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3.3 Shelter Assessments
3.3.1 Description and objectives
A shelter assessment can be an important aspect of disaster prevention and
preparedness efforts. The objective of the shelter assessment is primarily to determine
the requirements for designated shelters. Potential shelter sites should be investigated
and then assessed for suitability. Local authorities have the responsibility for
determining shelter sites. During the EU project, recommendations were made to the
authorities in the three tourism destination sites, allowing them to create shelter plans
or review existing ones.
Studies show that survivors from disasters often prioritise shelter in the following
order:
1) to remain as close as possible to their damaged or ruined homes;
2) to move temporarily into the homes of families or friends;
3) to improvise temporary shelters as close as possible to the site of their
ruined homes;
4) to occupy buildings which have been temporarily requisitioned;
5) to occupy tents erected in, or next to, their ruined homes;
6) to occupy tents on campsites; and
7) to be evacuated to distant locations.
The assessment focuses on situations where people are evacuated to occupy
temporarily requisitioned buildings or constructions. In order to decide what buildings
or constructions are suitable for temporary shelter, there are many factors that have
to be evaluated. For example, depending on the type of disaster or number of affected
people, preference might be given to a specifi c type of shelter. Other factors such as
target group or time constraints will also affect the choice of shelter.
3.3.2 Project examples of Local Shelter Assessments
Shelter assessments were made at all three local tourist destinations, through a site
visit of SRSA and IH&RA experts. Adequate shelters can be created at community
halls, public or private schools, church halls or offi ces of NGOs and hotels. The
following map shows the various safe areas and how an evacuation would occur on
ANSAO / Phi Phi Islands.
Shelter areas on Phi Phi Islands
Tsunamis safe Areas: Zone A,B,C,D,E
Fire safe Areas: Zone H, I and J
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DISASTER RISK REDUCTION - A toolkit for Tourism Destinations