Why are Emergency Evacuation Shelters important?

People need shelter when disaster strikes:  Emergency Response Agencies are challenged to find safe havens for victims of fires, storms, and other disasters on a moment’s notice. It is not always easy.

Disasters come in all sizes: 

• An apartment fire can displace a few or many people at a moment's notice.
• A Tornado or Derecho can take out power and damage homes over a wide area in a few minutes.
• An industrial fire involving toxic chemicals may require evacuation of everyone downwind.

Weather-related risks are increasing:  Weather patterns are changing, increasing the frequency and severity of storms that can damage or destroy people’s homes. Tornado alley is shifting from the Great Plains eastward to more populated areas; damaging Derechos are appearing more frequently in the Midwest; severe cold and severe heat events are increasing.

Being prepared saves time & resources:  Having a network of designated shelters with trained volunteers who are prepared to step up on short notice can dramatically cut the amount of time and resources spent finding shelters in the middle of a crisis.