After some confusion occurred with Hurricane Irma, volunteers with Bulloch County VOAD, along with the Bulloch County Emergency Management Agency, recently called on state officials and the American Red Cross for a better understanding about emergency shelters. Now VOAD, or Volunteer Organization Active in Disaster, is identifying churches and other sizeable buildings that could be used either as Red Cross-managed shelters or as independent “Good Samaritan” shelters to house people affected by a storm or other disaster. The Red Cross will take the lead in inspecting the sites to make sure they meet its standards, requiring no commitment from the churches or other organizations to place the shelters under Red Cross management.