Welcome to the Central Louisiana Red Cross

Whenever disaster strikes, Red Cross volunteers respond.

American Red Cross Volunteer Disaster Action Teams and Leadership Volunteers began responding to storm damage Montgomery, Crews and Dodson early Sunday, May 3 and will continue to work in the impacted areas throughout the week. Several churches are providing shelter and support to their friends and neighbors during this tragedy which has impacted over 65 homes. Individuals and families displaced from their homes because of the storm may call Red Cross at 318 442-6621 or 800 259-2777.

Red Cross volunteers focus first on five critical activities:

Sheltering people who have been displaced because of the disaster;
Feeding displaced individuals and families through shelters or mobile feeding units:
Supporting Emergency Operations Centers or Agencies to coordinate response efforts:
Conductin damage assessment, providing that information to the Red Cross network and partners for collaboration;
Sharing information with the public about Red Cross disaster response and services available.

As the response continues and the five critical activities are being accomplished, Red Cross volunteers evaluate the disaster's impact and help people start the recovery process. Volunteers work with individuals and families to determine their most critical disaster-caused needs and to help them find resources to meet those needs. Focusing on shelter, food, clothes and urgent medical needs, Red Cross provides finanical assistance and referrals to help people through the initial days following the disaster.

Become a Red Cross Emergency Shelter Site and/or Team:

Thank you for your interest in becoming an identified American Red Cross Disaster Relief Shelter. With facilities identified and volunteers trained in advance, we can immediately serve your community with emergency shelter following a disaster such as a hurricane, flood, or large apartment fire. Becoming an official Red Cross Shelter is simple and involves only five easy steps!

1. Obtain approval and support from facility leaders including, management, board, advisory council, etc.

2. Complete and return a signed Shelter Agreement and Facility Survey (available at the Red Cross or by download when you click here) to:

American Red Cross of Central Louisiana
Shelter Coordinator

425 Bolton Ave

Alexandria, LA 71301

3. Recruit volunteers familiar with the facility to train to become a Shelter Team. Recruit your most reliable volunteers whom

you can contact when your facility becomes activated as a shelter. The training is free--just call us at 318 442-6621 or email volunteer@cenlaredcross.org to let us know how many people are ready to be trained.

4. Schedule your on-site Shelter Team orientation and training sessions. The Red Cross Shelter Coordinator will work with you to schedule this free training at your convenience. Shelter Operation training classes are now being offered every 2 Wednesday and Thursday of each month. Call 318-442-6621 or email learn@cenlaredcross.org

5. Receive your official Shelter Kit including a Shelter Manager's Binder and instructions for printing an official Certificate of Insurance. For more information contact us at help@cenlaredcross.org or by calling 318 442-6621.

Shelter Teams Needed

As we get deeper into Hurricane Season, we need your help so that we can quickly respond. We have a shortage of Red Cross Emergency Shelter Teams. If you already have or are willing to complete a Red Cross Shelter Management Training Course, you are key to building our response capacity. We need your help to serve Louisiana, especially during this Hurricane Season when the impact of the oil spill will certainly increase the need should a hurricane strike our coast, and to be ready to serve our friends and neighbors should a flood or tornado or other storm strike our local community.

First, you can help us by being personally involved and willing to serve at a shelter in your community. Some of you are already involved with a specific shelter, and we simply need to confirm that you are still prepared to respond.

Second, you can help us by simply encouraging people to get trained before the emergency happens!

Third, please consider inviting your church, your sorority or fraternity or service organization to become a trained shelter team. We have shelter facilities that need teams, so you don't need to have a building. You can really change lives by gathering a group of people with whom you enjoy working and forming a Quick Response Shelter Management Team.

You can get involved today by emailing us at volunteer@cenlaredcross.org or to become a volunteer online in 3 easy steps, click on VOLUNTEER.

Additioal Notes

In Central Louisiana, the number of large, public facilities available to serve as Red Cross shelters are limited but Central Louisiana has routinely sheltered tens of thousands of people during hurricane evacuations through partnerships with many faith-based organizations in addition to using public facilities. The Red Cross works with the owners of public and private facilities willing to serve as shelters based upon the owner's preference; a facility owner (church, governmental entity, school, or individual) may decide to serve as one of four shelter types: a Red Cross shelter, a Red Cross Partner Shelter, a Red Cross Supported Shelter, or an Independent Shelter. The names are descriptive of the relationship, and those managed, partnered with or supported by Red Cross develop a shelter agreement with the Red Cross that specifies the way the shelter will be activated, the services and support provided by Red Cross, the services provided by the facility, and financial responsibility of the Red Cross.

During times of emergency, the Red Cross coordinates sheltering efforts beginning with local government officials including the Office of Emergency Preparedness, Mayor's Office, law enforcement, and DSS. The Red Cross contacts facility owners to determine if the facility is available and when the facility may be open as a shelter. Even though the Central Louisiana Red Cross has over 100 agreements with local facilities, not all facilities are available for a specific emergency and resources such as volunteers, security, and supplies determine which facilities and how many facilities may be opened during any emergency.