Shelter Operations Research Articles

Drought field experiments: how to adapt rainout shelters to agroforestry?

AbstractAgroforestry could be a major strategy to adapt agriculture to climate change, thanks to the microclimate effects of trees and improved infiltration. However, the experimental validation of these claims is scarce. In this methodological review, we discuss options for the experimental simulation of drought conditions in agroforestry field experiments, comparing it with strategies adopted in natural, agricultural, or forestry ecosystems. We classify rainout shelters used in field experiments according to mobility, completeness of rain interception and height of rainout shelter. We show that specificities of agroforestry systems create constraints and require compromises in the design and operation of rainout shelters. We conclude that large rainout shelters, which induce drought for both the trees and the crops while limiting artifacts and biases, would be most relevant for studying the resistance of agroforestry systems to drought. Unfortunately, the review of rainout shelters already used in agroforestry systems reveals a lack of rainout shelters capable of intercepting rain on both trees and crops, achieving total rain interception, while being relatively low-cost and manageable by a small team. Therefore, we benchmark three novel rainout shelter designs that we tested in a mature agroforestry system under Mediterranean climatic conditions. We discuss their advantages and disadvantages in terms of both scientific and operational aspects. While compromises had to be done between experimental design, risks of artifact/bias, effectiveness, ease of installation, operation and maintenance, and agricultural management, these prototypes are starting points for achieving well-performing rainout shelters and testing the effects of drought in agroforestry experiments.

Assessment of the quality of life of cats affected by paraparesis/paraplegia and urinary retention, and their impact on caregivers.

In cats affected by severe thoracolumbar spinal cord pathologies, paraplegia and paraparesis, often accompanied by urinary retention, pose significant challenges, impacting both the cats' welfare and owners' lives. This study aimed to assess the quality of life (QoL) of cats affected by these conditions, and to evaluate the social and familial implications for caregivers. The study was structured into two parts. The first part comprised direct observations of aspects of QoL in cats both in household and shelter settings, while the second part involved the distribution of questionnaires to cat owners and shelter operators. Cats with paraplegia/paraparesis and urinary retention can maintain a good QoL, with hindlimb mobility significantly influencing QoL scores. Shelter cats showed a comparable QoL to household cats, challenging the anecdotal beliefs that shelter cats with severe neurological impairments are destined to lead substandard lives. Operator surveys highlighted the feasibility of managing these cats in shelter environments, emphasising the importance of collaboration between caregivers and veterinary professionals. Likewise, owner surveys revealed a manageable time commitment for care, with most owners achieving proficiency in manual bladder expression within 1 month. Despite challenges, most of the owners reported positive experiences and did not contemplate euthanasia for their cats. Regular veterinary visits and occasional physiotherapy were common practices among caregivers. Owners who respond to the questionnaire and shelter operators have a high commitment to cats with paraplegia/paraparesis. Although the study acknowledges this potential bias, it suggests that dedicated care can ensure a good QoL for cats with severe spinal injuries, both in shelter and household settings. Effective communication between caregivers and veterinary professionals is essential for accurate information dissemination and optimal care provision. This research contributes to raising awareness of managing these conditions and emphasises the importance of collaborative care approaches in veterinary medicine.

Why some homeless individuals are unsheltered: A narrative review of self-reported reasons

The rising rate of unsheltered homelessness is a troubling and important public health issue. This narrative review sought to answer the question: What are the reasons that homeless individuals report for being unsheltered? To identify studies, systematic search methods were applied to PubMed, Google Scholar, and PsycINFO databases using the following eligibility criteria: English-written, peer-reviewed studies published from 2000 to 2023 that reported qualitative or quantitative data related to reasons why homeless individuals in a Western country were unsheltered. After duplicates were removed, 14,690 studies were screened and filtered to 10 final studies that fit all eligibility criteria and were included in the review. Eight of the 10 studies reported qualitative data from interviews and focus groups; the two quantitative studies reported data from interviewer-administered surveys. Across studies, eight thematic categories were identified as barriers to staying in shelters or other sheltered locations: lack of safety, triggers for substance use, strict shelter rules, triggers for substance use, perceived inadequate care, unsanitary conditions, required treatment to participate in housing program, no pet or family accommodations, and lack of accessibility for individuals with disabilities. Together, these findings indicate the delicate balance needed in homeless shelters to have both an inclusive/permissive and structured/safe environment for homeless individuals. Attention to the design and operation of homeless shelters, as well as staff training and accommodation for clients with special needs may improve some of these issues.

A simpler method for understanding emergency shelter access patterns

ABSTRACT The Simplified Access Metric (SAM) is a new approach for characterizing patterns of homelessness. The goal of SAM is to provide emergency shelter operators and housing staff with an intuitive way to understand a person or group’s pattern of homelessness and/or shelter access that can be implemented by non-technical staff using spreadsheet operations. Client data from a large North American shelter will be used to demonstrate that SAM produces similar results to traditional transitional, episodic and chronic client cluster analysis. Since SAM requires less data than cluster analysis, it is also able to generate a timeline of homelessness patterns that can be updated in real time. Using nine years of shelter data, a shelter access timeline is presented that includes the introduction of Housing First programming and the COVID-19 lockdown. Finally, SAM allows shelter staff to move beyond assigning transitional, episodic and chronic labels and instead use the “soft” output of SAM directly to better understand a person’s experience of homelessness.

“This is a T.E.S.T.” (Tabletop Exercise Simulation Tool): Using Gamification to Train Public Health Staff in Community Reception Centers for a Nuclear or Radiological Incident

Introduction:After a nuclear or radiological (nuc/rad) incident, there is a need to screen, potentially decontaminate, and monitor the affected population. A Community Reception Center (CRC) is a site that provides these services, plus more, to those displaced by a large-scale incident. By using CRCs, federal agencies and state, tribal, local, and territorial (STLT) health departments can monitor the affected population, help prevent hospitals from becoming overburdened with persons not critically injured, compliment shelter operations, and obtain a basis for a long-term registry. However, public health staff often are not fully trained in their CRC role and the decision-making factors.Method:The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) developed a unique training board game, “This is a T.E.S.T.” (Tabletop Exercise Simulation Tool), for public health staff about their CRC role and decision-making factors. We play-tested the game with several CDC and STLT staff in 2022 and received informal feedback.Results:Players found the game facilitated discussion and identified gaps in CRC plans, safety hazards, population needs, and staffing requirements. They also said the game improved collaboration and communication. Over 90% of players strongly agreed the game accurately simulated both bottlenecks and resource needs, individual needs and anxiety, and allowed a greater understanding of CRC operations.Conclusion:Games have been used for emergency response using different platforms such as virtual reality and video games. This is a T.E.S.T. facilitates collaboration by tasking players with managing resources, staff fatigue, public anxiety, and hazards. Players provided valuable feedback on its usability while learning more about CRCs. “This is a T.E.S.T” provides a unique, innovative training experience that incorporates components from typical tabletop and full-scale exercises, CRC capacity estimates through CDC’s CRC SimPLER (Simulation Program for Leveraging and Evaluating Resources), and key principles of adult learning.

The effect of a non-congregate, integrated care shelter on health: A qualitative study.

To describe the experiences of unstably housed, medically vulnerable residents living at the Haven, a novel, non-congregate integrated care shelter operating in a historic hotel during the COVID-19 pandemic. A qualitative descriptive design. Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted in February and March 2022 with a purposive sample of 20 residents living in the integrated care shelter. Data were analyzed in May and June 2022 using the thematic analysis methods described by Braun and Clarke. Six women and 14 men, ages 23-71 (M=50, SD=14), were interviewed. Lengths of stay at the time of the interview ranged from 74 to 536 days (M=311 days). Medical co-morbidities and substance use details were collected at baseline. Three themes were identified: (1) Autonomy, (2) supportive environments, and (3) stability and the need for permanent housing. Participants characterized the integrated care, non-congregate model as having multiple advantages over traditional shelter systems. Participants emphasized the role of nurses and case managers in providing a respectful, caring environment in the integrated shelter model. Participants described acute physical and mental health needs which were largely met by the innovative integrated shelter care model. The effect of homelessness and housing insecurity on health is well documented, but few solutions exist that promote autonomy. Participants in this qualitative study emphasized the benefits of living in a non-congregate integrated care shelter and the services which promoted their self-management of chronic diseases. Patients were the participants in the study, but were not involved in the design, analysis of interpretation of the data, or preparation of the manuscript. Due to this project's small scope, we could not involve patients or the public after the study concluded data collection.

The epidemiological follow-up process for suspected and confirmed cases of COVID-19 in migrant shelters on the northern border of Mexico from July to December 2020: Between contagion underestimation and containment.

Elements associated with an increased risk factor for the contagion of COVID-19 in shelters include the turnover and overcrowding of people, time spent in communal areas, daily supply needs, water availability, and sanitation levels. The "Report on the Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Migrants and Refugees," shows that factors such as the shortage of food, supplies, water, sanitizing materials, spaces for healthy distancing, financial resources for rent and essential services, and the lack of medical or psychological care complicated providing care for migrants and applicants seeking international protection. We describe shelter operations regarding the detection and follow-up of suspected and confirmed COVID-19 cases showing mild symptoms among the migrant population housed in the border cities under study. We conducted semi-structured, in-depth interviews with study subjects (people in charge, managers, coordinators, shelter directors) from 22 migrant shelters, and 30 with key informants. We studied the cities of Tijuana (Baja California), Nogales (Sonora), Ciudad Juárez (Chihuahua), Piedras Negras (Coahuila), and Heroica Matamoros (Tamaulipas). The research was based on a qualitative methodological design with an ethnographic approach. The information collected was transcribed and systematized into two tables or analytical templates, one for interviews with study subjects, and another for interviews with key actors. Overall, seventy-eight registered shelters provided accommodation services for migrants in the five cities the study focused on: thirty-seven in Tijuana, five in Nogales, twenty-two in Ciudad Juárez, eight in Piedras Negras, and five plus a camp (six in total) in Matamoros. The major concentration of shelters was in Tijuana (47.4%) and Ciudad Juárez (28.2%). At the beginning of the pandemic, only a few shelter facilities met quarantine and isolation guidelines, such as having separate bathrooms and sufficient space to isolate the "asymptomatic" and "confirmed" from close "contacts". The lack of isolation space and the inability to support the monitoring of patients with COVID-19 posed a challenge for those housed in shelters, forcing many shelters to close or continue operating behind closed doors to avoid becoming a source of infection during the pandemic. Contrary to speculation, during the onset of the pandemic northern border migrant shelters did not become sources of COVID-19 infection. According to the data analyzed from 78 shelters only seven had confirmed cases, and the classification of "outbreak" was applied only in two facilities. Contagion control or containment was successful as the result of following a preventive containment logic, including the isolation of all suspected but unconfirmed cases, without a clear understanding of the human and financial resources required to maintain isolation areas. However, shelters in the study implemented protocols for epidemiological surveillance, control, and prevention with elements that interfered with monitoring spaces, and processes that caused oversights that resulted in underestimating the number of cases. Due to travel restrictions imposed to prevent and contain coronavirus infections it was impossible to stay on-site in the cities studied, except for Tijuana, or carry-out recordings of migrants' views in shelters.

Life and Nutrition of Pupils of Charitable Institutions for Children in St. Petersburg in Middle of 19th — Early 20th Centuries

The issues of organizing the life of children in charitable institutions of St. Petersburg in the middle of the 19th — early 20th centuries are considered. The study was carried out on the material of archival documents. Most of the sources are introduced into scientific circulation for the first time. The forms and methods of solving the issues of improving the conditions of hygiene, life and nutrition of pupils are revealed. The problem areas in the organization of the activities of institutions are characterized. The debatable issues that arose in the boards of trustees of institutions are listed. It is concluded that in the second half of the 19th — early 20th centuries, the requirements for the activities of charitable institutions increased. In particular, approaches to the provision of medical care have changed: it was envisaged to include doctors in the boards of trustees of shelters who provided assistance to pupils on a gratuitous basis, controlled the quality of food and monitored living conditions. The collegial nature of the activities of the St. Petersburg Council contributed to the success of solving the problems facing orphanages. The Council in its activities took into account the opinion of the public, doctors, teachers on the upbringing and maintenance of pupils. The shelters had different financial opportunities, which depended both on the composition of the Boards of Trustees and on the activity of its members in holding charitable fundraising events. However, during the XIX — early XX centuries, general requirements for the operation of shelters were formed.

가정폭력에 노출된 다문화가정 학대피해아동의 자아개념 향상을 위한 놀이기반 미술치료 사례연구

This study aims to find out how play-based art therapy improves the self-concept of children affected by abuse from multicultural families exposed to domestic violence. The subject of the study is a 6-year-old boy from multicultural families with language development delays in domestic violence shelters. The play-based art therapy program took 45 to 60 minutes once a week to improve the self-concept of abused children, and a total of 14 sessions were conducted. The research data are works and photos of play-based art therapy programs, shelter operation journals, and feedback from mothers and social workers of children, and data analysis is a single case study method. To verify the effectiveness of the work program, it was concluded that play-based art therapy had a positive effect on improving the self-concept of children affected by abuse from multicultural families exposed to domestic violence through interviews with mothers and shelter teachers.

Estimation of Disaster Evacuation Shelter Capacity of Hitoyoshi City, Japan

Heavy rains since early July 2020 have caused flooding in the Kyushu area. The Kuma River overflowed due to heavy rain. The river itself located in Kumamoto Prefecture right in the Hitoyoshi city. Disaster shelter is one of the most important requirements for those evacuated in the event of a disaster. It is used to analyze the supply and demand of the shelter based on the distance from the point of application to the disaster evacuation shelter, using the P-median model. As a result, the demand for evacuation shelters in the city of Hitoyoshi is 48%, which indicates that the demand for evacuation centers in case of disaster is about half. In this study, the location-allocation method was used in ArcGis 10.6 to determine the supply-demand ratio for Hitoyoshi. These data are expected to be used to optimize the operation of shelters in the Hitoyoshi area, an area prone to disasters for future urban development. This allows evacuation or disaster safety planners to develop tools for their area during floods and provides a way to predict when an event will occur and when roads will become unsafe for the residents during the future evacuation process. When a natural disaster happens again in the future, the demand and supply of disaster evacuation shelters should be assessed to determine their total capacity.

The location routing problem for cooling shelters during heat waves

Given the increasing frequency, duration, and intensity of heat waves around the globe, more research is needed on the allocation and operations of cooling shelters for efficient heat mitigation. To address this need, this study considers a cooling shelter operating system that uses shuttle buses to transport heat-vulnerable people and presents a binary integer programming model for the multi-depot location routing problem (LRP) that decides optimal locations of cooling shelters and routes of shuttle buses simultaneously with the objective of minimizing the total operating cost for full accommodation of the heat-vulnerable population. Since the LRP is NP-hard, we further present the simulated annealing to efficiently derive a near-optimal solution. We then validate the proposed methodology with an application to the 14 administrative regions of Ulsan Metropolitan City in the Republic of Korea to assign heat-vulnerable residents and provide them with ride services to the associated cooling shelters. The overall results demonstrate the proposed methodology's competitive performance compared with the traditional two-phased solution approach that separately solves the location problem and routing problem. In particular, our results show that the proposed methodology can save up to 49,000 USD in addressing the cooling shelter location routing problem compared to the two-phased solution approach. Subsequently, a sensitivity analysis is conducted regarding three factors that are likely to impact the effectiveness and efficiency of cooling shelter operations: shuttle bus capacity, traveling cost, and maximum walking distance. Our research provides recommendations for policymakers to carry out the best heat mitigation strategy for their unique circumstances and reduce heat-related illness and death.

Application Possibilities of the Off-Grid HVAC System Operation Solution for Temporary Shelters in the Latvian Climate Conditions

Abstract Temporary shelters are extensively used by emergency services (rescue, disaster relief, military response) and other end-users requiring temporary mobile power solutions for different purposes (event organization, vacation homes, summer camps, etc.). The Covid-19 pandemics resulted in an increase of motor homes worldwide sales. When temporary shelter connection to power grid is impossible, the off-grid liquid fossil fuel generator can be used for electricity generation. Since the liquid fuel supply is often limited, the stock of fuel requires storage that may pose an explosion risk. Quickly installable and energy-efficient ventilation / cooling system with heat recovery is essential to ensure adequate air hygiene and occupants’ comfort in temporary structure. This paper presents a mobile modular electric energy generating unit with photovoltaic (PV) panels for providing temporary shelters (tents) in Latvian climate conditions with heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC). All calculations were performed using the computer model developed with TRNSYS tool and based on real data from mobile modular energy unit for spring, summer and autumn 2020 and winter 2021. The results show that mobile modular energy unit can be successfully applied for off-grid HVAC system operation of temporary shelters in the Latvian climate conditions.

ДІЯЛЬНІСТЬ ПРИТУЛКІВ ДЛЯ ЖІНОК, ЯКІ ПОСТРАЖДАЛИ ВІД ДОМАШНЬОГО НАСИЛЬСТВА В УКРАЇНІ: ПРОБЛЕМИ ТА ПЕРСПЕКТИВИ

Violence is one of the most widespread forms of violation of human rights in the world, which the state must defend and protect. Currently, in our country there are contradictions between the developed concept of combating domestic violence based on the interaction of various subjects and the insufficient level of its implementation due to the creation of an extensive network of specialized support services for victims. The purpose of the article is to analyze the activities of shelters that provide social services to women who are victims of domestic violence, and to justify the need to expand the existing network in Ukraine. The basic principles, mechanism of creation and financing of shelters are considered. The importance of applying world experience in this matter is substantiated. The financial support of international organizations in the process of creating shelters was studied. The study of shelter models, which are most represented in Ukraine, has been further developed. The main method used is the analysis of documents for the study of international legal agreements and national legislation on combating violence. In the course of the study, the main problems in the operation of shelters were identified. They are associated with a small number, insufficient funding, and a low level of public awareness of the availability and working conditions of institutions. The mechanism of cooperation between authorities and institutions that provide assistance to affected persons also needs coordination at the regulatory and practical levels. The following steps should be the ways of improvement: creation of an extensive network of shelters; professional development of specialists who work with women who are victims of domestic violence; increasing sources of funding for institutions, primarily through public-private partnerships.

The running of animal shelters by non-governmental organizations

The article is of a scientific research nature, and its main aim is to discuss selected problems regarding the operation of animal shelters by NGOs. It is worth noting at this point that the study is focused on the presentation of practical aspects of the issue. The research has been aimed primarily at resolving doubts about whether or not NGOs are required to obtain a permit to run a shelter for homeless animals and doubts regarding the legal nature of ‘agreements’ on the operation of animal shelters, concluded by NGOs with competent local government bodies. The findings made in this respect are complemented by comments on the recently proposed amendments to the Act of 21 August 1997 on the protection of animals, which provided for subjective restrictions involving the narrowing of the circle of entities authorized to run shelters for homeless animals and introduced requirements to be met by natural persons involved in running the shelters.

Performances of Suffering in Latin American Migration: Heroes, Martyrs and Saints

Performances of Suffering in Latin American Migration: Heroes, Martyrs and Saints

Challenges for the disaster workforce during a compound hurricane-pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has created new workforce considerations for emergency management community in addressing cumulative and cascading disasters. This research identifies how emergency management planning for both the changing dynamics of COVID-19 and the upcoming hurricane season may change under a compound threat. Many jurisdictions have faced challenges in providing adequate staffing of shelters before the pandemic. Now, fatigue among staff further exacerbates these challenges as resources are stretched thin. Six workshops, involving 265 national, state, and local leaders, staff, experts, and advocates from 22 states, and a range of disciplines (disaster planning, public health, social services, academia, and healthcare), were convened to identify concerns and potential strategies to address staffing, training, logistics, and support. Strategies proposed to increase the number and skill set of staff available involve increased reliance upon volunteers and nonprofit organizations. Mental health resources, personal protective equipment, sanitation supplies, and defining roles within emergency shelters were recommended to reduce fatigue and redistribute responsibilities. Findings illuminate additional research avenues regarding assessing the underlying stressors contributing to the planning process and effective means of implementing these interventions to bolster emergency management shelter operations during a prolonged pandemic and in the future.

The Cohabitation of Humans and Urban Cats in the Anthropocene: The Clash of Welfare Concepts

Simple SummaryCurrent cultural shifts in Western countries have changed the position of the cat to a companion animal, and its traditional role as a pest controller is no longer recognized by city dwellers. In a growing number of theoretical and field studies, the hunting abilities of cats and their high fertility are perceived as environmental risks. Bringing together theoretical perspectives from human–animal studies, animal ethics, population ecology, and biosemiotics, I highlight the existence of two different ecological (and even cultural) communities inhabiting urban environments: the culture of feral cats and the humano–cat culture of pets. Arguments are given for the essential role of feral cats in the population dynamics of the species when a growing number of pet cats are routinely neutered. Whereas neutering is presented by animal shelters and veterinary institutions as a universal means for improving cat welfare, it is at odds with the psychobiological needs of cats as viewed by a laissez-faire approach. This leads us to the conclusion that instead of one type of management of free-roaming cats, individual solutions should be sought to achieve a balance between the welfare of cats, other species, and human cultures in diverse urban environments.Urban environments are inhabited by several types of feline populations, which we can differentiate as feral cats, free-roaming pets, and confined pets. Due to a shift in the cultural representation of cats from pest controllers to companion animals, cats living semi-independently of humans are perceived increasingly negatively, while the pet population has become the object of intense care. A regulative approach converges with a concern for welfare in the operation and educational campaigns of municipal shelters, which through their implementation of neutering policies have proven to be key players in the contemporary relation of urban cats and humans. The generally widespread notion of cat welfare associated with a secure life comes into tension with the fact that the psychobiological needs of feral cats are significantly different than those of pets. It becomes apparent that individual interactions between humans and cats in urban environments in the Anthropocene are increasingly influenced by the intervention of institutions that can be characterized as seeking to administer the wild.

A Study of Issues Related to the Operation of Evacuation Shelters in a Corona-Endemic Society – Through the Guidelines and Training of Shiga Prefecture in Japan

In Japan, in a society where the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is widespread, when a disaster occurs and a large number of people need to be relocated to evacuation centers, clusters of coronavirus disease may emerge; therefore, countermeasures are necessary. The purpose of this paper is to clarify the issues involved and the measures required to manage evacuation centers in the event of a disaster during the coronavirus disease pandemic. One of the researchers cooperated as an advisor in the preparation of the guidelines for the operation of evacuation centers and countermeasures against the coronavirus disease infection in the Shiga Prefecture and has participated as a lecturer in the evacuation center operation drills for the officials of the cities and towns in the prefecture since the planning stage. During the drills, hygiene products and equipment were set up; the participants were divided into two groups representing evacuees and staff and exchanged their opinions on various issues. As a result of the drills, it became clear that it is important to prepare for outbreaks of infectious diseases. Preparations include stockpiling supplies, training staff members in charge, and disseminating information to staff and residents. The importance of prioritizing the allocation of living spaces, while giving due consideration to human rights and collaborating with medical experts was also emphasized.

Construction of a practical disaster prevention drill including the operation of temporary disaster shelters and rescue centers at the university and application in disaster medical education

Construction of a practical disaster prevention drill including the operation of temporary disaster shelters and rescue centers at the university and application in disaster medical education

A Novel On-Site Volunteer Community Infection Prevention Team Prevented Outbreaks at a Hurricane Harvey Mega-Shelter

Background: In the setting of global warming, natural disasters are increasing in pace and scope. Although natural disasters themselves do not cause outbreaks, the breakdowns in sanitary infrastructure and the displacement of populations, often to crowded shelters, have caused outbreaks. On August 26, 2017, category 4 hurricane Harvey made landfall near Corpus Christi, Texas, causing catastrophic flooding and displacing >30,000 residents from the Southern Gulf Coast region. Dallas accepted >3,800 evacuees at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center mega-shelter for 23 days, where a medical clinic was erected in the convention center parking garage. The medical clinic uniquely included a dedicated infection prevention team composed of local volunteer infection preventionists, healthcare epidemiologists, infectious diseases providers, and health department personnel. Methods: Evacuees were housed at the Dallas mega-shelter from August 29 through September 20. The infection prevention team maintained a presence of 3–4 members during clinical operations in shifts. The team conducted an initial needs assessment upon opening of the shelter medical clinic, facilitated acquisition of adequate numbers of hand sanitizer stations, sinks with running water, portable hand-washing stations, portable toilets and showers, and cleaning products. The infection prevention team coordinated and oversaw environmental cleaning services (EVS) carried out by local hospital EVS staff. Protocols for cleaning, disinfection, communicable disease testing, isolation, and treatment were created. In addition, education and training materials for the implementation of these protocols were distributed to volunteer staff. The infection preventionists created and provided oversight of the designated isolation units for respiratory, gastrointestinal and dermatologic infections of outbreak potential. Infection prevention rounding tools were developed and executed daily in the clinic, at the on-site daycare center, dining area, and the general shelter dormitory. Vaccination for influenza was formalized under a protocol and administered at the clinic and via mobile vaccination teams in the chronic illness section of the dormitory. Results: In tota3,829 residents were housed at the mega-shelter for 23 days. Moreover, 1,560 patients were seen in 2,654 clinic visits at the shelter medical clinic. In total, 48 (19%) clinic visits were for respiratory symptoms, 228 (9%) were for dermatologic problems, and 215 (8%) were for gastrointestinal symptoms. Also, 32 patients were referred to the isolation unit within the clinic. Overall, 98 influenza vaccines were administered. There was 1 confirmed case of influenza and 1 confirmed case of norovirus. Conclusions: No known transmission of communicable diseases occurred in this long-term, natural disaster–related mega-shelter, likely attributed to having a comprehensive infection prevention team of on-site volunteers available throughout the shelter operation. This model should be considered in future large-scale shelter settings to prevent disease transmission.Disclosures: NoneFunding: None