Damascus Residents Come Together To Learn Shelter Operations
 
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| Sierra Baldwin, Communications Intern |
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July 28, 2009
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What a difference a few months can make.
Last winter, the Damascus Community Church served as an evacuation site for displaced residents during devastating floods. This July, the same residents – plus many others – returned to the church for a fun and informative shelter demonstration and bar-be-que put on by Red Cross volunteers.
Experienced volunteers dedicated an evening to teaching residents how to operate a shelter – serving food, setting up cots and providing a safe place for survivors. “Our goal was to train a cadre of community members who can become Red Cross volunteers,” said Kelly Scott, emergency services manager for the Oregon Trail Chapter. “They’ll then be able to open a facility as a shelter or help run an existing Red Cross shelter.”
Participants included city officials and community leaders, all of whom filled the church, eager to learn about shelter operations and enjoy a delicious bar-be-que prepared by the Red Cross’ Disaster Feeding Team.
Those involved consider the evening a success. Scott notes a memorable moment when “a Disaster Mental Health volunteer spoke during a breakout session, and summed up the heart and spirit of our mission’s work as, ‘The American Red Cross is a gift of the American people, to the American people.’”
The next step? A special committee is planning different exercises for a full-scale shelter demonstration. Community members will have the opportunity to work side-by-side with Red Cross volunteers as they operate a shelter overnight.
With the possibility of future floods, storms and other disasters, after the demonstrations are complete, Damascus residents will have the proper training and the confidence to set up a safe and comforting shelter. “Everyone always talks about preparation, or thinks about it,” said Red Cross volunteer Michael Rudis. “Now it’s time to take action. This is a priority and we need to move forward.” |
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