Shelter Operations ARC Loudoun County Chapter American Red Cross

Course Objectives Describe shelter opening, operating and closing procedures. Explain ways to demonstrate quality service. Organize available human resources as a shelter operations team. Organize the physical facility and material resources to meet the needs of people in the shelter. Identify resources available to assist shelter workers.

Getting It Done… Participant Workbook –Your workbook has two sections: one for today’s class titled ‘Putting it All Together’, and another called ‘In The Field’. –In the Field has important information for you when it is time to work in a shelter. New Terms –The Red Cross has updated and changed vocabulary. –An example is ‘Mass Care’ is now known as ‘Community Services’. –We will cover this as the changes appear in class.

Introductions What do you do? Your name One interesting fact about...

Task Pick a partner, and interview each other using the Disaster Shelter Registration (form 5972). In the post-disaster address blank, please list your partner’s position with the American Red Cross or with another agency. You will introduce your partner when everybody is finished.

Shelter Registration Form We use this form for… Helping workers know how many people are staying in the shelter. Telling workers who is staying in the shelter. Helping determine whether clients may need additional services.

Red Cross Values Ensure the shelter is a safe place. Respect clients. Provide services equally to all clients. Enable the clients to make other arrangements. Use resources wisely.

A list of people who might need to stay in a shelter.

The Red Cross makes agreements with shelter sites, vendors, and other agencies to help us run the shelters and manage other tasks during a disaster... This is called the Disaster Plan!

What hazards exist HERE???

If possible, do not open the shelter without registration. It should be near the front entrance. Register clients as they arrive. Leave enough room for the clients to form a line without waiting outside.

R’s The Three R’s of Sheltering espect ules outines

…with the chapter. …with the clients. …with the media. … with the public.

…with the chapter.

…with the clients.

…with the media.

…with the public.

…using forms.

Local chapters must be able to run a shelter for 72 hours before transitioning to longer term shelters with help from outside their area.

Task Break into 4 groups. Figure out a solution to your problem. Be ready to talk about it!

Task Problem 1: You don’t have enough members of the shelter team to staff the shelter 24 hours a day. Problem 2: The shelter has a small kitchen with a limited food prep area. Problem 3: A local church would like to start a clothing drive to assist the shelter clients. They want to donate the clothing to the shelter. Problem 4: The shelter manager wants comfort kits for the shelter residents.