🛟 FEMA Emergency Shelters – Nationwide KMZ Map Package

Know where shelter is before the storm hits. Add every FEMA-registered emergency shelter in the United States directly to your TAK-compatible app — fully offline, no internet required in the field. Or avoid these areas...IYKYK

What's Included:

• 🏠 General Population Shelters – primary evacuation destinations
• 🏥 Medical & Special Needs Shelters – for those requiring medical support
• 🐕 Pet-Friendly Shelters – facilities that accommodate animals
• ♿ ADA Accessible Shelters – wheelchair-accessible locations
• 📍 Per-state KMZ files (all 50 states + DC + US territories)
• 🌎 Optional nationwide combined KMZ for cross-border planning

Each shelter pin includes the facility name, full street address, county, managing agency (Red Cross chapter, county OEM, etc.), evacuation and post-impact capacity, ADA/wheelchair accessibility, generator status, pet accommodations, and floodplain/storm-surge hazard flags. Tap any pin for a clean info card with one-tap directions.

Sourced From:

Official FEMA ESF#6 Shelter System (formerly the National Shelter System), jointly maintained by FEMA Mass Care and the American Red Cross. Data current as of today's download.

Compatible With:

• ✅ ATAK (Android Team Awareness Kit)
• ✅ WinTAK
• ✅ TAK Aware
• ✅ Google Earth
• ✅ FreeTAKServer / OpenTAKServer overlays
• ✅ Any KMZ-compatible mapping application

How to Import:

1. Download the .kmz file for your state to your Android or iPhone
2. Open your TAK app and navigate to Data Packages
3. Add the file — shelter locations appear on the map instantly

No additional setup required.

⚠️ Note for iTAK users: iTAK does not appear to handle embedded data packages well. TAK Aware is recommended for the best experience.

Perfect For:

• Emergency managers & CERT teams
• First responders & search-and-rescue volunteers
• Amateur radio operators supporting ARES/RACES activations
• Preppers, survivalists & off-grid communicators
• Homeowners in hurricane, flood, wildfire, or tornado zones
• Anyone who wants situational awareness when the grid goes down

⚠️ IMPORTANT — PLEASE READ:

This KMZ is a reference document, not a life-safety guarantee. It depicts FEMA's pre-identified potential shelter facilities — these are surveyed locations that may be activated during an emergency, not a list of currently-open shelters. Actual shelter activation is decided by your county Office of Emergency Management and the American Red Cross at the time of the incident, based on the specific threat, available resources, and current capacity.

Always do your due diligence:

• Confirm shelter openings through official channels — Emergency Alert System broadcasts, NOAA Weather Radio, your county OEM's website or social media, or call 211
• Verify accessibility, pet policy, and special-needs accommodations directly with the facility or county OEM before traveling
• Check road conditions and evacuation route status before departing
• Some FEMA fields (ADA, generator, pet accommodations) are sparse or unverified in the source data — do not assume an empty field means "no"

This product is not a substitute for following official emergency instructions, evacuation orders, or guidance from local authorities. It is a planning aid intended to give you situational awareness — nothing more. The publisher of this KMZ assumes no liability for actions taken based on this data.

When in doubt, follow your local emergency manager's direction first.

📦 Delivered as .kmz files — instant download.

Data sourced from the FEMA ESF#6 Shelter System public ArcGIS feed.

Attribution: FEMA, Mass Care, American Red Cross.