Shelter Management Course
by The Red Cross

Teacher:  Tim Stetson

Keith & Vanetta Darby attended the Red Cross Shelter Management/Mass Care Training March 1, 2008 in St. Albans with the Franklin County CERT.

This training cross trains many Emergency Response Teams to work together when people are temporarily displaced from their homes.  The main message was to have the Red Cross control the operation as they have the availability and accessibility of supplies needed.  They need Teams such as CERT to help man these operations.

The motto is “ The first thing we think of when opening a Shelter Operation is to close down”.  It is important to offer help in time of immediate crisis and need, but to get people back on their feet as soon as possible.  Every situation is different so communication, common sense, respect for all is imperative.  The three Rules of Sheltering are RESPECT, RULES & ROUTINE which is crucial to a well run shelter.

Activities needed in a standard shelter are registration, feeding, recreation, sleep time, health & council area, staff area.  Must keep order but need some flexibility.  Staff must work in cooperation, coordination and teamwork with each other and other agencies involved.  Usually a shelter cares for clients from a crisis, but also fellow workers such as Fire, EMS, etc.