Caserme Ederle will stay open
while bomb is defused at Vicenza
By Gary J. Kunich, Aviano bureau
VICENZA,
Italy — Although the Caserme Ederle Army post in Vicenza falls within the two-mile
area the city wants to evacuate for nine hours Sunday while explosive experts defuse a
World War II bomb, it will stay open to house thousands of displaced Americans and
Italians at the request of local leaders.
"We’re
preparing to shelter and feed up to 4,000 [Italian] guests and 1,300 Americans," said
Maj. Vic Garcia, the 22nd Area Support Group operations officer in charge of plans.
Gravediggers
found the 3,300-pound British bomb about five weeks ago in the city cemetery.
Although
officials are stressing that the chances of explosion are remote, everyone living within a
500-meter ring of the cemetery are being ordered to close shutters, open windows and leave
their homes. All electricity and gas will be shut off.
Those in a
second ring, one-mile in radius, are "encouraged to evacuate and turn off all
utilities," open windows and close shutters, Garcia said.
Those who
live in the final, two-mile-radius ring, which includes the Army post, are encouraged to
leave or stay inside because all roads will be blocked by 9 a.m. and no traffic will be
allowed in or out of the city.
"The
bottom line is we’re being good neighbors," Garcia said. "The city is being
divided into 10 different zones to house people, and we were asked by the city to be one
of the 10 zones."
Sirens will
sound throughout the city to wake people at 5 a.m. and that’s when the Army post will
allow people on post. Police will put up roadblocks at 7:30 a.m. not allowing anyone into
the city, but those leaving have until 9 a.m. At that point no one will be allowed on or
off post.
Although
the base exchange and commissary will be closed, Burger King and the food court will be
open, as will a Greek food concession.
The base
will have two mobile kitchens serving a free chicken lunch. The bowling alley will also be
open and the base theater will show free movies.
People on
Caserme Ederle won’t be allowed to leave until an all-clear signal is given.
The bomb
should be defused Sunday, but if not, explosive experts will stop working at 6 p.m.,
people will be allowed back into their homes, and the work will continue Monday at the
same time.
Jareta
Coyle, an education coordinator for the substance abuse prevention program on base, is one
of those who lives in the first ring.
She has
made plans to spend Saturday night and all day Sunday with a friend.
"But I
don't know what I'm going to do with my cat, Baby," she said. "I don't know if
I'm going to leave him in the house or what."
Even though
officials have downplayed the possibility of an explosion, Coyle said she’s a little
worried.
"To
evacuate a city the size of Vicenza, to evacuate nursing homes, hospitals, and close down
the train station, I’d say these people are concerned, and that concerns me,"
she said.
Lea Ann
Sattler, who lives right outside the first ring, is also making plans to spend the day
away from home.
She’s
taking her two largest dogs to a friend’s house Saturday night. Then while her
husband, Grant, a public affairs specialist, works on base Sunday, she’ll take their
smallest dog and stay part of the day in the Villagio Housing Area.
That post
housing area is out of the two-mile radius. It’s also the site of a shoppette, which
will have extended hours from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Later in the day, Sattler said she’ll
go to another friend’s house for a cookout.
"I
don’t think this is as big a deal as it’s being made out to be," she said.
"From
talking to my Italian neighbors, they seem very calm. In Europe, this happens quite often.
"But I
would have to say I am more than overly impressed with the community. I’ve had five
or six offers to stay with other families."
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