FEMA 453 Design Guidance for Shelters and Safe Rooms

of emergency relief supplies to disaster victims; and the collection
of information to operate a Disaster Welfare Information (DWI)
system to report victim status and assist in family reunification.
Depending on the nature of the event, a catastrophic disaster will
cause a substantial need for mass sheltering and feeding within,
near, and beyond the disaster-affected area.”
There are a number of assumptions that are used to define the parameters
of which the design, utilization, length of occupancy, and
shelter capacity should be able to support:
m As a result of the incident, many local emergency personnel
(paid and volunteer) that normally respond to disasters may
be dead, injured, involved with family concerns, or otherwise
unable to reach their assigned posts.
m Depending on the nature of the event, a catastrophic disaster
will cause a substantial need for mass sheltering and feeding
within, near, and beyond the disaster-affected area.
m State and local resources will immediately be overwhelmed;
therefore, Federal assistance will be needed immediately.
m Extensive self-directed population evacuations may also occur
with families and individuals traveling throughout the United
States to stay with friends and relatives outside the affected area.
m Populations likely to require mass care services include the
following:
m Primary victims (with damaged or destroyed homes)
m Secondary and tertiary victims (denied access to
homes)
m Transients (visitors and travelers within the affected
area)
m Emergency workers (seeking feeding support, respite
shelter(s), and lodging)
EmErgEncy managEmEnt considErations
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