Red Cross to hold huge shelter exercise
  

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The American Red Cross of Greater Kansas City and its five community chapters are conducting a regional shelter simulation. The exercise will be Friday and Saturday, Feb. 19 and 20 from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Shelters will be opened in 28 of the 38 counties in the region.

 

The 445 volunteer participants, who have had Red Cross sheltering classes, will put their skills to the test. The activities include setting up a shelter, registering, feeding and comforting “disaster victims” and handling potential problems.

 

“This major exercise will get those volunteers ready for the real thing,” said Ken Cope, Red Cross emergency services director. “It’s never a question of if a disaster will happen — it’s when — and we appreciate our volunteers and community partners for putting in the work to be ready.”  

 

Partner volunteers include those from the Missouri Department of Social Services, WW Grainger, Sprint, KCP&L, H&R Block, various Community Emergency Response Team members, and community groups and faith-based organizations.

 

The metro area shelter exercises will be on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. You are welcome to visit and take pictures and video.

 

For more information call the 24 hour media phone at (816) 721-2504.

  

 

We are here to serve more than 1.5 million people in a five-county area with disaster preparedness and relief programs, health and safety training, and blood collection and distribution. For information on how the Red Cross is there for the Kansas City community, call (816) 931-8400 or visit www.kcredcross.org.