A Guide for Local Jurisdictions In Care and Shelter Planning

A Guide for

Local Jurisdictions

In

Care and Shelter

Planning

Alameda County Operational Area

Emergency Management

Organization

September 2003

A Guide for Local Jurisdictions in

Care and Shelter Planning

September 2003

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. What Is Care and Shelter and Who Provides It? …………….………………….. 4

2. Developing Shelter Sites ………….………………………………...……….………….. 9

3. Organizing A Shelter Operations Team …………………………….…………….. 13

4. Planning to Meet Disaster Shelter Needs …………………….………....………. 17

5. Assisting Persons with Special Needs in Disasters ………………...……….. 30

6. Building Relationships with CBOs to Strengthen

Care and Shelter Operations …………………………………………………….….. 40

7. Setting-up Disaster Service Centers to Meet Other

Care and Shelter Needs ………………………………………………………………. 44

8. Protocols for Opening the Shelter and Laying Out the

Physical Space …..…...…………………………………………………………………… 50

9. Appendices………………………………………………………………….……………….. 54

2

Introduction

The following guide is written for city personnel involved in care and shelter operations. It is especially relevant for Care and Shelter Coordinators at the local level. This document is intended for use during the preparedness phase to help guide care and shelter planning. It provides all the planning information and guidelines that are relevant for local government’s consideration before opening disaster shelters. Once shelters are put into operation, the best resource is the American Red Cross Shelter Operations Workbook, which provides specifics on managing shelter operations. Again, this guide is to help local jurisdictions plan for shelter operations, while also providing an overview of the complete scope of care and shelter services.
The core planning elements are the first eight sections. Each section introduces a different element of care and