How a Small Virginia City Built an ADA-Compliant Emergency Shelter Plan from Scratch

What one community's experience reveals about the gaps most small towns don't know they have

When a small independent city in southeastern Virginia set out to develop its first formal emergency shelter plan, the challenge wasn't just finding safe buildings to house residents during a disaster. It was doing so in a way that accounted for flood risk, served residents with disabilities, accommodated pets and service animals, and actually worked for a community of roughly 8,000 people with limited resources.

That project became the foundation for how Community Resilience Partners approaches emergency shelter planning, and the lessons learned apply to small towns and rural counties across FEMA Regions III and IV.

Starting With the Right Question

Most communities begin shelter planning by asking, "Which buildings are available?" The better question is, "Which buildings are safe, accessible, and outside the flood zone?"

For this Virginia city, located near a river with documented flood risk identified through the Virginia Flood Risk Information System (VFRIS), that distinction mattered enormously. Several facilities that seemed like obvious choices were eliminated early because they sat within Special Flood Hazard Areas. The plan ultimately designated public school facilities and a public library as primary shelters, all located on elevated ground outside flood-prone zones, all with existing ADA-compliant infrastructure.

ADA Compliance Is More Than a Ramp

One of the most important, and most overlooked, aspects of emergency shelter planning is genuine ADA compliance. Checking a box that says "accessible entrance" is not enough.

The shelter plan developed for this community addressed:

• Van-accessible parking with proper access aisles and signage

• Accessible interior routes to sleeping areas, restrooms, and dining

• ADA-compliant restrooms with grab bars, accessible sinks, and turning radius clearance

• Communication accommodations, including TTY devices, sign language interpreter access, and materials in large print and braille

• Elevated cots for individuals who cannot use floor mats

• Designated service animal areas with food, water, and waste disposal

For a small city, building this level of detail into a plan requires intentional effort. But when a disaster actually strikes, these details are the difference between a shelter that serves everyone and one that leaves your most vulnerable residents without options.

Outreach Is Part of the Plan

A shelter plan that residents don't know about is just a document. This community's plan included a comprehensive outreach strategy, partnerships with local radio and print media, integration of text and email alerts, multilingual materials, and community workshops held at accessible public venues.

The goal: ensure every resident, regardless of ability, language, or transportation access, knows where to go and how to get there before the emergency occurs.

Evacuation Routes Matter Too

The plan mapped specific primary and secondary evacuation routes to each shelter location, deliberately avoiding flood-prone corridors. Routes were selected for accessibility, firm, stable surfaces with minimal obstacles,

and coordinated with local emergency services for traffic management during an actual event.

What This Means for Your Community

If your town or county doesn't have a current, ADA-compliant emergency shelter plan, you're not alone. The majority of small communities in FEMA Regions III and IV are operating on outdated plans, no plans, or plans that exist on paper but haven't been tested or updated in years.

The good news: this kind of planning is achievable, even with limited staff and budget. With the right framework, the right expertise, and access to EMPG grant funding, small communities can develop shelter plans that genuinely protect everyone — not just those who can walk to the nearest gym on their own.

That's exactly what Community Resilience Partners was built to do.

Interested in learning whether your community's emergency shelter plan meets current ADA and FEMA standards? Contact CRP at adamfox@crpconsultants.com or visit crpconsultants.com.