What Your Church Needs to Know About Disaster Sheltering

Disaster strikes your community, and your church wants to help. You have a large, easily accessible building, and people need somewhere safe to go. Opening up your building as a disaster shelter is a great option, but it’s not as simple as opening your doors and inviting people in. Sheltering requires planning and cooperation with outside organizations to do it well.

American Red Cross is one organization that often partners with churches in post-disaster sheltering situations. It’s also helpful to develop relationships with your local emergency management organizations, who will be important contacts when disaster strikes.

Research shows that churches are often the first place people turn in the event of a disaster or emergency—even if they’re not a member, or even religious. People know that a church is a place where they can find shelter, safety, and care, from people ...