The purpose of this study was
to rank the existing and candidate shelters (schools, colleges, churches and
community centers) available in the state based on their site suitability. The research
questions examined in this study include: (1) How many candidate shelters are
located in physically suitable areas (e.g. not in a flood prone area, not near hazardous
facilities, etc.)?; (2) How many existing shelters are located in physically unsuitable
areas, but in socially suitable areas (situated in areas with demand)?; (3) How many
alternative existing and/or candidate shelters with high/very high physical suitability
are located near physically unsuitable existing shelters and thus, may be better choices
for a shelter?; and (4) How many existing shelters located in physically unsuitable
areas are not near alternative existing and/or candidate shelters? A Geographic
Information System-based suitability model integrating Weighted Linear Combination
(WLC) with a Pass/Fail screening technique was implemented for the 17 counties of
Southern Florida. It was found that 48% of the existing shelters are located in physically unsuitable areas. Out of all the candidate shelters, 57% are located in
physically unsuitable areas. For 15 of the existing shelters in unsuitable locations,
no alternative candidate or existing shelter with medium to high physical suitability
exists within 10 miles (16.1 km).