Learn about Emergency Shelters
Emergency shelters operate to provide the public a safe place to go when hazardous conditions force them from from their homes. The City and County of Honolulu, along with our partners from voluntary and government agencies, provides a variety of shelter options for the various hazards that face Oahu’s residents. The type of shelter that opens and the services available varies based on the type of hazard and the phase of the emergency response.
In all cases, emergency shelters are intended for people who do not have other safe options. Part of your planning should be to identify when you may need to evacuate and where you would go. If you cannot identify a safer option for where to go during an emergency, the table below can help you understand the various types of shelter options the City may open in an emergency. To learn more about each type of shelter, continue down the page for full details.
What are Assembly Areas?
Parking lot or other outdoor waiting area opened as a last resort option for people who do not have another safe place to go when a hazard forces them to evacuate or temporarily keeps them from reaching their home.
Assembly Areas are opened when it is not possible to safely get shelter workers dispatched to operate shelters, or the event is expected to be over quickly.
How long are they active?
Hours
They are closed when the hazard is no longer an active danger to the public (e.g. tsunami warning canceled) and
Responders determine it is safe and possible for people to return home (e.g. no debris or damage making roads unsafe or impassible).
OR
Shelter teams are able to open post-impact shelters if homes were damaged and longer-term sheltering is needed.
Where are they usually located?
Usually located at City Parks or public school parking lots or fields that can accommodate cars and people.
Specific locations are announced at the time of the event to ensure the sites are available and safe for the type of hazard occurring.
For example, not all Tsunami Assembly Areas that are safe during an evacuation of the Standard Tsunami Zone are safe if there is an Evacuation of the Extreme Tsunami Zone.
What services and support do they provide?
Services/Support: None.
Sites are not staffed and primary access is to outdoor areas. If possible, bathrooms will be opened. Drinking fountains are available at most locations. All locations are pet-friendly but pets must be secured on a leash, in a carrier.
Who should go to an Assembly Area?
Assembly Areas are not intended to accommodate everyone evacuating. Traffic bottlenecks will occur and create unsafe conditions if everyone tries to go to a public Assembly Area. Only go to an Assembly Area if you do not have another safe place to wait.
Assembly Areas are most commonly used during a Tsunami Warning, which is one of the few hazards where the unsafe areas are known in advance. Take time now to determine if you live or work in an evacuation zone. Pick a few locations outside of the zone where you and your family could go. If you are in or near a building that is 10 stories or higher, you evacuate up to the 4th floor or above.
What are Hurricane Refuge Areas?
Hurricane Refuge Areas are facilities opened as a hurricane or tropical storm approaches the island as a last resort option for people who do not have a safe place to go to ride out the storm.
Hurricane Refuge Areas are pre-existing buildings that were not built or retrofitted to a hurricane or storm shelter standard defined in the building code. Engineers have evaluated these sites and identified specific areas least vulnerable to hurricane damage that can be used to shelter the public during a hurricane.
How long are they active?
Hours to Days
They are closed when the hazard is no longer an active threat
AND:
Responders determine it is safe and possible for people to return home (e.g. no debris or damage making roads unsafe or impassible).
OR
Shelter teams are able to open post-impact shelters if homes were damaged and longer-term sheltering is needed.
Where are they usually located?
Hurricane Refuge Areas are only operated at sites that have been evaluated by an engineer in parts of buildings identified to be least vulnerable to hurricane damage. Most sites are located in public schools.
Potential locations that may open can be viewed online. Not all locations will open for every event. Specific sites that open will be announced as a storm approaches. Confirm sites are open before you go there. View potential sites: www.honolulu.gov/hurricaneevac
What services and support do they provide?
Services/Support: Extremely Limited.
Because Hurricane Refuge Areas are simply a safe location to ride out of the storm, people must bring their own food and basic necessities.
All locations are pet-friendly but pets must be secure on a leash or in a carrier. Owners must care for their pets and bring all supplies needed.
Restrooms and drinking fountains are available but it may not be possible to safely access them during peak storm impact.
Refuge areas do not have backup power. Individuals with critical power needs must come prepared for a potential power outage by brining backup batteries for medical devices or coolers with ice for medications requiring refrigeration.
Sites are staffed by small teams of workers from voluntary and government agencies to help keep the facility safe and track how many people are staying there.
Who should go to a Hurricane Refuge Area?
Hurricane Refuge Areas are a last resort option open to anyone without a safer place to ride out the storm to use at their own risk.
While Hurricane Refuge Areas offer some protection from high winds, flying debris, storm surge and flooding, they HAVE NOT been designed or hardened for hurricane conditions. Your home, the home of a friend or family member, or even your workplace, might be a safer option.
Hurricane Refuge Areas ARE a safer option than remaining in a a home or structure that is at high risk of major damage from storm surge, flooding, and/or high winds.
Whenever possible, the public should plan to shelter-in-place with family or friends. Those without a safer place to go should plan to seek shelter in a Hurricane Refuge Area.
What are Evacuation Shelters?
Evacuation shelters are facilities opened to provide a safe location for people to go when a threat or hazard requires them to evacuate or temporarily prevents them from reaching their home.
How long are they active?
Hours to Days
They are closed when the hazard is no longer an active threat to the public
AND:
Responders determine it is safe and possible for people to return home (e.g. no debris or damage making roads unsafe or impassible).
OR
Shelter teams are able to open post-impact shelters if homes were damaged and longer-term sheltering is needed.
Where are they usually located?
Opened in facilities with large open spaces, such as multi-purpose rooms or gyms, that can accommodate lots of people in a central area.
Usually located in City Parks and Recreation facilities but may operate in public schools, churches or other partner-owned facilities as available.
Specific locations are announced at the time of the event to ensure the sites are available and safe for the type of hazard occurring.
What services and support do they provide?
Services/Support: Variable based on event.
Because these sites must open quickly and are often only open a short duration, they will likely have very limited supplies initially. People seeking shelter must bring their own food and basic necessities. Limited food and cots may be available if the site is open for an extended period.
All locations are pet-friendly but pets must be secure on a leash or in a carrier. Owners must care for their pets and bring all supplies needed.
Restrooms and drinking fountains are available.
Sites are staffed by small teams of workers from voluntary and government agencies to help keep the facility safe and track how many people are staying there.
Specialized workers to provide basic health and mental health support may be available.
Who should go to an Evacuation Shelter?
Evacuation shelters are open to anyone evacuated or unable to reach their home who does not have another safe option.
What are Post-Impact Shelters?
Post-impact shelters are facilities opened when disaster damage or other impacts displaces people from their home for an extended period.
These are intended to provide a safe location for people without other options to stay until they can return home or make other arrangements.
How long are they active?
Days to Weeks
They remain open until occupants can return home or make other temporary housing arrangements.
Where are they usually located?
Opened in facilities with large open spaces, such as multi-purpose rooms or gyms, that can accommodate lots of people in a central area.
Usually located in City Parks and Recreation facilities but may operate in public schools, churches or other partner-owned facilities as available.
Specific locations are announced at the time of the event to ensure the sites are available and safe for the type of hazard occurring.
What services and support do they provide?
Services/Support: Supplies for basic needs and recovery information.
Usually supplied with items to support basic needs such as hygiene items, food, and blankets.
All locations are pet-friendly but pets must be secure on a leash or in a carrier. Owners must care for their pets and bring supplies. Additional supplies of essential pet care resources may be available at the site.
Restrooms and drinking fountains and shower facilities are available.
Sites are staffed by teams of workers from voluntary and government agencies to register people staying, provide resources to meet basic needs and help keep the facility safe and sanitary.
Specialized workers to provide basic health and mental health support are usually available.
Additional services may be provided to help residents address disaster-caused needs and access recovery resources.
Who should go to a Post-Impact Shelter?
Post-impact shelters are open to anyone who cannot live in their home due to disaster impacts that does not have another safe option.