Los Alamos County, Red Cross to Offer Shelter Operations Training in April

Los Alamos County's Office of Emergency Management is partnering with the American Red Cross to offer Shelter Operations Training for community members interested in supporting disaster response efforts.

The three-hour session runs from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, April 11, at the White Rock Training Center/Emergency Operations Center at 139 Longview Drive.

During disasters, the American Red Cross helps ensure individuals and families who are displaced have a safe place to stay, a hot meal, and access to essential support services. This training will introduce participants to the fundamentals of operating a disaster shelter and how volunteers assist communities during emergencies.

Participants will learn about the roles and responsibilities of shelter workers, the process for opening and closing a shelter, and best practices for supporting shelter residents during disasters.

The timing carries particular weight for Los Alamos County, a community of roughly 18,000 residents spread across two communities, Los Alamos and White Rock, and surrounded on all sides by National Forest, National Park, and Pueblo lands. Wildfire evacuations have repeatedly tested the county's emergency infrastructure in recent years, making trained shelter volunteers a critical local resource.

The White Rock Training Center, which doubles as an Emergency Operations Center, serves as the county's hub for coordinated disaster response, making it a fitting venue for a course focused on getting more residents ready to step in when the next emergency strikes.