Middle-Brook Regional Health Commission
“Healthy People and Places – A Healthy Community”
Serving Green Brook, Warren, Watchung and Bridgewater
Sheltering
- Mental health (see Mental Health and Special Needs sections for additional information)
- Mental health issues/concerns heighten to much greater extent in shelter settings
- Necessary items should be prepared in your go-kit
- Practice relaxation techniques to handle mental stress and prevent further anxiety
- Disabilities
- Be open and clear with specific needs (ex: wheelchair accessibility, need of personal aide)
- Possibility of specific shelters for those with special needs or specialized medical needs
- Dietary needs
- Necessary items should be prepared in your go-kit
- Pets
- Transport them to pet-friendly locations before/during emergency. Most shelters do not allow pets unless they are service animals
- Cultural tolerance and awareness
- Tolerance of people from a variety of backgrounds is crucial to create safe and successful sheltering experience
- Be accepting of different ethnicities, genders, ages, sexual orientations, socioeconomic backgrounds and disabilities