If a suitable facility is not available, a site may be selected and tents or trailers may be brought in. Examples of sites include:
- municipal parks
- camp grounds
- school playing fields
- parking lots
The location of Reception Centres will depend on the facilities available in a community or on the specific requirements for a facility during the emergency response.
Experience from previous disasters indicates that as few as 10 to 25% of the population may require assistance. Even if evacuees don’t require assistance, they will be encouraged to go to a Reception Centre to register and get current information regarding the disaster. Once evacuees’ immediate survival needs have been met, evacuees will continue to be welcomed at a Reception Centre where emotional support and additional information and directives regarding the emergency response will be provided.