Red Cross Shelter Part of Vigilant Guard 2015

Volunteers Learn to Operate Shelter

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The Red Cross took over Pioneer Hall, Tuesday, practicing for a day they hope will never come.

A disaster shelter was created at the DECC and community volunteers played the roles of displaced residents to help Red Cross volunteers prepare for disaster response.

The exercise was part of the multi-agency Vigilant Guard 2015.

Vigilant Guard allowed disaster response agencies to cross-train and work together on response scenarios. 

It’s a practice  officials say has become more important and more common since the devistation of Hurricane Katrina, 10 years ago.

Other Vigilant Guard 2015 participants include the Minnesota National Guard and Air National Guard and multiple first responder agencies.

According to a National Guard release, Representatives of the Croation and Norwegian militaries were on hand as observers.