Meetings/20191016

Wednesday October 16 2019 Shelter Training at Puente

canyon residents in attendance: Lisa M, Rita, Casey

about a dozen others, some school teachers, Puente staff etc.

Teachers from Red Cross - Jim X and Bill OCallahan. OES San Mateo County

Goals - sense of operating a shelter, get skills and hints.

1st - plan for yourself.

• gather your out-of-area contacts
• be sure you can contact them
• meetings places
  • first near your hosue
  • second in a nearby town - you all may not be able to get back to your house.
• Pescadero is small; just plan at meeting at the shelter.
• build a 3 day / per person kit for your family. Ideally
  • one in car
  • one in home
  • one in work. gets expensive

Shelter - Feeding.

• Donations are a big issue. turn away anythign not sealed or made in a commercial kitchen. No matter how nice it looks.
• People always bring too much stuff to 'help' out at a shelter.
• $ to the Red Cross is best as then the Red Cross doesn't have to manage the actual excess thigns they get.
• when requesting food remember to count the staff!

Shelter - staffing. use the SHelter Manager Checklist ( provided )

Shelter - Pets. No Pents not inside. invite people to stay out in their cars with their pets but can't bring them in. Service animals are good; they have to actually do something physical. Emotion Support pets: no.

SHelter - one entrance in and out. Sign people in, sign people out. Don't use emergency exits unless there is a building emergency.

note: there was a lot more to this training, and I suggest attending one. they're free. - casey