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As LACCD students return to their colleges in the next few weeks, they will be coming back to campuses that have taken on a new and potentially critical role in their respective communities.

It’s nothing the students will notice.

Hopefully, it’s nothing that will ever be noticeable.

But in the event of a disaster, these campuses will now be designated as shelters as a result of an agreement between LACCD and the Red Cross.

The involvement of LACCD brings closer to reality the Red Cross’ goal of sheltering 500,000 people and providing four million meals a day should a catastrophic disaster hit Los Angeles County.

LACCD is in a unique position to support the Red Cross. With nine campuses stretching north to Sylmar and south to Wilmington and from West L.A. to East L. A., the district serves 36 cities.

If necessary, these campuses could shelter thousands of people.

The agreement “is truly a great match,” said Tom Jacobsmeyer, vice president, administrative services for Los Angeles Valley College. “While we don’t have the money for the food, water and medical supplies needed in an emergency, we don’t have the area to permanently store all of that and we don’t have the funds to continually replenish the food and water every three to five years as is necessary, the Red Cross has everything we would need in trailers in the local area that can be dragged over to our campuses.”

The vast facilities of those campuses include large buildings, gymnasiums and sprawling open spaces like fields and parking lots where supplies can be brought in, food and water dispersed, and rest and relief provided.

“With the agreement now in place,” said Paul Schulz, CEO, American Red Cross, Los Angeles Region, “the Red Cross can make additional improvements in disaster response, such as coordinating locations of colleges with additional resources such as food and water needed during disasters. With the generous support of the LACCD, the Red Cross has made significant advances in its ability to shelter and feed those in need following a major disaster.”

This agreement is only the first step in an ongoing process by the district to produce its own emergency preparedness plan.