging area for National Guard and FEMA services.

The William S. Stevens High School, located at 1004 West Fourth Street in Quincy, may be the source of federal funding that will turn the currently-empty school into a permanent disaster shelter for Gadsden County.

According to Holt, the county’s plans for the shelter - should the funding work its way through the steps required to be ultimately approved at the federal level - is that the shelter would be able to offer a place for COVID-19 positive shelter-seekers to stay, as well as a shelter for disabled individuals.

“We have to consider, for the future, a special needs shelter,” said Holt. “There is a great need [for that]. There will always be hurricanes; we’ve got to have a centralized location for our county, and for people from the coast.”

Additionally, when not being used as a disaster shelter, Holt said that school could be used for emergency training for local law enforcement, and potentially as a place for dietary classes, economic development, or culinary training.

“We’ve been looking at this for many years while trying to get funding,” said Holt, adding that the county is eyeing several ways they could put the structure to use, even when not in the midst of a natural disaster.

While the funding has been announced, Representative Lawson is still working the request through the federal Appropriations Committee.

According to Lawson’s office, the inclusion of this funding in the Appropriations Committee draft bill is the first step in the funding process.

“Representative Lawson will continue to fight for this funding as the bill moves to the full Appropriations Committee, consideration on the House Floor, and negotiations with the Senate,” states Lawson’s office.

In the meantime, Holt said the county is looking to the future, and the county is also open to hearing positive suggestions from the community on ways to use the shelter - should the funding come to the county.

“We need a regional approach to disasters, we need a cooperative effort,” concluded Holt. “We want to be progressive and look towards both the future, and future hurricane seasons.”

Ashley Hunter - editor@gadsdencountytimes.com

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Federal money to turn Quincy school into disaster shelter

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