Property protection measures such as acquisition, relocation, and rebuilding can also be used as mitigation measures in order to protect critical facilities (e.g., hospitals, Emergency Operation Centers [EOC], schools, and so on). Property …show more content…
vertical elevation” (Velotti et al., 2013, p.61). The term vertical protective strategy (VPS) is used here to refer to what is, in emergency management, called vertical evacuation (VE) or vertical shelter. VE and vertical shelter have been defined by FEMA as “a building or earthen mound that has sufficient height to elevate evacuees above the level of tsunami inundation, and is designed and constructed with the strength and resiliency needed to resist the effects of tsunami waves” (Applied Technology Council, 2009, p. 1) and the impact of floating debris. The definition of VPS is preferred to the conventional definition of VE or shelter, since the former better highlights the complexity of the strategy and its protective function . In terms of mitigation purposes, VE is, therefore, aimed at saving lives rather than protecting property. However, depending on the kind of VE implemented, it can also support other mitigation goals such as public education and awareness and protection of critical infrastructures. For example, VE structures can be used as locations for Emergency Operation Centers