Mercer County to Purchase Phone Kiosks for Emergency Situations

Mercer County will use about $59,994 in Homeland Security grant funds to purchase 11 phone-charging kiosks for residents to use to charge their cell phones and tablets at designated public sites during prolonged power outages.

The Board of Chosen Freeholders has approved a contract purchase from American Hotel Register Co. for the floor-standing cellular phone-charging kiosks. Those kiosks will be deployed to designated resource centers around the county for use during disasters, as well as for normal daily use.

The Mercer County Mass Care Committee, which meets regularly to discuss mass care issues in an emergency or disaster, will review potential sites for the charging stations and make recommendations to Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes.

Sites being considered include libraries, schools, senior centers and other locations identified as designated resource centers with generator capabilities.

“People need the ability to access and share information during a crisis, and that means keeping their cell phones charged,” Hughes said. “In the event of a major storm or other disaster, homes could be without power for an extended period of time. These kiosks, which will be placed at sites that have generator power, will help us assist people facing a lengthy outage.”