I.

PROJECT TITLE:

“GULOD” Evacuation Centre

A proposed Local Weather and Calamity Rescue Centre that

could withstand and adapt from the natural calamities
that endanger the lives of native and local residence
within the community. Development of 3 shelter prototypes
that is stable, resilient, and adaptive to natural
calamities.

PURPOSE

The primary purpose of the Evacuation Centre Plan is to

provide guidance to municipalities for the consideration of
public health matters during the establishment and monitoring of
an evacuation centre. It considers the physical requirements,
health protection, and health promotion amongst evacuees housed
in an evacuation centre.

KEY PRINCIPLES

Planning for an evacuation centre needs to address many

public health concerns. These include the physical amenities and
space required for well-being, minimizing the risk of different
calamities and the need to promote the health of evacuees to
prevent the acute exacerbation of diseases.

The Community Emergency Control Group is ultimately

responsible for the activation of an evacuation centre in the
event that resources are not equipped to manage the accommodation
requirements following a decision to evacuate a population.
Activation of an evacuation centre will require multi-agency
consultation and response.

USE OF THE GUIDELINE

Preparing for and responding to a public health emergency

is a Health Unit wide responsibility. This document serves as a
reference to organizers of an evacuation centre in order to
mitigate and prevent different calamities.
 However, as in any emergencysituation, there may be
factors which cannot be covered by a single set of guidelines.
This document should be used as a guide for consideration
rather than a mandatory directive. It does not replace the need
for the application of expert judgment to each individual
situation.

Introduction

Planning for an evacuation centre needs to address many

public health concerns. These include the physical amenities and
space required for well-being, minimizing of the risk of
communicable disease outbreaks, and the need to promote the
health of evacuees to prevent the acute exacerbation of chronic
diseases.

The Municipal Emergency Response Plans detail emergency

preparedness, response and recovery arrangements for the
community to ensure the coordinated response to emergencies by
all agencies, which have responsibilities and functions in
emergencies.

The Municipality’s Community Control Group is ultimately

responsible for the activation of an evacuation centre in the
event that normal resources are not equipped to manage the
accommodation requirements following a decision to evacuate a
population. Activation of an evacuation centre will require
multi agency consultation and response.

This document provides guidance regarding public health

matters that may need to be considered in the establishment and
monitoring of an evacuation centre. It will not consider
provision of medical or mental health services, although these
too will have a significant impact on the health of the evacuee
population.

I. STATEMENT PROBLEM:
 A National Government-owned and controlled corporation has
decided that one thousand eight hundred (1,800 square meters)
property located in Almeda Highway, Naga City shall host an
Evacuation Centre to serve as their shelter during natural
calamities that usually occur within the place.

A) SPACE REQUIREMENTS:

A.1. Physical Amenities

Areas Required:
1. Administration / Staff Areas
2. Registration Areas
3. Mud/Disinfecting Areas (to prevent mud and debris
being tracked into the building
This will simply cleaning and also reduce the risk
of falls on wet floors)
4. Sleeping Areas (including “addresses” within the
sleeping area so that evacuees can be easily
located for follow-up of social or medical issues)
5. Eating Area
6. Shower and toilet facilities
7. Kitchen/food preparation Area
8. Garbage collection Area
9. Laundry
10.Special Purpose Areas (e.g. prayer area)
11.Storage
12.Hand washing stations
13.Clinic area
14.Isolation area for potentially infectious people
15.Recreation areas (e.g. play area)
16.Child Care
17.Pet holding area (Refer to Section 5)

First Building (Evacuation Centre)

Ground Floor

Space Requirements :

1. Clinic Admin
2. Eating Area
3. 4. Storage/Utility
4. Isolation Room
 5. Laundry Area
6. Restrooms
7. Hand wash Area
8. Admin Area
9. Disinfecting Area

Second Floor:

10. Staffs Area

11. Shower Room
12. Hand Wash Area

Second Building (Rescue Centre)

Space requirements:

13. Offices
14. Restrooms
15. Sleeping Quarters
16. Storage
17. Lobby
18. Rescue Equipments

Third building (Local Weather Station)

Space Requirements:

1. Sleeping Quarters
2. Lobby
3. Offices
4. Storage
5. Restrooms

Physical amenities

Selection of an evacuation center site and management of the

center is the responsibility of other agencies. The information
below provides guidance for public health services if they are
asked to provide advice as to the adequacy of planned facilities.
Mud/disinfecting area

Often evacuees may come from an area that has been

contaminated (e.g. by sewage) or is muddy or dusty. In order to
maintain the cleanliness of the facility and reduce the chance of
introduction of disease an area at the entrance to the facility
should be put aside for cleaning mud from shoes and clothes.

Toilets

Ideally there should be a maximum of 20 people for each

available toilet. In the initial phases of the emergency a figure
of 50 people per toilet may be used until additional facilities
are available. Use of toilets could be arranged by households
and/or segregated by sex. The allocation of toilets may depend on
the demographics of the evacuees (e.g. predominantly male vs.
predominantly female). A regular cleaning roster should be
established and maintained. Toilet facilities should include
provision for the disposal of women’s sanitary products (e.g.
bins with tight fitting lids). Toilets should be sited in such a
way as to minimize threats to users (particularly children and
females). This includes appropriate lighting, or provision of
torches to those in the evacuation center. There should be one
wash basin per 10 people. Soap, water and hand towels should be
available in the toilets for hand washing. Posters promoting hand
washing should be available in the toilet block. Refuse bins with
tight fitting lids should be located in the toilet block.
Facilities for changing infants and for the safe disposal of
children’s used nappies should be established, including hand
washing facilities next to the changing station/s.

Major Evacuation Center: Public Health Considerations Guideline

GL2011_011 Issue date: August 2011 Page 7 of 32

Recreation area

A safe, secure recreation area should be put aside for

children and adults. Children and adults will need an area for
physical activity such as sport and games. Children may also
require an indoor area for more passive activities.
Laundry (where available)

Laundry should be processed off-site as far as possible, or

undertaken in an area separate to personal hygiene facilities. If
laundry facilities are provided there should be one wash stand
per 100 people. Garments heavily soiled with feces should be
handled carefully, wearing gloves, and placed in a plastic bag
for disposal. If feces can easily be removed using toilet paper,
the garment may be laundered by washing in a washing machine
using normal temperature settings and laundry detergent. There is
no need to disinfect the tubs of washers or tumblers of dryers if
cycles are run until they are completed. Any donated clothing
must be washed and screened for appropriateness before
distribution. All affected people should have access to
sufficient changes of clothing to ensure their thermal comfort,
dignity, health and well-being. This will require at least two
sets of essential items, particularly underclothes, to enable
laundering.

Garbage (solid waste management)

Local council is responsible for waste management in an

emergency, however public
Health services may be asked for advice. Waste disposal,
including disposal of regulated clinical waste such as needles
and syringes, should comply with local requirements. Facilities
should be provided for the proper disposal of needles and
syringes used for medications. Containers designed for sharp
waste disposal should be placed where needles and syringes are
used. Sharps containers must be AS/NZS compliant. Many people who
use needles and syringes may be reluctant to disclose their need
publicly, hence all evacuation center facilities (e.g. toilet
blocks, clinic areas) should have some capacity for the safe
disposal of needles and syringes.
Garbage receptacles should be lined with plastic bags that can be
securely tied shut. Garbage bags should not be overfilled, nor
should they be compressed by hand to expel excess air.

Major Evacuation Centers: Public Health Considerations Guideline

GL2011_011 Issue date: August 2011 Page 9 of 32

Garbage should be placed in an area separated from the

living spaces, preferably in garbage bins. Garbage bins should
have tight fitting lids to discourage vermin. Waste pick-ups
should be frequently scheduled - daily, if possible. If daily
pick-ups are not occurring, ensure the garbage is stored in a
shady location in secure bins. There should be at least one 100L
bin per 40 people. The bin should have a tight fitting lid and be
changed every 2 days. There should be 2.5 garbage collectors for
litter control per 1000 residents.

Recreation Area

A safe, secure recreation area should be designated.

Evacuees will need an area for physical activity such as sport
and games. Children may also require an indoor area for more
passive activities. Age-appropriate physical activities can be
recommended based on available resources. Access to gyms, sports
fields, equipment and programs may be possible through contacts
and relationships with area schools.

Smoking

The Smoke Fee Ontario Act and local bylaws must be

adhered to in and around the evacuation centre.

There is no legal obligation to provide designated smoking

areas. However, if it is decided such areas are to be
provided, they should be:
• located outdoors, clearly designated and well-ventilated
with no possibility the resultant smoke will contaminate
indoor areas
• located away from cross-traffic and where people may be
congregated
• provided with garbage cans and ash cans

For more information regarding tobacco regulations, refer to

the Smoke Free Ontario Act and local municipal bylaws.

Tobacco use reduction and cessation support may be offered.

Assistance or support in accessing or using nicotine-replacement
therapy may be available from the Health Unit.

Training for evacuation centre staff and volunteers regarding

substance use prevention and awareness may be valuable as an
anticipatory measure or upon identification of concerns regarding
substance use or abuse by evacuees.
II. DESIGN OBJECTIVES :

A. To design an evacuation centre that shall be expressive

of the national government desire to render excellence
public service
B. To design a building that will serve as a quick
reference for the people in the community when setting
up temporary shelters and evacuation centre during
emergencies / calamities.
C. To design a building applying vernacular architecture,
tropical design, green architecture, sustainable
architecture, energy conservation, and proper space
planning.
D. To design a building that can easily adapt from the
local weather and natural calamities occurring in the
vicinity.
E. To design a 3 prototype evacuation building showing
stability, resiliency and adaptability.
F. To design a building using the available materials
within the vicinity.

III. DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS:

A. Reaction time (travel distance to refuge and activation

time for emergency support systems).
B. Duration of occupancy
C. Privacy
D. Security/ Safety of the building (secure storage,
doors, locks, windows/view ports)
E. Isolation areas for ill or contaminated occupants or
equipment
F. Adaptability to the effects of climate change
G. Water Supply
H. Vernacular Architecture
I. Tropical Design
J. Green Architecture
K. Sustainable Architecture
L. Energy Conservation
 M. Local Weather & Calamities

Climate Resiliency

I. WIND & WATER EFFECTS ON BLDGS.

TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION SYSTEM

 (WOOD, CONCRETE, CONCRETE-WOOD, CONCRETE-

STEEL, STEEL)
 ROOFING SYSTEM & MATERIAL
 WIND EFFECTS ON BLDGS
 LOCATION & ORIENTATION OF BLDGS

A. INDIGENOUS CONSTRUCTION
(BAMBOO,COCOLUMBER,NIPA,ANAHAW)

A.1. CHARACTERISTICS

 Lightweight
 Temporary
 Least stiff
 W/ height limitation
 Most economical
 Prone to infestation

A.2 EFFECTS

 Severe damage like uplifting of the roof or

even the entire structure due to lightness &
lack of stiffness

A.3 RECOMMENDATIONS
 Provide adequate ties for joints & frames
 Provide additional. support & bracings on
existing structural frames
 Increase dead load by using heavier materials
especially for bamboo construction
 Provide additional. ties on joints or framing
connections
  Provide emergency anchorage like concrete,
stone pegs, or trees to tie structure when the
need arises

B. CONCRETE

B.1 CHARACTERISTICS
 Heavy and sturdy
 Permanent
 Cost effective because of abundance
of aggregates in the locality
B.2 EFFECTS
 Minimal damage like cracks due to
rocking & vibration.
 For worst cases crumbling of building
due to poor structural design

B.3 RECOMMENDATIONS

 Practice appropriate mixture proportion

for the different structural elements
 Observe standard structural anchorage
 Provide allowance for movements like
control joints
 Evaluate existing structure for possible
defects and damage
 Avoid using sub-standard materials

C. STEEL

C.1 CHARACTERISTICS

 Lightweight and strong

 Lasts longer when properly primed and painted
 Subject to corrosion under salty environment
 Pest resistance
 Less construction time required
 More expensive than concrete
 Availability is a problem

C.2 EFFECTS
  Minimal damage like twisting and buckling under
high wind velocity conditions

C.3 RECOMMENDATIONS

 Provide additional. bracings, stiffeners and

joints must be fully welded or properly bolted
 Apply rust protection coatings
 Evaluate existing structure for possible
defects and damage

D. MIXED (Concrete, Steel, Wood)

D.1 CHARACTERISTICS
 Cost effective as selection of materials is an
option
 Most preferred type of construction
 Allows flexibility in design

D.2 EFFECTS

 Incompatibility of materials may result to

structural collapse
 Separation at joints due to weak or lack of
anchorage

D.3 RECOMMENDATIONS

 Provide proper anchorage

 Avoid using sub-standard materials
 Evaluate existing structure for possible
defects and damage

II. ROOFING SYSTEM

A. Types (Gable, Hip, Shed, Curved)

A.1 Effect

 Hip type is more stable form than gable

 Shed is economical yet most vulnerable to
uplift wind effect
  Curve roofs is less vulnerable to aerodynamic
drag

A.2 RECOMMENDATIONS

 Use roof shapes that are less resistant to wind

 Avoid low pitch roof form

B. Materials (G.I., Indigenous, Concrete, Clay)

B.1 EFFECTS

 Indigenous roofing materials have poor wind

resistance and subject to water leaks
 G.I. roofing if of a lower gauge is prone to
ripping and uplift
 Concrete deck is subject to water seepage

B.2 RECOMMENDATIONS

 Invest on thicker gauge for G.I. roofing

 Provide add’l. fasteners at roof sheet lapping
 Provide nets for indigenous roofing
 Concrete decks must be water tight and with
sufficient over flow drains
 Use if possible concrete gutters w/ overflow
provision
 Provide & secure screen over concrete gutters to
prevent clogging from foreign materials
 Provide adequate stainless ties for clay &
concrete roof tiles
 Roof vents must have smaller slots to diffuse wind

C. WIND EFFECTS ON BLDGS

 DIRECT PRESSURE
 DRAG
 SUCTION
 ROCKING, BUFFERING
 VIBRATION
 CLEAN-OFF EFFECT

D. LOCATION & ORIENTATION OF BLDGS.

  Open & relatively flat terrain has high risk
probability for wind effects
 Projecting elements are subject to clean-off
 Buildings at coastal areas are prone to flooding &
high wind pressure
 Consider geographic & geologic factor for site
selection (some areas are subject to liquefaction,
erosion, flooding, etc.)

Public Health Role and Responsibilities

Public health has been described as "the science and art of

preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health”. It is
concerned with threats to the overall health of the community
based on population health analysis. The population in question
can be as small as a handful of people, as in an evacuation
centre or as large as all the inhabitants of several continents
(for instance, in the case of a pandemic).
The Health Unit does not provide acute care medical services
for evacuees.
The municipal emergency response plans outline numerous
responsibilities of the Medical Officer of Health/Health Unit
during an emergency. The Health Unit is responsible for the
following with respect to an evacuation centre:
a) Provides inspection of evacuation centres, makes
recommendations and initiates remedial action in areas
of accommodation standards related to: i. overcrowding,
sewage and waste disposal;
ii. monitoring of water supply, air quality, sanitation;
iii. food handling, storage, preparation, distribution
and service;
iv. appropriate infection and control practices

b) Liaises with local social service agencies on areas of

mutual concern regarding evacuation centres related to
public health information;
 c) Provides surveillance and Public Health management of
infectious disease cases and outbreaks.

If a regular epidemiological report is needed, it would be

generated and shared with all relevant agencies, decision-makers
and the community. The frequency of the report will vary with the
emergency and the stage of the emergency. Responsibility for the
production of the epidemiological report is that of the Health
Unit Research, Surveillance and Evaluation team at the time of
the health emergency.

Confidentiality of the data stored would be ensured and

reporting performed in a non-disclosive fashion.

The health information system would include a component to

ensure the timely detection of and response to infectious
disease outbreaks.

Supplementary data from other relevant sources (e.g.

police, social services) may be used to assist in the
interpretation of surveillance data and to guide decision-
making.

Location

Where possible and safe, evacuees should be accommodated

near to their homes. If the nature of the emergency is such
that the evacuation site is likely to be affected (e.g.
power, water and/or sanitation failures) then it is
preferable to move people to a site of safety.

Any building should be structurally sound and have

sufficient emergency exits. Ensure that gas, electricity, water
and sewerage systems have been checked by the relevant
authorities.

The facility will likely be housing individuals with

limited physical mobility – including those in wheelchairs,
those using mobility aids and those with very young children.
This should be considered when planning an evacuation site.

Physical Space and Air Circulation

 Living areas should be well ventilated with a reasonable
supply of fresh air available. People should have sufficient
covered living space providing thermal comfort, fresh air and
protection from the climate. This ensures their privacy, safety
and health and enables essential household and livelihood
activities to be undertaken. A covered floor area in excess of
3.72 m2per person will often be required to meet these
considerations.

The floor-to-ceiling height is also a key factor, with

greater height being preferable in hot and humid times of the
year to aid air circulation. A lower height is preferable in cold
times of the year to minimize the internal volume that requires
heating. The internal floor-to ceiling height should be a minimum
of two meters at the highest point.

There shall be no smoking in the evacuation centre (Refer

to Section 3.11) and cooking shall only occur in the food
preparation area.

The ambient temperature of the building should ideally

be 17-21°C. High temperatures may lead to heat stress. Lower
temperatures may leave vulnerable persons prone to
hypothermia.

Safety, Privacy, Rights and Responsibilities

Where possible, families should be accommodated together.

Well-planned access routes through the evacuation centre should
be highlighted. Materials to screen personal space and
opportunities for internal subdivision within the evacuation
centre should be provided. Individual spaces can aid the
provision of adequate privacy and safety.

People seeking or receiving assistance in an evacuation

centre and those who provide that care have the right to be
treated with respect. All care will be provided in a manner
that shows courtesy and consideration for a person’s culture,
religious beliefs, sexual orientation, issues arising from a
disability and right to privacy (New South Whales, Department
of Health, Population Health - Disaster Management, 2011)
Baby Friendly Environment

It is important to establish, maintain and support an

environment that is welcoming and accommodating to families and
breastfeeding mothers. Regardless of a family’s infant feeding
decision, support and information can be offered to assist
families in achieving optimal health. Women should be welcomed to
breastfeed anywhere and privacy should be accommodated if
desired.

Water Requirements

The quantities of water needed for domestic use may vary

according to the climate, the sanitation facilities available,
people's normal habits, their religious and cultural practices,
the food they cook, the clothes they wear, and so on.

In an absolute emergency, 7L per person per day of water

should be provided. Ideally, at least 15L per person per day
should be supplied for drinking, cooking and personal hygiene
requirements. The very young and the elderly are at the
highest risk of dehydration. The allocated amount may need to
be increased in hot conditions or where heavy work is being
carried out.

People should have to queue for no more than 15 minutes

to access water and it should take no more than three minutes
to fill a 20L container. Excessive waiting time suggests that
there is inadequate water availability.

Consider the number of people per tap and the water

flow. A rough guide is 250 people per tap when the water flow
is 7.5L/min.

Steps should be taken to minimize post-water delivery

contamination (e.g. containers dedicated to water collection
should be provided for family groups). People in the centre
should be provided with information regarding any water quality
concerns. The following table advises basic survival water
needs:
Simplified table of basic survival water needs

Survival needs: 2.5-3 litres per day Depends on: the

water intake climate and
(drinking and food) individual
physiology
Basic hygiene 2-6 litres per day Depends on: social
practices and cultural norms

Basic cooking needs 3-6 litres per day Depends on: food
type, social as well
as cultural norms
Total basic water 7.5-15 litres per day

Water supplied to the evacuation centre shall be potable, in

sufficient quantity to meet the needs of the occupants, and
obtained from a source approved by the Medical Officer of Health
or Public Health Inspector.

Personal Hygiene

Good personal hygiene should be promoted throughout the

centre. Hand hygiene and good respiratory etiquette (covering
coughs and sneezes) should be promoted with education materials
and distribution of equipment (e.g. alcohol-based hand cleanser,
tissues, and waste containers) if possible. Separate handwashing
stations should be set up near toilet and meal areas and there
should be systems in place to ensure high compliance.

A ratio of one shower per 50 people is suggested if the

weather is temperate and one shower per 30 people in hot
weather.

A supply of personal hygiene products should be available to

evacuees and additional items essential for ensuring personal
hygiene, dignity and well-being must be accessible (e.g.
incontinence pads, feminine hygiene products). Each individual
should have access to a supply of soap.

Cleaning of Living Areas

Rosters of personnel (either volunteers or evacuees) should
be developed and systematic cleaning undertaken. Cleaning
materials should be made available to all residents and
residents encouraged to keep the evacuation centre clean and
tidy. Any cleaning materials should be safely stored in a
designated, secure cupboard.

All floors should be swept, electrostatically mopped or

vacuumed daily. Sleeping areas must be kept neat and tidy to
facilitate cleaning activities. People should not eat in the
sleeping area to facilitate ease of cleaning and reduce the
attraction of insects.

Keeping surfaces and items clean helps reduce the spread of

infections among people living or working at the evacuation
centre. Surfaces should be cleaned with a household cleaner when
visibly dirty and on a regular schedule. Kitchens and bathrooms
should be cleaned at least daily and as necessary (e.g. after
use). Bed frames, mattresses and pillows should be cleaned and
their coverings laundered between occupants. Other furniture
should be cleaned weekly and as needed. Spills should be cleaned
up immediately.

Sanitize (i.e. reduce microbial contamination to safer

levels) high-risk surfaces using a household disinfectant or a
mixture of 1 teaspoon of household bleach in 1 liter of clean
water, mixed fresh daily. Household bleach and detergents are
dangerous and should be stored securely away from children. Where
needed, disinfectant solutions should be made up as required and
then discarded by being flushed with copious amounts of water
down the sink (down a dedicated sink for cleaners if available).
It is preferable to wear disposable gloves while performing
cleaning activities. If using bleach, gloves, apron and a face
shield should be worn.

Cleaning of high-risk surfaces is particularly important.

High-risk surfaces include:
• food preparation surfaces
• surfaces used for diaper changing
• surfaces soiled with body fluid (e.g. emesis, blood, feces).

Because of the potentially high ratio of residents to

toilets, temporary evacuation centres have a particular need for
frequent and supervised cleaning and maintenance of washroom
facilities. Designated centre personnel should ensure surfaces
are wiped down with disinfectant at least hourly while the
premises are occupied and basic supplies such as hand soap,
paper towels, and toilet paper are maintained in each washroom.
Food Safety

All foods served in the evacuation centre should be prepared

in a Health Unit approved facility. Donation of foods prepared in
home kitchens should not be served. An exception to this rule
would be low-risk baked goods.

Food Preparation Area

Where possible, food should be prepared on-site in a

dedicated food preparation area where food preparation
standards are observed. It is preferable to have a Public
Health Inspector from the Health Unit inspect the food
preparation area prior to its use to ensure it meets the
appropriate standards.

Food should not be consumed in sleeping areas. A separate

dining area should be made available to assist in keeping the
evacuation centre clean. When people bring their own hot food
into the evacuation centre, they should be encouraged to
consume it entirely or throw out the leftovers. Dining tables
should be cleaned and sanitized after each use. The dining area
floors should be washed daily and maintained in a sanitary
condition.

Pets and Public Health

The Health Unit does not recommend pets be allowed into

the evacuation centre with the exception of service animals.

There is a risk to public health if people refuse to

evacuate because of concern for a pet’s welfare and the
municipality should be prepared to provide advice.

While having a pet nearby may provide a source of comfort

for those who have been evacuated, pets may pose a risk to public
health through transmission of disease, risk of injury and loss
of amenity (noise and smell). The appropriateness of housing pets
in public evacuation centres should be carefully considered
(Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2005).
 Sometimes separate areas can be established for pets. If
this is done, then these areas should be staffed with animal
care personnel who have been trained in the handling of
animals, as well as appropriate approaches to infection
control. Animal evacuation centres or foster homes may be good
alternatives.

If there is no alternative to having pets in the

evacuation centre, the following guidelines developed by the
Center for Disease Control and Prevention, may help reduce risk
of injury or disease:
• If a pet is kept at a human evacuation centre, it should
not be allowed to roam freely around the facility and
should be kept under control at all times, either via
caging or a leash. This is for the animal’s safety, as
well as the safety of the people in the evacuation
centre.
• Animals must be kept out of food preparation areas.
 Furred or feathered pets should be housed in areas
separate from people with allergies or asthma triggered
by fur, feathers, or dander.
• Cats should be kept in a cage with a litter box that is
cleaned frequently, at least once every 24 hours.
Pregnant women or immunocompromized people should not
have contact with used litter.
• Dogs should be walked regularly on a leash outside the
centre to allow them to urinate and defecate in
designated areas. Any feces should be immediately
collected and disposed of.
• Anyone bitten by an animal should speak with a healthcare
provider to discuss associated concerns (e.g. tissue
trauma, infection, rabies). Bites and scratches should be
thoroughly cleaned with soap and water.
• People caring for pets in evacuation centres should
practice good hygiene by cleaning up after their pets
(e.g. disposal of feces) and frequently washing their
hands.
• Children younger than 5 years old should not handle
reptiles without adult supervision, and should always
wash their hands after doing so. Hand washing should be
monitored by an adult.

Control of Communicable Diseases

 Any evacuation centre should provide a focus on preventing
the spread of infectious diseases. Good infection control, plans
for effective sanitation, careful attention to food handling and
storage, and plans for the isolation of people with infectious
disease can mitigate the risk of a large-scale infectious disease
outbreak.

Evacuation centres may have limited capacity for

providing sanitary and food preparation facilities. Bathing
and laundry resources are also likely to be limited. People
should be discouraged from preparing food or laundry on-site
as this may lead to unsanitary conditions.

The centre staff should ensure that appropriate hygiene and

cleaning facilities are available. They should be aware of the
procedures required to manage a person with a potentially
infectious disease. Public health services may need to provide
advice or basic training of this topic.

Posters should be posted emphasizing the importance of hand

hygiene, safe food handling and what people should do if they
become ill. These posters should be placed in prominent
locations in the evacuation centre.

In areas that have been flood-affected, there is an

increased chance of wound contamination. Residents should be
encouraged to clean wounds appropriately. Where puncture or
other contaminated wounds have occurred, people should have
their tetanus vaccination status assessed and be immunized if
their vaccination is not up to date or unknown.

Numbers of mosquitoes can increase significantly following

floods in warmer months. Control measures should ensure that
water holes or containers capable of holding water are regularly
checked for evidence of mosquito breeding.

Vaccinations

The organization of a vaccination campaign requires good

management ability and technical knowledge. Responsibilities
for each component of the vaccination program rest with the
Health Unit. The Health Unit’s Vaccine Preventable Diseases
Program is experienced in setting up vaccination clinics and
managing immunization needs.
 There is no predefined list of vaccines for any single
emergency. The vaccination program will consider each person
individually in the context of the presenting situation.
Routine vaccines will be considered first. If possible, all
evacuees should be up-to-date with current standard vaccine
recommendations. Further vaccines will be considered according
to the presenting risk.

General Infection Control for Evacuation Centres

Use of appropriate infection control measures by all staff,

volunteers and evacuees can reduce the spread of infectious
diseases. Encourage good personal hygiene practices by adopting
the following:
• cover coughs/sneezes with tissues or sleeves, dispose of
tissues in the garbage after one use
• wash hands or use alcohol-based hand cleanser after
coughing, sneezing, after going to the toilet and before
eating
• provide tissues, waste receptacles and hand hygiene
facilities in evacuation centre living areas
• prepare food hygienically.
• do not share eating utensils or drinking containers
• do not share personal care items such as combs, razors,
toothbrushes, or towels
• have sharps disposal containers available

Management of People with Infectious Diseases in Evacuation

Centres

The arrival of people who may have symptomatic infections,

and/or unrecognized or incubating infectious diseases, combined
with potential for crowding and limited sanitary infrastructure
increases the risk of infections spreading among residents and
between residents and staff. This is particularly true of
respiratory infections and enteric diseases.

Before entering an evacuation centre, all residents should be

requested to report the following conditions:
• fever
• cough (new or changed)
 • vomiting
• diarrhea
• rash

People with any of the above conditions should be admitted to

the evacuation centre only after appropriate medical evaluation
and care. Evacuation centre staff should be actively and
regularly asking residents of the centre about the presence of
above syndromes in order to identify illness. Residents of the
centre should be instructed to report any of the above conditions
to the centre staff, in order to consult health authorities in a
timely fashion.

Evacuation centre staff with any of the above symptoms should

not work in the centre, but should seek medical evaluation by
their own healthcare provider for assessment and clearance prior
to returning to work.

If a communicable disease is identified in a person already

residing at the centre, the ill individual(s) should be separated
from other residents or transferred to a special accommodation
centre or “sick bay” (see Section 6.5). A separate area or room
to house potentially infectious people should be identified in
advance. If several people with similar symptoms are identified,
they may be housed together in one area. However, beds should be
separated by at least 2 metres and preferably screened. A
dedicated toilet facility should be identified and reserved for
use of the ill individuals only.

More than one separate area may be needed if more than one
illness is identified in the population. For example, an area
for people with an enteric illness and another area for people
with respiratory illness. Each separate area will have to have
health staff cohorted to monitor and care for the people housed
there. (Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care, 2009).
Ensure that the area is kept clean and appropriately supplied.

Each evacuation centre should have a clear plan for

transferring individuals with potentially infectious diseases
from the centre to an appropriate “sick bay”, either within the
centre or nearby. The sick bay should ideally be a room where the
sick person can be isolated. Ill individuals with respiratory
symptoms should wear a surgical mask if in close proximity to
others while awaiting evaluation or transfer. A waiting area
should be designated that is separate from the main centre living
areas, but which can be closely monitored by centre staff. A
system for identifying and notifying the staff at the receiving
“sick bay” must be in place. Hand hygiene stations must be
accessible.

Centre staff working with people who have symptoms of illness

should use Routine Practices (defined in Section 6.4) for any
interactions that require potential contact with body fluids and
should place particular emphasis on hand hygiene. The use of
Standard Precautions aims to protect residents and staff from
exposure to recognized and unrecognized sources of infection.

Routine Practices and Additional Precautions:

• wear gloves if hand contact is expected with blood, body

fluids, respiratory secretions or potentially contaminated
surfaces
• wear a disposable gown if clothes might become soiled with a
patient’s blood, body fluids or respiratory secretions
• change gloves and gowns after each patient encounter and
wash hands or use alcohol-based hand cleanser immediately
after removing gloves
• wash hands or use alcohol-based hand cleanser before and
after touching a patient, after touching the patient’s
environment, or after touching the patient’s respiratory
secretions, whether or not gloves are worn
• when hands are visibly dirty or contaminated with
respiratory secretions, wash hands with soap (either plain
or antimicrobial) and water
• cover any cuts or sores prior to patient care
• wear a mask and protective eye wear if there is a risk of
splash of bodily fluids.

‘Sick Bays’/Special Temporary Accommodation Centres

There will be circumstances where a person becomes unwell

and does not require hospital-level care, but does require a
separate room because of the nature of the disease or because of
the potential to infect others. Public health services should be
prepared to make recommendations for the appropriate placement of
affected people, noting that people in this situation only need
the level of care that family or friends would usually provide.

It is strongly recommended that such facilities are planned

for, and that centre staff, some with health care experience
(e.g. registered nurses), who are willing to care for sick
people are identified, and provided with the appropriate
instruction and supplies (i.e. PPE).

A clear referral pathway to hospital care (if

required) and for reporting disease outbreaks should be
made available during the accommodation planning.

Provision should be made to accommodate at least up to 2%

of people in this fashion. This is an estimate based on the
prevalence of infectious diseases during the winter period in
the population. However, in a closed environment the prevalence
is likely to be higher and greater space may be required should
an outbreak occur.

Surveillance and Detection

When a communicable disease outbreak is suspected among the

residents, the Health Unit should be immediately informed.

Case definitions and thresholds for notification will be

developed, in consultation with the Health Unit.

If a source is suspected, that source must be controlled

in consultation with the Health Unit. (e.g. food, water,
environment).

Susceptible groups (e.g. those who are unimmunized or who

have incomplete immunization, the very young, and the very old)
may need particular protection.

Coordination of lab testing in the event of an outbreak

would be done in consultation with the Health Unit.

Control of Non-Communicable Diseases/Chronic Illness Management

Injury

The health information system should identify any

injuries related to the evacuation centre and implement
injury prevention programs to minimize the risk of injury in
evacuees.
Hygiene Promotion

A hygiene promotion campaign should be established

within the centre. This should be included in the evacuee
induction.

Hand Hygiene

It is important for residents to wash their hands

regularly and to dry them with a paper towel to avoid illness.
Staff and residents should wash their hands with soap and
running water for at least 10 seconds after using the toilet
and before handling food. Alcohol-based hand cleanser is an
effective addition to hand washing and a reasonable temporary
substitute when soap and clean water are not readily available.

Evacuation centres are likely to have limited availability

of and/or accessibility to sinks for hand washing. Therefore,
additional attention should be paid to positioning alcohol-
based hand cleanser dispensers in convenient locations, such
as:
• the entrance to the facility,
• throughout the living areas (depending on the size of the
venue),
• at the beginning of food service lines and
• in toilet facilities.

Ensure all arriving residents are instructed on their use

and availability.

Hand hygiene messages are provided in Appendix 4 and 6.

Sample posters are also provided for information. Posters are
available from the Health Unit.

Returning Home Information

 When it is time for people to return home after a cyclone,
flood, or other natural disaster, the Health Unit will provide
information and guidance in order to reduce the probability of
illness, disease or injury to individuals and families from
hazards resulting from the disaster.

The criteria for evacuees returning home may include:

• the incident is under control and not expected to escalate
• residential premises are considered safe by the relevant
authorities or, if considered unsafe, evacuees are
transferred to longer-term accommodation
• provide information to evacuees on the current situation and
actions to take regarding recovery from the incident (e.g.
clean up information, safety precautions, utilities supply)
• information and advice about whom to contact if any ill
health effects develop (e.g. General Practitioner, local
hospital)

Specific assistance and advice may be required for people with

existing illness or injuries prior to returning home, such as:
• adequate prescription medication supply and storage facility
(e.g. insulin and refrigeration)
• specific medical equipment (e.g. blood glucose monitor,
oxygen cylinders, bandages)

Climate Adaptation

Climate scientists have been speaking out for decades about

the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in order to avoid a
significantly warmer and less livable future. Now that climate
change is finally part of the public discussion, the future is
already here—and it’s only getting warmer. Designing energy-
efficient buildings is an important step toward preventing more
drastic warming. We need to redouble these efforts—the 2030
Challenge goal of carbon-neutral buildings by 2030 will be a
difficult yet critical standard to meet. More and more experts
acknowledge that while we must continue to do all we can to slow
greenhouse gas emissions, we must also begin designing buildings
that will work in a changing climate. This article examines the
science of global climate change and looks at how we can adapt
the built environment to a world that will, by most accounts, be
very different by the end of this century from the one we know
today.

The Reality of Climate Change

Debate may continue in some circles about whether humans are

causing climate change, or even whether it is happening at all,
but the scientific consensus is overwhelmingly clear. A report
issued in June 2009 by the U.S. Global Change Research Program
(USGCRP)—which coordinates climate change research of 13 federal
agencies and operated as the U.S. Climate Change Science Program
from 2002 through 2008 under the George W. Bush presidency—
estimates that global average temperatures have risen
approximately 1.5ºF (0.8ºC) since before the Industrial
Revolution and could rise another 2ºF–11ºF (1.1ºC–6.1ºC) by the
end of this century, based on modeling of a variety of greenhouse
gas emissions levels, mitigation efforts, and economic scenarios.
“The reality of climate change is unequivocal—we see it in many
aspects of the Earth’s climate system,” said Jonathan Overpeck,
Ph.D., co-director of the Institute of the Environment at the
University of Arizona and a co-author of the USGCRP report.

A matter of degrees
The question in the scientific community seems to be
not whether we will see change but how much we will see. “The
confidence that something is going to happen is exceedingly
high,” said Stephen Schneider, Ph.D., professor of biology and
interdisciplinary environmental studies at Stanford University
and a leading proponent of climate change adaptation. “Where it
gets a bit more speculative is with questions like how many
meters of sea level rise we will see and what the changes in
rainfall will look like,” Schneider told EBN. He suggests that
the extent of change depends on a few primary factors, including
the speed with which the climate responds to varying
concentrations of greenhouse gases, or “climate sensitivity”; the
ability of the oceans and land-based ecosystems to absorb carbon
dioxide (CO2) emissions; and the robustness of our efforts to
curb the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

Some effects of the warming planet are already being felt,

and further consequences are on their way. These changes will
vary from region to region, but general trends include changing
precipitation patterns and heavier downpours, even in areas where
overall precipitation will decline; longer, hotter, and more
frequent heat waves; rising sea levels due to melting glaciers
and land-based ice sheets; loss of both sea ice and protective
snowpack in coastal areas; stressed water sources due to drought
and decreased alpine snowfall; and “positive feedback loops”—
consequences of warming that cause further warming, such as
melting sea ice decreasing the capacity of the northern oceans to
reflect solar radiation back out of the atmosphere.

Alarmingly, a paper published in the Proceedings of the

National Academy of Sciences by Susan Solomon, Ph.D., of the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and
colleagues in February 2009 reported that these changes to the
earth’s systems due to anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions
will be largely irreversible for 1,000 years after emissions
stop. The authors emphasized that if atmospheric
CO2 concentrations rise to anywhere between 450–600 ppm (from
their current levels around 385 ppm), we will see permanent
decreases in dry-season rainfall and “inexorable sea level rise”—
between 0.4 and 1.0 meters (15–40 inches) if CO 2concentrations
reach 600 ppm, and 0.6 to 1.9 meters (24–75 inches) if
concentrations rise above 1,000 ppm—the consequences of which
would be catastrophic. Other scientists, including James Hansen,
Ph.D., director of NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies,
believe that we must reduce CO2 levels to below 350 ppm or risk
“irreversible catastrophic effects.”

Adaptation: ‘Not an either-or proposition’

Much of what we already do in green building is related to

mitigating (preventing or slowing) our impact on climate change.
But given the slow pace of climate policy changes and the still-
contentious political climate, we cannot stop greenhouse gas
emissions on a dime, which means we are looking at changes to the
earth’s systems that could radically alter our way of life. The
implications are clear: no amount of mitigation will prevent
potentially devastating impacts; it’s necessary for us to adapt.

The human tendency to adapt reactively is well documented,

as in the case of New Orleans, where the destruction of Hurricane
Katrina laid bare the city’s vulnerability to extreme storms.
But proactive adaptation will be necessary to avoid far more
widespread impacts of climate change elsewhere. Some
municipalities have begun to incorporate climate adaptation
provisions into their long-range planning, and in August 2009
California unveiled the first statewide strategy to adapt to
climate change.

These policy efforts have been slower than some climate

scientists feel is necessary, and some of this may be due to a
perception that adaptation initiatives will take time and
resources away from mitigation programs. “What should be done
about [climate change] is a legitimate debate,” says Schneider,
but he argues that ultimately, mitigation and adaptation must
complement each other. “The bottom line is that you’ve got to
adapt to what won’t get mitigated—and unfortunately that’s going
to be a few degrees—and mitigate what you can’t adapt to.”
Jonathan Overpeck agrees: “Adaptation and mitigation are not an
either-or proposition,” he told EBN.

There are many ways in which we can plan today for a

changing climate. The strategies described below provide a
sampling of ideas; this is not a comprehensive list. Many of
these strategies make sense for other reasons, such as reduced
operating costs, reduced emissions, and greater durability, but
providing resilience to the effects of a changing climate may
prove to be the easiest way to justify—or mandate—such changes.

Warmer temperatures

Increasing temperature is at the heart of climate change,

and responding to this change is a critical component of any
climate-change adaptation strategy. Longer, hotter, and more
frequent heat waves raise demands for air-conditioning and
increase heat-related deaths and injuries. Heat-adaptive
strategies differ markedly by climate—what makes sense in
Phoenix, where temperatures in the summer of 2009 have exceeded
115°F (46°C), will be very different from what makes sense in the
Arctic, where melting permafrost is already affecting foundation
design, according to John Davies, Ph.D., research director at the
Cold Climate Housing Research Center in Fairbanks, Alaska.

Design cooling-load-avoidance measures into buildings.

Use building geometries to limit solar gain on east and
west façades, limit the area of east- and west-facing glazing,
incorporate exterior shading devices above glazing, specify
glazings tuned to the orientation (glass with a low solar heat
gain coefficient on east and west façades), incorporate high
insulation levels to reduce conductive heat gain, provide high-
albedo (reflective) roofing, and provide optimized daylighting to
minimize the use of electric lighting.

Design natural ventilation into buildings. In some climates,

particularly those with low relative humidity, buildings can be
designed to rely entirely on natural ventilation; in higher-
humidity climates natural ventilation may be more practical as a
backup cooling strategy that can be used during power outages as
a passive survivability measure or during periods when bringing
in outside air will not introduce excessive moisture.

Limit internal gains by specifying high-efficiency lighting

and equipment. The higher the efficiency of lighting, office
equipment, appliances, and mechanical equipment, the less waste
heat is generated. In general, equipment choices are less
important than design decisions since equipment is replaced more
frequently.

Model energy performance with higher cooling design

temperatures.
With a climate that is projected to become warmer, cooling
design temperatures used in energy modeling should be raised.
This will help to justify higher investments in cooling-load-
avoidance measures. (We’re still likely to see cold winters, so
don’t raise the heating design temperatures.)

Provide landscaping to minimize cooling requirements.

Trees, vines, annuals, and green roofs can all help control
heat gain and minimize cooling demands on a building. Carefully
designed landscaping can also help to channel cooling breezes
into buildings to enhance natural ventilation. Involve landscape
architects or designers at the earliest stage of planning with a
new building so that existing vegetation can be preserved to aid
in these uses.

Address urban heat islands in building design and

landscaping.
It is not unusual for urban heat islands to maintain
temperatures 6°F–8°F (3°C–4°C) above that of surrounding rural
land, according to Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Urban
heat islands increase cooling requirements and produce localized
smog. Specific measures to reduce urban heat islands include tree
planting, installation of green roofs on buildings, roofing with
reflective membranes or coatings, and installation of light-
colored (higher-albedo) pavement and walkway surfaces.
Neighborhood participation and policies that address urban heat
islands will help communities achieve the greatest benefit, as
these strategies are most effective with widespread
implementation.

Plan for termite ranges extending north. Termite ranges are

extending north, so measures to exclude or control these insects
should be implemented in the northern U.S. and parts of Canada
(see EBN Sept. 2000).

Drought and water shortages

Changes in precipitation patterns are an expected outcome of

climate change, so designing for drought is a high priority in
many regions. Even in places that receive relatively high levels
of precipitation, such as the southeastern U.S., drought can
occur, as we learned in 2007 when Lake Lanier, the Atlanta area’s
primary water source, shrank to historically low levels. Places
that have not traditionally had to deal with drought are less
prepared to respond. Emergency water-use restrictions are
commonly imposed during drought, but there are design- and
planning-related measures that can reduce the risk and lessen the
difficulty or long-term impacts of response.

Avoid new development in the driest regions. An obvious, but

remarkably rare, response to expected water shortages and drought
is to restrict new development in areas most likely to be
affected. California has a provision requiring developers of
large projects (over 500 housing units) to demonstrate that there
will be an adequate water supply for 20 years before a building
permit is issued. It is likely that much broader building
moratoriums will become necessary in many areas in the future,
and it makes sense for municipalities to establish procedures
today that will enable such measures to be instituted when and if
they become necessary.

Specify water-efficient fixtures and appliances. Most water

fixtures and equipment are replaced relatively often—many cycles
within the lifespan of a typical building—but this doesn’t mean
you shouldn’t install state-of-the-art water-conserving products
when any new building is constructed or an existing building is
renovated. Building owners should ensure that any replacements
are state-of-the-art as well.

Plumb buildings with water-conserving fixtures in mind. In

homes, structured plumbing (sometimes referred to as “home-run”
systems), in which individual piping lines (PEX tubing) run to
each fixture or appliance from a central manifold, allows
smaller-diameter lines to feed water-conserving fixtures. For
example, if a water-saving, 0.5 gallon per minute (1.9 lpm),
lavatory faucet is supplied by a 3⁄4" (19 mm) pipe, there will be
a long wait for hot water. The wait time (and water waste) can be
significantly reduced by running a 3⁄8"-diameter (10 mm) line to
this feature.
 Plumb buildings for graywater separation. Even if graywater
collection is not permitted today, it makes sense to plumb
wastewater lines to simplify the installation of a graywater
system in the future.

Harvest rainwater.
In many climates, rainwater can be collected and stored for
outdoor irrigation, toilet flushing, and, with proper filtration
and treatment, potable uses. By addressing rainwater harvesting
during design, it may be possible to locate cisterns high on the
building to facilitate gravity distribution—which can be
critically important during power outages or emergency
situations. Rainwater collection is still illegal in some states,
particularly in the West, but that is changing as water shortages
become a reality.

Plant native, climatically appropriate trees and other

vegetation.
Conventional turf requires about 40 inches (1 m) of
rainfall per year, distributed evenly over the growing season,
and such turf is being planted from Arizona to Maine. Similarly,
the same few dozen trees and shrubs are being planted nationwide,
no matter what the climate—often locking building owners into
decades of watering. When drought emergencies are imposed, such
vegetation often dies, unable to survive without irrigation. A
better and lower-risk approach is to plant vegetation that is
adapted to the local climate and able to survive periodic
droughts. Such practice is often referred to as xeriscaping.
Areas of turf needed as play areas or for aesthetic reasons can
be irrigated with harvested rainwater or graywater as local
regulations allow.

More intense storms, flooding, and rising sea levels

 According to some experts, the most visible and imminent
effects of climate change will likely be the increasing severity
of storms. As water temperatures rise in the South Atlantic,
tropical storm systems will pick up more energy, resulting in
higher-magnitude hurricanes on the Gulf Coast and Eastern
Seaboard. Elsewhere, changing precipitation patterns are expected
to deliver more rainfall in intense storms that result in river
flooding. To complicate matters, development has made our
landscapes less able to absorb rainfall, says architect Don
Watson, FAIA, who is writing a book on “design for resilience.”
“We’ve taken away all the absorptive capacity of our landscapes,”
Watson told EBN. Adapting to climate change will require making
our buildings more resilient to storms and flooding. In the
longer term, we need to prepare for rising sea levels and
restoring the ability of our land to absorb water.

Avoid building in flood zones.

Flood zones are expanding—often faster than revisions to
zoning regulations, meaning that simply following the law
relative to the siting of buildings may not be enough. Instead of
designing to 100-year floods, consider designing to 500-year
floods, seeking civil engineering or surveyor assistance as
needed.

Expand storm water management capacity and rely on natural

systems.
More intense storms will strain the capacity of standard
storm water management infrastructure in some areas. Provide
larger storm water conveyance and detention basins, and try to
rely on natural features, constructed wetlands, and other
ecologically based systems to manage storm water. “Restore the
ecological services of the landscape,” says Watson.
 Design buildings to survive extreme winds.
The Miami-Dade County Hurricane Code has done a great deal
to lessen storm damage in Florida. This sort of code should be
adopted much more widely (not just in hurricane-prone areas) to
protect buildings from the more severe storms that are expected.
Examples of specific measures that impart good wind resistance to
a building include installing impact-resistant windows (compliant
with Miami-Dade Protocols PA 201, PA 202, and PA 203) or exterior
shutters; installing outward-opening doors that are less likely
to be pushed inward in intense wind; designing walls to resist
uplift using hurricane strapping and other metal fasteners that
provide a continuous load path from foundation to roof (see photo
above); anchoring walls properly to foundations or frost walls;
designing walls to resist shear and lateral forces using
engineered wall bracing or shear panels for frame walls and
proper use of re-bar for masonry walls; designing roof geometries
(such as hip roofs) that are less prone to wind damage than gable
roofs; installing continuous roof underlayment; properly
installing high-strength roof sheathing (such as 5⁄8" plywood)
that will resist uplift; and specifying roofing that has been
tested to ASTM standards for wind resistance.

Raise buildings off the ground.

In flood-prone areas—even where flooding is only remotely
possible—raise buildings or living spaces above ground level to
minimize damage in the event of flooding. With any type of pier
foundation, use great care to ensure that energy performance and
airtightness are not compromised; raised floors are notoriously
difficult to insulate and seal.

Specify materials that can survive flooding.

Especially in locations where flooding or hurricane damage
is likely, use materials that can get wet and then dry out with
minimal damage. Such materials include preservative-treated sills
and wood framing (choosing environmentally friendly treatments
like sodium silicate and borate), fiberglass-faced rather than
paper-faced drywall, and tile or resilient flooring rather than
carpeting.

Install specialized components to protect buildings from

flooding or allow flooding with minimal damage.
Breakaway wall panels on pier foundations in flood-prone
areas can allow floodwaters to pass under a house without
destroying it. Flood vents (permanent openings in foundation
walls) allow floodwaters to escape. Specialized flood barriers,
such as products made by Savannah Trims (www.floodbarriers.net),
can keep rising floodwaters out in certain situations.

Elevate mechanical and electrical equipment.

To minimize damage—and danger—from flooding, elevate
mechanical equipment, electrical panels, and other equipment
above a reasonably expected flood level.

Install check valves in sewer lines.

These prevent floodwaters from backing up into drains in a
building—which can occur when sewers or combined storm sewers are
overloaded.

Begin planning for rising sea levels in coastal areas.

Some of our largest population centers and a number of
resort developments are located in low-lying coastal areas that
are vulnerable to rising sea levels. Considerable planning will
be needed to protect buildings and infrastructure in such places—
ranging from construction of levees and flood walls to
reconfiguring entire coastal landscapes in ways that minimize
risks from rising sea levels. In some areas, it will be necessary
to move entire cities and towns. We need to begin planning for
such monumental efforts in a serious way.

Wildfire

In certain climates and ecosystems, climate change will

increase the risk of wildfire—particularly in the West but also
in other areas where it is not common today. The concern is
exacerbated by development that has sprawled into chaparral areas
that are managed by periodic fire. Most homes that are ignited by
wildfires catch fire from airborne embers (firebrands) that may
extend ahead of a wildfire by a mile or more. Measures described
here largely concern residential buildings, which comprise most
of the structures being built in wildfire-prone areas.

Specify Class A roofing.

The roof is the most vulnerable component of a house to
wildfire, according to the Center for Fire Research and Outreach
at the University of California, Berkeley. Standard tile roofs
are particularly vulnerable to wildfire, because wind-blown
embers can enter attics through gaps in the tile. To reduce risk,
a Class A “assembly rating,” for roofing, which addresses both
the roofing and underlying components, should be specified (based
on ASTM E-108 testing). Complex rooflines with dormers, valleys,
and other architectural features increase risk because pine
needles and other debris accumulate in these places and can catch
fire from blowing embers.

Eliminate gutters or design and maintain them to minimize

fire risk.
Embers can quickly ignite pine needles and other debris
caught in gutters, which can then impinge on the roof-edge
assembly. Both metal and vinyl gutters are problematic—
noncombustible metal gutters stay in place when burning, thus
exposing the roof edge to fire, while vinyl gutters typically
melt and fall off but continue burning on the ground, exposing
siding to fire. Eliminating gutters and providing moisture
management in some other way is one option in fire-prone areas.
If gutters are used, screening and other features can help keep
gutters free of debris, though some trap debris above the gutter.
Diligent cleaning of gutters by homeowners is of paramount
importance.

Avoid vented roofs or protect vents from ember entry.

Embers entering a roof through soffit vents are one of the
leading causes of home ignition during wildfires. The best option
is to design—and carefully build—an unvented (or hot) roof; great
care is required to control air leakage and moisture entry. Where
vents are used in wildfire areas, maximum 1⁄8" (3 mm) screening
should be used, but even this can admit some embers. Specialized
soffit venting products are available to minimize risk. While
some wildfire design guides suggest limiting roof overhangs
(soffit depths) because they can trap pockets of heated air, this
conflicts with moisture-control benefits of deep overhangs, and
the Berkeley Center for Wildfire Research and Outreach recommends
maintaining deep overhangs.
Install high-performance, tempered windows. Window glass
breaks from thermal stresses during a fire, allowing fire to
enter the house. Double- and triple-glazed windows are less prone
to breakage during a fire than single-glazed windows, and
tempered or reinforced glass further helps prevent breakage.
Choose deck materials carefully. Plastic and wood-plastic
composite decks are fairly vulnerable to fires (see EBN Nov.
2002). Solid wood decking is surprisingly resistant to wildfire,
though some treated decking products, such as Timber SIL, offer
significantly better fire resistance. Generally more important
than the decking materials is the management of the deck area and
keeping combustible vegetation and other material away from it.
Patios provide a safer alternative to decks.
Install noncombustible siding. While siding is less often
the point of home ignition in a wildfire than the roof, windows,
or vents, it can be the weak point if these other components are
particularly fire-safe or if an adjacent structure catches fire.
Non-combustible options include fiber-cement siding, metal
siding,three-coat stucco, and brick. Wood siding can be made
“ignition-resistant” by treating it with an exterior fire-
retardant chemical.
Manage vegetation around homes. In wildfire-prone areas,
fire-safe landscaping around a home is very important.
Recommended practices include keeping dry grasses, brush, and
dead leaves at least 30 feet (10 m) from the house (more on a
slope); maintaining firefighter access around the house;
selecting drought-tolerant, high-moisture-content plants; pruning
trees to maintain at least 10 feet (3 m) between branches and the
roof; and pruning lower branches of trees near homes to eliminate
“fire ladders” that allow fires to reach tree canopies. Some
homeowners go so far as to keep all vegetation away from a home,
maintaining instead a barren “mulch” of crushed stone; such an
extreme measure should not be required in most places. See
references, including Firewise.org, for more recommendations.

Power interruptions
Some of the likely impacts of climate change, such as intense
storms and flooding, can cause power outages directly. Drought
can also cause power outages indirectly if lack of cooling water
for power plants results in rolling blackouts or brownouts.
Adapting buildings to climate change should include measures that
will make those buildings less affected by power outages. This is
one of the key tenets of passive survivability, detailed
in EBN May 2006.
 Design buildings to maintain passive survivability. Homes,
apartment buildings, schools, hospitals, and certain other public
buildings should be designed to maintain livable conditions in
the event of loss of power or heating fuel, or shortages of water
—a design criterion known as passive survivability. Specific
strategies include an extremely high-performance building
envelope (high insulation levels, triple-glazed windows in cooler
climates, etc.), cooling-load-avoidance features, natural
ventilation, and passive solar heating.
Provide dual-mode operability with high-rise buildings. Look
into designing tall buildings that will operate in normal mode
when utility power is available, and in an emergency passive mode
during power outages or when site-generated power is used. In the
passive mode, electricity flow would be limited to critical needs
such as elevators, ventilation fans, heating system pumps and
fans, fire suppression systems, critical lighting, and so forth,
so that the building could maintain limited functionality rather
than having to be evacuated.
Design mechanical systems to operate on DC power. If
mechanical systems are designed with DC-powered pumps, motors,
and fans, they can be more easily switched to non-grid power,
which could be provided by backup generators or renewable energy
systems.
Provide site-generated electricity from renewable
energy. Incorporate photovoltaic panels into buildings or link
buildings with other nearby renewable energy sources such as
stand-alone wind turbines or small hydropower facilities.
Provide solar hot water. Install solar water-heating
systems. Especially appropriate are systems that can operate
passively or that rely on integral photovoltaic modules to
operate pumps so that functionality is maintained during power
outages.
 In urban and suburban areas, maintain access to the
sun. Site-generated electricity and solar-thermal energy will
become increasingly important with climate change, and being able
to retrofit buildings for solar electricity, water heating, space
heating, and absorption or evaporative cooling will depend on
solar access. Solar access should be mandated by zoning and other
provisions.
Plan and zone communities to maintain functionality without
power. Incorporate measures for ensuring mobility, access to key
services, and general functionality during power outages or
gasoline shortages through effective municipal planning and
zoning. Providing high-density, pedestrian-friendly, mixed-use
communities surrounded by farmland and open space should be a
high priority among planners.

Looking to the Future

Most of these strategies for adapting buildings to the

effects of climate change are relatively straightforward—and
eminently doable. It makes sense to incorporate these into our
design palette today. There are other challenges that are likely
to be far more complex, requiring significant cultural and
economic shifts if we are to adapt to a future that is not only
warmer but must function without petroleum. Alternate
transportation systems, new agricultural practices and food
systems, more localized economies, and stronger neighborhood and
community networks will make us more resilient to changes and
uncertainty in a way that simply building better buildings
cannot. The adaptive measures addressed here give us something we
can think about and act upon today. The good news is that many of
these measures also help to mitigate climate change—and quite a
few reduce building operating costs or improve durability,
benefiting building owners as well as the future of the planet.
FIRE CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES

PRESIDENTIAL DECREE No. 1185 FIRE CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES

SAFETY MEASURE, FIRE SAFETY, WARINING SYTEMS Safety measures for
Hazardous Materials Fire Safety shall be required for the
storage, handling of hazardous materials involving:

• Cellulose nitrate plastic of any kind,

• Combustible fibers;

• Cellular materials such as foam, rubber, sponge r plastic foam

• Flammable and combustible liquids or gases classifications;

• (Flammable paints, varnishes, stains and organic coatings;

• High-piled or widely spread combustible stock;

• Metallic magnesium in any form;

• Corrosive liquids, oxidizing materials, organic peroxide, nitro

methane, ammonium nitrate, or any amount of highly toxic,
pyrophoric, hypergolic, or cryogenic materials or poisonous gases
as well as material compounds which when exposed to heat or flame
become a fire conductor, or generate excessive smoke or toxic
gasses;

• Blasting agents, explosives and special industrial explosive

materials, blasting caps, black powder, liquid nitro-glycerin,
dynamite, nitro-cellulose, fulminates of any kind, and plastic
explosive containing ammonium salt or chlorate.

• Fireworks materials of any kind or form;

• Matches in commercial quantities;

• Hot ashes, live coals and embers;

• Mineral, vegetable, or animal oils and other derivatives/by

products; • Combustible waste materials for recycling or resale;
• Explosive dusts and vapors; and

• Agriculture, forest, marine or mineral products which may

undergo spontaneous combustion,
 • Fire protection features such as sprinkler systems, hose
boxes, hose reels or strand pipe systems and other firefighting
equipment;

• Fire alarm systems;

• Firewalls to separate adjoining buildings, or warehouses and

storage areas from other occupancies in the same building;

• Provisions for confining the fire at its source such as fire

resistive floors and walls extending up to the next floor slab or
roof, curtain board and other fire containing or stopping
components;

• Termination of all exit in an area affording safe passage to a

public way or safe dispersal area;

• Stairway, vertical shafts , horizontal exits, and other meals

of egress sealed from smoke and heat;

• A fire exit plan for each floor of the building showing the
route from each other room to appropriate exits, displayed
prominently on the door of such room;

• Self-closing fire resistive doors leading to corridors;

• Fire dampers in centralized air-conditioning ducts;

• Roof vents for use by fire fighters; and

• Properly marked lighted exits with provision for emergency

lights to adequately illuminate exit ways in case of power
failure PROHIBITED ACTS The following are declared as prohibited
act and emission

• Obstructing or blocking the exit ways or across to building

clearly marked for fire safety purposes, such as but not .limited
to aisles in interior rooms, any part of stairways, hallways,
corridors, vestibule, balconies or bridges leading to a stairway
or exit of any kind, or tolerating or allowing said violations;

• Constructing gates, entrances and walkways to buildings

components and yards which obstruct the orderly and easy passage
of fire fighting vehicles and equipment;
 • Prevention, interference are obstruction of any operation of
the fire service, or of duly organized and authorized fire
brigades;

• Obstructing designated fire lanes or access to fire hydrants;

• Overcrowding or admission of person beyond the authorized
capacity in movie houses, theaters, coliseums;

• Auditoriums or other public assembly buildings, except on other

assembly areas on the ground floor with open sides or open doors
sufficient to provide safe exits;

• Locking fire exits during period when people are inside the
building;

• Prevention or obstruction of the automatic closure of fire

doors or smoke partitions or dampers;

• Use of fire protective of firefighting equipment of the Fire

Service other than for firefighting except in other emergencies
where their use are justified; Government reserves the right to
reject the entire lot or lots of plants represented by the
detective samples. Any plant rendered, unsuitable for planting
because of the inspection will be considered as samples and will
not be paid for. PARKING 2. Parking Areas 2.1 Accessible parking
spaces should be located as close as possible to building
entrances or to accessible entrance; 2.2 Accessible parking slots
should have a minimum width of 3.70 m; 2.3 A walkway from
accessible spaces of 1.20 m clear width shall be provided between
the front ends of parked cars; 2.4 Parking spaces for the
disabled should never be located at ramped or sloping areas 7.
Corridors shall have a minimum clear width of 1.20 m; waiting
areas and other facilities or spaces shall not obstruct the
minimum clearance requirement; 8. Turn about spaces should also
be provided at or within 3.50 m of dead end; 9. As in walk-ways,
corridors should be maintained level and provided with slip-
resistant surface; WASHROOMS AND TOILETS 7. Accessible public
washrooms and toilets shall permit easy passage of a wheelchair
allow the occupant to enter a stall, close the door and transfer
to the water closet from either a frontal or lateral position; 8.
Accessible water closet stall shall have a minimum area of 1.70 m
x 1.80 m; 9. A turning space of 2.25 square meter with a minimum
dimension of 1.50 meter for wheelchairs shall be provided outside
water closet stalls; 10. The minimum number of accessible water
closet on each floor level or on that part of a floor level
accessible to the disable shall be one (1) where the total number
of water closets per six on that level is twenty (20); and two
(2) where the number of the water closets exceed twenty (20); 11.
Maximum height of lavatories should be 0.80 meter with a knee
recess of 0.60 – 0.70 vertical distance and a 0.50 meter depth;
12. Urinals should have an elongated lip or should be trough-
type; the maximum height of the tip should be 0.48 meter.

IV. PROJECT SITE FEATURES

The 1800 square meters total lot area is an inside lot

with a 20% open space. It is located along a twenty
meters (20.0 m) wide Right Road of Way. It has a five
meter (5m) wide frontage facing the southeast. To the
left side is a river. To the rear side are mountains.

V. APPLICABLE DEVELOPMENT CONTROL

The following development controls apply to the Project

site:
a. a. zoning classification is GI (general
institutional development); the property has a
legislated;
b. b. based on the NBCP 2004 R-IRR, the Project site
has the following development limitations:
1. The minimum setbacks at ground floor are at
five (5.0) m at the front.
2. An Allowable Maximum TGFA of up nine hundred
forty-seven (947.0) sqm. i.e. inclusive of all
AFSU areas; and
3. Minimum parking space/slot requirements shall
be at one (1.0) parking slot for every 70.0 sqm
of GFA or fraction thereof.

VI. IDENTIFIED DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL

 The Project site has the following development
potentials:

a. up to three (3.0) floors at eleven point five

(11.5) m floor to floor height;
b. a five point five (5.5) level/floor building
development i.e. to be constructed above the
podium development, at four (4.0) m floor to
ceiling height;

VII. SCOPE AND DELIMITATIONS

Various approaches to evacuations have been taken

in different countries around the world. This guide
relates to emergencies resulting from natural disasters
and incorporates considerations, best practices and
guidance from a wide range of different sources, and
from a variety of countries, to provide a generic
template for creating an evacuation plan. It should be
noted, therefore, that the template must be adapted to
take into account specific variables important to
different contexts.

Variables might include, for example, the

potential scale and location of evacuation zones and
areas of refuge; shelter options available; access to
safe transport; public information and basic services;
social, cultural, age and gender-specific needs for
protection; the potential duration of evacuees’
displacement and evolving needs; processes to
facilitate safe and voluntary return or relocation
elsewhere; or administrative procedures and budgetary
allocations linking evacuation to post-disaster
recovery.

Assessments of risk require systematic collection

and analysis of data and should consider the dynamic
nature of hazards and vulnerabilities that arise from
socio-economic conditions and changing environment.
 Hazard and vulnerability information is central to
almost every aspect and every stage of natural disaster
risk management8. Different hazards and their risks may
require different courses of action. In the event that
hazard mapping and risk assessments point to the need
to develop an evacuation plan, the template below can
be used by practitioners as a tool for developing their
own plans.

This development also assumes that evacuation is a

measure of last shelter: it should not expose people in
transit to more danger than if they had sheltered from
the danger.

II. DESIGN REQUIREMENTS

The stated Project requirements are as follows.

Should the requirements exceed the development controls
and potentials under items VI and VII above, the
necessary adjustments have to be made to fully comply
with the stated development controls.

III. DRAWING REQUIREMENTS

A. Floor Plans at scale 1 : 100 M; provide furniture/

equipment layouts only as necessary; if rooms/areas are
typical, provide furniture layout only for a
representative room/area to save time; highlight all
introduced accessibility features and fire exits;

B. Elevations at scale 1 : 100 M;

C. Longitudinal Section (at long axis of the building) at

scale 1 : 100 M

D. Site Development Plan at scale 1 : 200 Meters (M) and

showing the following key information:
1. outline of the building footprint;
 2. accessibility features (disabled);
3. site perimeter security features e.g.
perimeter wall/ fence, gate, pedestrian/ vehicular
barriers, guard outpost (as necessary), etc.;
4. pedestrian access systems;
5. open parking, driveway and parking ramps (as
needed);
6. ground-mounted signage locations (if any);
7. call out/indicate areas to be landscaped
(hardscape and softscape);
8. the area of the building footprint and its
percentage with respect to the 1,800 sqm TLA;
9. The street, particularly the sidewalks;
10. The adjoining land uses; and indicate the
northing and the directions of the sun path, the
major winds (habagat and amihan), sources of noise
and odors and available views (if any are clearly
identifiable).

BUBBLE DIAGRAM
RESCUE CENTER

RESTROOM OFFICES

LOBBY
SLEEPING QUATERS

RESCUE EQUIPMENTS

STORAGE

BUBBLE DIAGRAM
LOCAL WEATHER STATION

LOBBY

OFFICES

SLEEPING QUARTERS

RESTROOM
STORAGE

BUBBLE DIAGRAM
EVACUATION CENTER

LAUDRY
AREA STORAGE/UTIL
KITCHEN / FOOD
RESTRO ITY
PREPARATION AREA
OM

EATING AREA
HAND
WASH
AREA
STAIR
UP
CLINIC

ISOLATION ROOM

ADMINISTRATION
OFFICE

REGISTRATION

DISINFECTING
AREA GROUND FLOOR PLAN

BUBBLE DIAGRAM

EVACUATION CENTER

HANDWASH AREA
BATHROOM / SHOWER
ROOM

STAIR
DOWN

STAFFS
AREA

SECOND FLOOR PLAN