Community Disaster Shelter: Use of Convention Centers and Sports Arenas

In the period after September 11^th, and in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, many cities have developed disaster plans using their sports arenas or convention centers as staging grounds, recovery location or safe havens. In an effort to promote community unity and efficiency, these locations have been designated based on their access and location.

In determining how and why to use a convention center or sports arena in the disaster plan for a city, there are many facets that must be addressed to the process. With most of these locations not originally designed to manage disaster recovery events, the disaster planning teams must work around the structural design and infrastructure to provide the best possible service to the public in need.

Because convention centers, and most sports arenas, provide a large structure in which assembly of large groups of people can occur, they become ideal locations for providing temporary shelter to citizens of the community while also providing a staging location for relief aid workers, volunteers and government officials. In addition to vast space, these locations also provide for easy access to loading docks, parking and many public transportation services in urban areas. These additional advantages provide for easy access to the public and provide for items such as paper products and food and water to be delivered easily.

To promote the positive outcome in the use of convention centers and sports arenas as disaster planning shelter, many organizations, both private and public, are looking toward the creation of emergency plans in these locations. With mock disaster events, the teams of emergency professionals, volunteer organization leaders and even convention center staff, can quickly come together and learn the best ways in which to manage large crowds of individuals in need.