A fast moving wildfire has broken out in heavily wooded areas just 10 miles east of Damascus. Fifty residents will be forced out of their homes – would you be able to help?

This Friday and Saturday, the Damascus Community Church will serve as a shelter in an overnight evacuation exercise designed to prepare the community for a disaster.

During the two-day event, Red Cross volunteers will demonstrate the opening, operation and closure of an evacuation shelter. Damascus residents are invited to observe and shadow the process of setting up a shelter; providing food; offering health and mental health services and much more.

When the demonstration is complete, residents will have the proper training and the confidence to set up a safe and comforting shelter. “Everyone always talks about preparation, or thinks about it,” said Red Cross exercise planner Michael Rudis. “With the possibility of future floods, storms and other disasters, now is the time to take action.”

Live in the Damascus area and want to attend? Call 503-658-1607 to sign up!