Prep2Shelter

Overview

Description

Prep2Shelter aims to foster anticipatory disaster shelter planning through the development of a multicriteria methodology and dedicated decision-support IT tool for civil protection authorities. These outputs will strengthen the capacity to anticipate shelter needs, assess available facilities, and support more effective disaster preparedness.

The project adopts a collaborative and interdisciplinary approach, fostering knowledge exchange among scientists, disaster risk management practitioners, and local communities. This enables the integration of a broad spectrum of knowledge, from science-based data to practical, field-based expertise.

Prep2Shelter’s key focus is collective infrastructure, such as multi-purpose public facilities and schools. These are commonly converted into emergency shelters during disasters. To ensure that these facilities can adequately meet the needs of affected populations, planning and preparedness are essential. Assessing their suitability across different hazard scenarios helps to create safer, more effective, and inclusive shelter solutions.

Objectives

Prep2Shelter pursues four objectives aligned with UCPM Priorities 1, 2, and 4 (“Anticipate, Prepare, Secure”), with the ambition of improving the capacity to anticipate risks, strengthen preparedness, and deliver safe and reliable shelter solutions for affected populations.

1. Develop a multicriteria methodology and decision-support tool

Develop a multicriteria methodology to support shelter planning and selection, together with a flexible, user-friendly tool to facilitate decision-making.

2. Enable collaboration and knowledge exchange

Bring together disaster risk management (DRM) stakeholders to share expertise, lessons learned, and tailor multicriteria methodology to real-world decision-making needs.

3. Incorporate the needs of communities and vulnerable groups

Enhance the effectiveness of temporary shelter planning by integrating requirements related to safety, sanitation, cultural diversity, privacy, and the specific needs of vulnerable groups.

4. Improve anticipatory shelter planning capacity

Foster anticipatory disaster shelter planning by supporting preparedness approaches and fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange among disaster risk management stakeholders.

See more info at the project's website: https://prep2shelter.lnec.pt/ 

Project content

News

Prep2Shelter field mission explores disaster sheltering in Thessaly

The Prep2Shelter team visited Thessaly to learn from the 2021 seismic sequence and 2023 Storm Daniel and their impacts on emergency sheltering.

Prep2Shelter Workshop brings DRM practitioners together in Athens

The first Prep2Shelter stakeholder workshop brought researchers and DRM practitioners together to share experiences and shape the project methodology.

WATCH LIVE: Prep2Shelter Workshop 1 Expert Keynote on Disaster Sheltering

As part of the 1st Prep2Shelter workshop, three invited specialists will share their experience of post-disaster management and emergency sheltering.

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Outputs & results

Partner organisations