Disaster volunteers and staff with the American Red Cross of South Central and Southeast Oklahoma held a shelter simulation and training event at The House in Sallisaw, marking its status as the organization’s first registered shelter partner in Sequoyah County.

Over 30 church and community members attended the event, which was intended to show them how the Red Cross operates an emergency shelter and prepare them to be the ones to open a shelter at The House during a disaster.

“We hope we never have to be here, but we’re grateful to have such an amazing place if we do need to shelter here,” Red Cross Community Disaster Program Manager Sherry Schauer told participants.

The simulation and training included a look at the supplies inside a Red Cross shelter trailer, a tour of the chapter’s new emergency response vehicle, small group sessions talking about the various areas in a shelter and how to set them up, and instruction on required procedures. Participants also learned about services available in a shelter, like Disaster Health and Mental Health Services.

Red Cross of South Central and Southeast Oklahoma Board Member Tim Foote said securing the site as a shelter location has been in the works for a year. Foote owns an RV park in Sallisaw and knows the need can pop up anytime.

“We came real close last year. A tornado almost touched down near the dealership … took the roof off the hospital,” Foote said.

The House was built about 10 years ago with the possibility of being used as a community shelter in mind. The building has a total of eight individual showers available, which it currently offers to people experiencing homelessness. Pastor Andy Buske, who’s been at the church nine years and is coming up on three years as head pastor, said the showers are used as many as 200 times a week.

The church also has a food pantry and clothing closet. They don’t ask for ID or set eligibility requirements for people to receive services. In December, that meant a line out the doors of people in need of help.

Buske helped move the shelter partnership forward after talking with Foote in a local pastors group. He sees it as an extension of what The House already does with its building and resources.

“If we’re going to have it, let’s use it. It just aligns with what we want to do and help people,” Buske said. “It’s always in our hearts to serve the community, and this was just another way to do that.”

After the shelter training was complete, Red Cross volunteers took turns introducing themselves to those in attendance. They shared stories of how they got involved with the Red Cross or of memorable moments from their volunteer work.

Foote, who’s been pounding the pavement around Sallisaw to raise awareness about the Red Cross, was pleased with the event.

“People were hungry for this, I’m telling you. They were thirsty for this Red Cross interaction,” Foote said.

See more photos from this event on our Flickr page.