From setting up cots to making trays of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, American Red Cross and Human Services representatives went through all the motions Saturday in preparation for hurricane season, with drills held on all three islands.
The weekend drill is a national mandate by the Red Cross and is conducted so the agencies can see any gaps at the shelters during emergency situations, said Monife Stout, public information officer for Human Services. Exercises were held at the Strive Senior Center on St. Thomas, Educational Complex on St. Croix and Julius Sprauve School on St. John.
Residents pretending to be clients were also invited to participate in the drills, preparing the workers for any possible situation, including people who decide to bring along their pets for a night out of the storm.
Workers said residents come to the shelters with not much more than the clothes on their back, but stressed the importance of being packed and ready to go in advance. The shelters only cover basic needs so specialty items are not available.
"We suggest that they come with three days worth of whatever they need for their immediate family," said Mary Joe Williams, representing the American Red Cross. "Especially if they have medications they need, they should walk with that, and if they have children, they should bring along things to occupy them and whatever food they would need."
Stout and Williams said getting the shopping done or putting family plans in place, should be done as soon as possible since other disasters, such as earthquakes, can strike without warning.
Residents coming to the shelter should also be prepared to fill out registration forms, so the agencies can keep track of them. The information is not released publicly, but it also helps workers identify and locate people if other family members are looking for them in case of an emergency, Williams said.
"We don’t have many gaps, we hope that we’re really well prepared and that our clients that come, come prepared, bringing all the things they need so there’s the least amount of stress for everyone involved," she said. "And if there are any gaps, we’ll see that through this drill and recruit additional volunteers, so in the event something does happen, we’ll be able to weather it well."
