The American Red Cross in Lake Charles is hosting an exercise today for local residents and volunteers who want to learn how to effectively operate an emergency shelter.

A Shelter Operations Simulation is set for 6-8 p.m. at United Christian Fellowship Church, 2900 Opelousas St.

Stephanie Wagner, Red Cross of Louisiana regional director of communications and marketing, said volunteers will work in teams through three skill stations and learn how to run a shelter from start to finish. She said they will get hands-on training on registering evacuees, feeding them, setting up cots, maintaining safety and organizing schedules.

“The more volunteers we have who are trained, the better we are overall to make sure the community is getting served,” Wagner said.

Wagner said the simulation is part of the training needed for someone to be certified to manage an emergency shelter. She said it’s important for communities to have residents outside the Red Cross who can run a shelter effectively, especially during hurricane season.

“If an organization has the skills to run a shelter in first few days, we can put our resources to good use,” she said.

Wagner said the Red Cross will host other training seminars throughout the year. Volunteers who aren’t interested in running shelters can attend classes on other skill sets, she said.

To register, email Keith Bell, United Christian Fellowship youth pastor, at kabell2816@gmail.com.

Online: redcross.org

Emergency shelter training