Disaster Shelter Assessments: Using Environmental Health Data for Protecting Facility Occupants during Disasters

BACKGROUND:   Providing adequate shelter services for large numbers of people displaced during large disaster events is a complex task when large numbers of disaster shelter facilities are involved. Public health plays an important role in supporting the preventive effort by assessing facilities affected by the disaster. Environmental health shelter assessments are part of the portfolio of public health assessment tool to evaluate hygiene, sanitation, and other safety aspects of the shelter operation. However, little is known about how prevalent these assessment methods are and what types of information or data should be collected during disasters.

METHODS:   A survey of state and territorial environmental health departments directors or their designees (n=56) was conducted in order to ascertain prevalence and usage of these assessments. In addition, a review of shelter assessment records (n=108) collected during past disaster events was conducted.

RESULTS:   most jurisdictions appeared to be knowledgeable about assessment methods and familiar with shelter assessment tools. However, many jurisdictions reported low levels of training and procedures for conducting the assessments during disasters. Regarding shelter data findings; most deficiencies were documented in sanitation, facility services, food and sleeping areas. 

CONCLUSIONS:   shelter assessments provide a fast and organized way of assessing potential environmental hazards to occupants. In addition, shelter data may provide useful information for risk assessment and for development of a formal science-based approach for protecting the public health of disaster victims in facilities.