CARE: Public Post-Disaster Emergency Aid Facilities for Victims

Over the past 20 years, an increasing number of emergency aid products for personal and family purposes have become available on the market. However, little attention has been focused on public facilities. This article is based on a joint design research project conducted by teams from Hong Kong, the United States, and the Chinese mainland. It is review in nature with the supplement of empirical fieldwork findings. Fieldwork was conducted in Wenchuan of China after an earthquake. Other cases include earthquakes (e.g., those in Japan, Taiwan, and mainland China) and floods (e.g., those in the United States and on the mainland China) were also reviewed as supplementary reference for the analysis. The article reviews the importance, design, and management of public post-disaster emergency aid facilities. It focuses on how the facilities can be designed and managed to achieve a better public living environment for victims immediately after disasters. It also aims to discuss how to maximize the cost-effectiveness of resources and benefits to victims and enhance recovery times. The key findings of the research show that it is necessary to have the provision of better-quality public post-disaster emergency facilities for victims who suffer immediately after disasters. A new approach of the directions and considerations in design and management called CARE, that is, comfort, accessibility, rapid, and effectiveness, is identified and discussed.