Delivering safe emergency social services as a host community during a pandemic

Emergency planners face considerable challenges when planning for an evacuation, while in the midst of a pandemic. This two-fold emergency adds complexity because it requires considerable planning to achieve both simultaneous and conflicting objectives of limiting the spread of COVID-19 while also delivering emergency services. The City of Prince George (CoPG) provides Emergency Social Services (ESS) for not only their own residents, but also the multitude of communities located in the northern portion of British Columbia (BC). Mass evacuations, which requires the rapid removal of a large population from disaster-impacted areas, can also inadvertently accelerate the transmission of COVID-19. Investigating and implementing strategies that reduce the potential for virus spread while providing ESS, helps provide an increased margin of safety for evacuees, CoPG residents, emergency workers and volunteers. The following study is a review of practices used in evacuation centres and other similar purposed facilities, to reduce the spread of COVID-19 while providing essential services to a large population. These strategies were evaluated for applicability into the CoPG ESS plan. Elements of the research gained from the literature review that could increase safety for the CoPG’s ESS plan are; transportation, advanced registration, dispersed evacuation, pre-screening, contact tracing, ventilation, maximizing the use of cleaning supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE), cleaning, education, and information campaigns. This study will make recommendations regarding how the CoPG can increase the safety of the ESS plan during the pandemic, reducing the transmission of the virus while providing host community services for neighboring communities.