Emergency evacuation and sheltering during the COVID-19 pandemic
Fundamental shifts in preparedness planning are needed to ensure health, safety, and smooth operations during emergencies in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. This rapid expert consultation details what is known from research on evacuation behavior, social responses to disaster, and risk communication, as well as lessons learned from emergency managers, public health departments, local officials, and human service providers, as the second year of the pandemic unfolds. It includes strategies for evacuation plans, sheltering operations, and risk communication best practices for public officials confronting hazards and disasters.
Evacuation planning that includes identifying logistical needs and understanding the processes that drive evacuation behavior is vital to preparing for extreme events that may require mass mobilization during the pandemic. To prepare for emergency events requiring evacuation, it is necessary to revise shelter planning and mass care operations, shelter staffing, and shelter design and operations with a focus on reducing virus transmission and ensuring safety. Developing effective public messaging is also critical during the pandemic and requires advance planning and familiarity with the needs and characteristics of the communities being served.
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