By Staff
The American Red Cross of East Escambia County is recruiting volunteers and community groups to attend a Shelter Operations Training.
As most of you already know from past experience, this area is both a &#8220host” and a &#8220risk” area. We are close enough to the Coast that we receive both the winds and other weather accompanying a hurricane making landfall on the Gulf Coast.
We also receive evacuees fleeing the storms from the coast, along with local residents who have a need to be in a shelter.
There are six training dates across the state confirmed for Shelter Training. The time for all of them will be from 10 a.m. through 3 p.m..
You do not have to make reservations and there is no charge for the classes. The list for South Alabama is at the end of this letter.
Nationwide, the American Red Cross is made up of more than 93 percent volunteers. Those volunteers are individuals who wanted to make a difference in the lives of others who were in need by taking a class and simply being available during a time of need. What we are talking about in this case is staffing shelters.
You might be handling registration at the entrance, making head counts or handing out sandwiches, water or comforting an evacuee. You could be on the day shift of the night shift.
The need is so great. Locally we have an immediate need for 100 trained shelter volunteers just for local community shelters in our small coverage area. (All Red Cross Chapters across the state benefit from these trainings and need more shelter workers). Civic organizations could train (collectively or individually) to work in a shelter; church groups who have shelters could train and learn about operating a shelter.
The more volunteers who are trained, the more shelters we can operate providing a safe, secure location for those in need during or after a weather or transportation occurrence.
If you need further information please call 867-3426 or email arc36427@bellsouth.net.
Training cities in South Alabama are: Monroeville, Montgomery and Mobile. Other cities are Hanceville, Tanner and Birmingham. Call the office for information on those last three cities if you are going to be in North Alabama.
Locations, dates and addresses are as follows for South Alabama. Remember all classes start at 10 a.m. and will end at 3 p.m. You must be in class for the entire class.
Hurricane Evacuation Shelter Training Locations and Dates