Hurricane Response Guide for Environmental Public Health Professionals
Basic Shelter Guidance Shelters should be located in protected inland areas away from hazards and accessible to the population via major highway or road routes. Schools, places of worship, and sports facilities are often used as shelters because they have flexible floor plans, restrooms, and food facilities all in one location.
Consideration
Description
Life-safety compliant
Two: fire egress, emergency lighting
ARC evacuation shelter, useable space 20ft 2 per person (short term). ARC recovery shelter, useable space 40ft 2 (longer term). Adequate air space/person. Adequate spacing: 3 feet between cots (consider family clusters).
Space
Structural Integrity Water and Sanitation
Hurricane rating
4 - 5 gallons of water per person/day ARC 1 toilet per 20 people ARC 1 shower per 20 people ARC 1 hand sink per 20 people Laundry facilities: onsite or contracted services
Solid Waste
One 30-gallon container per 10 people
Sewage Disposal
Consider system capacity
Best Practices Environmental Public Health (EPH) Staff for Shelters
As part of the health and medical team within the shelter operations, EPH may be asked to assess the various operations of the shelter to ensure health and safety standards are met and maintained.
Consider: 24-hour on-call staff Permanent staff in large facilities Minimum of one EPH specialist per facility depending on size Security staff Do-It-Yourself Hand washing Station Materials Needed: Clean 5-gallon water jug with a spigot Liquid soap, preferably in a pump dispenser
Paper towels or cloth towels Waste bin for used towels Optional: Sanitizer gel, a sturdy table or stand, and signage with hand washing instructions Steps to Set Up: 1. Prepare the Water Jug: Fill the 5-gallon water jug with clean water. If clean water is scarce, treat the water with purification tablets or methods recommended by health authorities. 2. Set Up the Station: Place the water jug on a raised platform or table where it is easily accessible but stable. Ensure the spigot hangs over the edge so users can wash their hands without spilling water on the platform.
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