When a disaster affects your community, one of the first questions many organizations ask is: How can we help?
Milwaukee County Office of Emergency Management is working in partnership with the American Red Cross of Wisconsin, local health departments, and community organizations to strengthen the network of places that can help people when they need somewhere safe to go.
Depending on the emergency, that could mean providing a temporary place for neighbors to gather during an evacuation, a cooling or warming location during extreme temperatures, or an emergency shelter for people displaced from their homes.
During the August 2025 floods, emergency shelters were an essential part of the response, providing a safe place for hundreds of people affected by the disaster. Other emergencies — including fires, severe storms, power outages, extreme heat or cold, and evacuations — can create similar needs, often with little notice.
How can your organization help?
Churches and other houses of worship, schools, community centers, nonprofits, and other organizations are often uniquely positioned to help because they already have something incredibly valuable: a trusted, accessible place within the community.
For organizations interested in serving as potential emergency shelter sites, the American Red Cross can work with you ahead of time to assess your facility and determine whether it may be a good fit.
Potential shelter facilities generally have:
- Approximately 4,000–5,000 square feet or more
- Open space that can safely accommodate 50 or more people
- Restrooms and handwashing facilities
- Access to a kitchen or food preparation area
- ADA accessibility when possible
- Showers are helpful, but not required
Becoming a prospective shelter partner does not mean your organization is committing to open its doors for every emergency. It means having conversations, understanding capabilities, and building relationships ahead of time so that when your community needs help, everyone is better prepared to respond.
Help us build the network
You don’t have to wait for the next disaster to ask, “What can we do?”
If you’re connected to a church, school, community center, nonprofit, or another organization with space that could potentially help your neighbors during an emergency, start the conversation now.
And if your organization doesn’t have the right space, you can still help by sharing this opportunity with others in your community.
Organizations throughout Milwaukee County and Southeast Wisconsin are encouraged to learn more about becoming part of the region’s emergency shelter network.
To learn more about how your facility can support displaced individuals during a disaster, contact:
MilwaukeeShelters@redcross.org
The relationships we build before an emergency can make all the difference when our neighbors need help.