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Calvary Relief OEM Sheltering Class

June 4, 2025, 6-10pm

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NOTES

Taught by Red Cross Representative and OEM Staff below

Michael Petshauer, Coordinator      Phone: (732) 721-5600, Ext. 3070,  &

Brian Selover, Deputy Coordinator  Phone: (732) 861-3144   bselover@oldbridge.com

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GENERAL INFORMATION

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Local Shelter is at Old Bridge Senior Center (short term - 72 hours or less) Have cots, blankets, supplies, etc.

County Shelter to be at Sandburg Middle School 

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First step is to identify needs and have recovery plan as to how people can move forward.

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Temporary, safe refuge for those affected by fire, other local disaster – usually 3-5 days max. 

Sometimes long-term (i.e. Maui fires)

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Can connect people with needed services.  Facility is a lot more than just sheltering.  Shelter can also serve as a community center, service center where people can pick up emergency supplies and get information.  

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Client first – needs met, make comfortable. 

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Talk to people to see what they need. Open-ended questions (i.e. disabilities, allergies, medical devices, etc. ??)

Need to know demographic details – think of what is needed and feed info up chain of command so they know what’s needed.   Find out during Registration.

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CART – Community Animal Response Team (partners with Red Cross)

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Disasters and emergencies that destroy homes (fires, storms, hurricanes, tornadoes, etc.)

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TYPES OF SHELTERS

  • Evacuation centers (less then 24 hours),

  • Hurricane & Wildfires evacuation centers

  • Family Assistance Center (FAC) mass casualties (long-term)

  • Congregate Shelter – open area

  • Mega (Complex) Shelter – more than 1000 people

  • Last Resort Shelter – i.e. Hurricane Katrina

  • Staff Shelter – for volunteers, different groups

 

Note:  Facilities used as shelters need to be ADA compliant & only licensed food suppliers​

Those wanting to help in kitchen need food-safety certification.

 

SUPERVISORS & Workers in Shelters –

  • Overall Manager

  • Shift Supervisors – runs the shelter (1 for ea. Shift) runs the shelter

    • Usually 2 shifts (12 hours each), sometime 3 shifts (8 hours each)

  • Functional Supervisors (3)

  • Shelter workers

  • Mental Health and Spiritual Helpers

 

3 PHASES

  • Opening

  • Operating

  • Closing

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SETUP

  • 40 square feet per person – store their stuff under their cots

  • Accounting for everything

    • Have forms to use and online (registration form and other ones – one type generic forms)

  • Cover floors before putting down cots

  • Put up signs – post shelter rules

  • Supervisors direct work of shelter workers​

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CLOSING

  • Have place for people to go

  • Tasks – cleaning, putting stuff away, take down signs

  • Final walk-through to make sure everything is okay

 

Job induction Assignments (Roles & Responsibilities identified)

Always something to do!  Walk arounds, talk to people, share info when shift changes.

When in doubt about something, ask Supervisor

Media to be escorted – NOT allowed in Dormitory area (only for residents)

 

Did Walk Through of Senior Center (where local shelter to be set up) – registration area, dormitory (sleeping) area, game/gathering room, kitchen & dining area.  Great accommodations for a shelter.

 

Make-up class to be planned for those unable to attend this sheltering class.

County-wide training to be provided

CERT training at later date

Teams and leaders to be identified

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To Sign Up for a makeup Sheltering Class of other upcoming trainings, click on tab below.

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