BE PREPAREDWhen disaster strikes know when and where shelters have been opened to provide assistance. MAP VIEWOffered by the American Red Cross, the application maps locations and shelter details across the United States. Zoom in to the local area. View shelter details: the agency managing the shelter, capacity of the shelter and current population, the associated disaster event and the specific shelter address and location.LIST VIEW DISASTER NEWSView open shelters by state, jump to the latest disaster information via the Disaster Online Newsroom, and donate to help the American Red Cross respond to those in need.NATIONAL SHELTER SYSTEMThe application uses data about open shelters from the American Red Cross National Shelter System (NSS). The NSS contains information about 60,000 potential disaster facilities and is used to track and report on shelter information during disasters. The NSS enables emergency managers and disaster relief workers to identify relevant information for all shelters in use and to develop effective response strategies before disasters strike.NSS information is available to assist FEMA, state and local emergency management officials, non-profit, charitable, and faith-based organizations manage and deploy effective mass care services.REGULARLY UPDATEDShelter information is updated from the NSS every 30 minutes. Current populations are typically updated every noon and midnight when shelters are open and providing assistance.