Abstract

Evaluating Evacuation Capacity for Temporary Shelters in Greater Houston Region
Track: Disaster and Emergency Management
Authors: Noel Estwick

Within the past decade, the frequency and intensity of natural disasters has tested emergency management resources along the Texas Gulf Coast. This study utilized ArcGIS 10 spatial analyst and network analyst tools to evaluate the adequacy of evacuation capacity of general population emergency shelters to accommodate the 65 to 74 year old population group. The objectives were to determine if a mismatch existed between the supply evacuation capacity and the demand evacuation capacity, and if increasing shelter capacity would facilitate improved shelter access. The results revealed that a mismatch exist between the availability of shelter capacity and the target population. The study makes recommendations on how shelters can be better utilized to serve the target population based on the GIS analysis.