In Red Cross Disaster services, you are expeced to take 4-5 courses (can't remember, don't feel like turning around to break out my books) in shelter operations before you are signed off to work/run a shelter (Intro to disaster, Shelter Operations, Mass care and Feeding, and I can't remember the rest)

One of the big things is "enlist the help of the shelter residents" - it makes them feel like they have some control, lessens the workload, improves communications with the residents - etc