Disaster support hubs

How to use disaster support hubs

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  Earthquakes

  From the first hours to weeks after an earthquake.

  The first hours and days after an earthquake 

  Disaster support hub activities will be low-tech and community-led.

  Hubs can be used right away after an earthquake as locations for you to:

  • Meet up with family members and neighbours
  • Share resources and supplies from your emergency kit
  • Share information 

  Days to weeks after an earthquake 

  Our staff and volunteers will provide post-disaster and recovery services. 

  Services will depend on the impacts to the community, but may include:

  • Group lodging and shelter
  • Distribution of food, water, and supplies
  • Recovery information
  • Support for reuniting families

  Disaster support hubs are located at sites where there is enough outdoor space for the public to gather. These outdoor spaces can be used for some of the services listed above if facilities are damaged. 

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  Other emergencies

  How hubs may be used in other emergencies.

  Disaster support hubs are primarily intended for a community-led response after a major earthquake.

  They will also serve as locations for us to provide support to the public during other types of emergencies. 

  Examples

  Hubs may be used as:

  • Group lodging centres for residents to stay after apartment or house fires
  • Cooling centres during heat waves
  • Warming centres during extreme cold
  • Reception centres or safe gathering points for people during incidents that may require evacuation or shelter-in-place, such as chemical fires or gas leaks

  In these situations, we will publicly notify residents which disaster support hubs are being used and what services will be provided. 

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  Plan to use hubs

  Plans for families, neighbours, and community organizations.

  Disaster support hubs are a tool that should be incorporated into emergency plans for families, neighbours, and community organizations.

  Hubs can also be used depending on the specific needs of local residents and groups.

  Family meeting location

  During an emergency, you may not be able to contact your family right away, or it may not be safe for you to go home.

  Having a family meeting location is an important part of your emergency plan.

  Disaster support hubs can be used as one of your pre-planned family meeting locations.

  Neighbourhood support

  Communities will recover and rebuild faster if families and neighbours are prepared to help each other.

  Think about the resources and skills that you have that could benefit others, and the type of support that you might require after an emergency.

  Discuss your plans with your neighbours and consider ways that you can help each other at disaster support hubs.

  Community organizations

  There may be services or skills that community organizations can offer after an earthquake. Consider how your members or clients could rely on you.

  Depending on the role of your organization, disaster support hubs may be a good location for you to plan to coordinate activities and connect with your community.

  Talk to your family and neighbours now about disaster support hubs and the ways you could use them to help your community during an emergency. Find the closest location to you using the digital map on this page and download a map PDF file (110 KB) for your emergency kit.