Comprehensive Assessment of Hurricane Shelters: Lessons from Hurricane Georges

Abstract

Gulf of Mexico states concerned with the potential adverse impact of a hurricane, participated in a joint effort to systematically evaluate the structural integrity of shelters to be opened in the event of a hurricane. The University of Florida School of Building Construction under contract by the Florida Office of Emergency Management, prepared a detailed hurricane shelter site evaluation worksheet, guide, and summary form to be used in an assessment of hurricane disaster shelters. The worksheet and summary form were established with consideration of shelter requirements established by the American Red Cross. An assessment of hurricane shelters was completed in 1998 in the southern half of Louisiana under contract with the Louisiana Office of Emergency Preparedness using the Florida shelter assessment materials prior to Hurricane Georges. Using data from this assessment, a statistical analysis was performed comparing the shelters used and not used in Hurricane Georges in Louisiana. The analysis was completed by both individual hazard criterion and for a marginal composite criterion, to test whether the proportions of response profiles (preferred, acceptable, and marginal) varied significantly across the used and unused shelters. The response profiles were particularly significant in the building construction category, with 74% (399%) in the preferred category for the used (unused) shelters. There was also considerable dissatisfaction with the wind design, exterior wall design, and interior safe space with less than 5% in the preferred categories for both the used and unused shelters.