ROBERTSDALE, Alabama --- The Association for Retarded Citizens of Baldwin County opened its new facility in the Robertsdale Industrial Park just over a year ago and, with Tropical Storm Isaac churning in the Gulf, for the first time, opened its doors as a special needs shelter on Monday.

ARC Director Kathy Fleet said Monday she felt the operation was going smoothly.

“During Ivan we had to take residents to a facility in Tuscaloosa and we ended up staying two weeks,” she said. “It was just such a major disruption for them. We are so grateful to have this facility here that we can use.”

The 3,600 square foot facility operates a day-to-day program for the 95 residents who live and work on their own in Baldwin County. In addition to recreational activities, the Robertsdale facility also serves as home to ARC’s linen care business, which operates throughout Baldwin County.

“They’re used to coming here every day so it’s not as much of a disruption to their routine,” Fleet said. “What’s also unique about this facility is that we are able to house residents in smaller rooms instead of in one big room which makes things easier to manage.”

The facility is also equipped to withstand winds of up to 200 miles per hour and can be used as a special needs shelter, should the need arise.

Early Monday with the storm approaching, Fleet said, staff members came in and cleaned out the facility, putting all the recreational equipment in storage and set up to accommodate 150 beds. In addition to the 95 regular residents, Fleet said, there will be 35 to 40 support staff staying at the facility and an additional 15 to 20 special needs residents from the general public are expected to stay at the facility.

“This facility can house up to 375 residents, so we can certainly take more should the need arise,” she said.

Staff members also worked to fully stock the facility’s industrial sized refrigerator and freezer, Fleet said, and along with a fully stocked pantry, there should be enough food and water to accommodate the residents for about three days.

“If we need more we can always go out and get more,” she said.

The facility also includes fully functional, handicap accessible restroom facilities, equipped with roll-in shower facilities for wheelchair bound residents, Fleet said. There is also a therapeutic bath facility set up to accommodate special needs patients.

Anyone wishing to learn more about the facility can contact Fleet at 251-978-9125.

The Baldwin County Commission, in conjunction with the Baldwin County Emergency Management Agency, also opened up the Baldwin County Coliseum in Robertsdale on Monday, which can also accommodate those with special needs. Daphne Elementary School was also opened as a general use shelter.ar