Town of Gerty

PROJECT PURPOSE

Equip the Gerty Community Center with an emergency generator that would provide the residents of a small rural town with a public health emergency shelter that can provide heat, drinking water, refrigeration, and food preparation capability in case of a power grid failure either from severe weather, cyber attack, or infrastructure failure.

EVIDENCE

Hughes County US Census data - 21.4% poverty level, $20,839 per capita income, 19.7% without health insurance, closest town with emergency medical care is 30 miles, large percentage of townspeople are 65 years of age and older.

POPULATION DESCRIPTION

Elderly, poverty level, low income, no health insurance. The nearest large cities are at least 30 miles away so townspeople who have lost their jobs to COVID are forced to drive further distances for employment.

PERFORMANCE MEASURING

Installation within 60 days of receiving funds, establish maintenance log, perform annual services, maintain a sign-in sheet to document use of community center during public health emergencies, submit all required documentation to the state.

ONGOING INVESTMENT AMOUNT

$

ONGOING INVESTMENT DESCRIPTION

None

ONGOING INVESTMENT REQUIRED

Able to continue operation without additional funding from the State of Oklahoma