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Learn how to become a Red Cross Emergency Shelter Site and/or Team, by clicking here.
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.
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.
Additional 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.
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