Attacks by terrorists, tornadoes threatening human lives and leaving paths of destruction. Hurricanes causing residents of the Gulf Coast to evacuate their area and come to Dallas County, seeking shelter from the storm. All these scenarios are real and life-threatening situations that could happen at any time.

On Wednesday, the Dallas County Department of Human Resources, along with the Black Belt Chapter of the American Red Cross, held a meeting to train volunteers to man shelters during emergency situations.

Dallas County Department of Human Resources Director James Ware said that by state executive order, members of the local American Red Cross, DHR and the emergency management agency are asked to volunteer to man the shelters &uot;during times of need.&uot;

Ware said duties for the volunteers would include such things as providing food and sleeping accommodations, as well as making sure that those who stay at the shelters are properly registered.

Local American Red Cross Interim Director Victor Inge said that more than 80 people from the department of human resources were asked to attend the training.

Inge noted that the training also happened to occur at the right time.

According to recent weather reports, the possibility of hurricanes and tropical storms still threaten the Gulf Coast area, something, which Inge said makes disaster planning a necessity in Dallas County.

Said Inge, &uot;We are always looking for more volunteers. The more that we can get the better. This [disaster planning] is something we all need to be aware of and need to take seriously.&uot;

Inge said besides training on how to handle storms, volunteers would also be trained to respond to situations in which weapons of mass destruction have been used.