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[Katrina, preparedness] Assessment Tool for Evaluating Emergency and Disaster Shelters

Assessment Tool for Evaluating Emergency and Disaster Shelters Shelters provide refuge for communities and at-risk populations during and after emergencies and disasters. Effective emergency response requires that environmental health practitioners rapidly assess the health and safety of the shelter environment for these populations. To help meet this challenge, CDC and partners have developed an environmental health shelter assessment form (available in English and Spanish) that covers general areas of environmental health, such as food safety, sanitation, and service and companion animal care. It also provides space for listing immediate needs. The form provides guidance and information that environmental health practitioners and shelter managers can use with existing plans, procedures, resources, and management systems. The environmental health shelter assessment tool, including the assessment form, instructions for its use, and training materials, is available at http://www.emergency.cdc.gov/shelterassessment.” http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5722a5.htm?s_cid=mm5722a5_e