COVID-19 has changed the way we respond to natural hazards, from how populations are evacuated to how shelters operate. Even with vaccination programs ramping up, disaster responses will need to continue to take the virus’s spread and impact into account throughout 2021’s emergencies, including wildfires.
New guidance from the Societal Experts Action Network (SEAN) identifies strategies for emergency planners and decision-makers to consider as they update their disaster plans for sheltering, mass care, and evacuation amidst COVID-19.