An assembly area is a safe open space designated for people to gather temporarily after earthquakes and other disasters. The aim is to keep the public away from damaged buildings and secondary risks, and to manage the situation in a controlled way.
These areas are usually planned by official institutions and form an important part of local disaster plans. However, many people do not really know what an assembly area is or where theirs is located until a disaster happens.
What Is an Assembly Area?
In simple terms, an assembly area is:
- A place where people gather after an earthquake, flood, fire or similar event
- An open, relatively safe area instead of the inside or right next to buildings
- A temporary space where people can wait, receive information and basic support
- A point from which aid, shelter and evacuation can be organised
The idea is to avoid waiting randomly in streets or near risky buildings and instead stay together in a planned, safer location.
Why Are Assembly Areas Important?
Assembly areas play a critical role after a disaster:
- They reduce the risk of people returning too quickly to damaged buildings.
- They make it easier for families and friends to find each other.
- They help authorities and emergency teams to share information and organise support.
- They prevent traffic from collapsing completely by reducing unnecessary vehicle movements.
- They strengthen the feeling of “we are not alone” in a very stressful situation.
In a prepared society, people know in advance where to go after an earthquake, which reduces panic and uncertainty.
Basic Features of Assembly Areas
When choosing assembly areas, several criteria are taken into account. Conditions can differ from city to city, but ideally an assembly area should:
- Be at a safe distance from tall buildings, walls and other heavy structures
- Be an open space without large heavy constructions directly above it
- Be located where traffic is not too dense and emergency vehicles can enter easily
- Offer enough space to potentially set up tents or temporary shelters if needed
- Be large and organised enough for people to stay there together for some time
In many places, school yards, large parks or sports fields may be designated as assembly areas.
How Can You Find Your Assembly Area?
It is important to learn about your local assembly area before any disaster happens. You can:
- Check with local authorities
- Visit the websites of your municipality, local government or disaster management agency.
- Some cities offer “assembly area query” pages or mobile apps.
- Neighbourhood offices, building managers or site administrations may also know the nearest area.
- Look for signs in your neighbourhood
- In many regions, assembly areas are marked with special signs.
- A common symbol is a green sign with several people in the middle and arrows pointing towards them.
- It is useful to plan the safest and quickest walking route from your home to that sign in advance.
- Create a family disaster plan
Knowing the assembly area is not enough if other family members do not know it. Therefore:
- Every family member, especially children, should know which assembly area to go to.
- A small card with “emergency meeting point” and key phone numbers can be kept in pockets or bags.
- If a disaster happens while you are at school or work, you may define separate meeting points for those situations as well.
What Should You Pay Attention to When Going to the Assembly Area?
Right after an earthquake or other disaster, keep these points in mind while heading to the assembly area:
- Do not use lifts; always use the stairs.
- Be careful near balconies, air-conditioning units, signs or other objects that might fall.
- Avoid standing for long periods in narrow streets with high collapse risk.
- Protect your head if possible with a bag, helmet or thick clothing.
- If possible, go on foot rather than by car, to avoid blocking main roads.
The goal is to protect your own safety while also keeping routes free for emergency vehicles.
How Should You Behave in the Assembly Area?
Once you reach the assembly area, some simple rules help keep the place safe and organised:
- Avoid running around or shouting in panic.
- Do not block entrances, exits or road access with crowds or parked cars.
- Follow instructions from officials or volunteers if present.
- Do not spread unconfirmed information or rumours.
- Stay in the meeting point you agreed on with your family and avoid moving constantly.
Remember: an assembly area is not meant to be a permanent camp or shelter, but a temporary, controlled waiting point.
Common Mistakes
If the concept of assembly areas is not well known, people tend to repeat some risky behaviours after disasters:
- Waiting in front of or under damaged buildings
- Staying in underground car parks or other enclosed structures
- Filling major roads with cars and blocking rescue teams
- Gathering on seafronts or near bridges, which may carry extra risks
- Ignoring official assembly areas and waiting in random places with “nothing will happen” thinking
These mistakes increase individual risk and make disaster management more difficult.
Assembly Areas as a Key Part of Disaster Preparedness
Knowing your assembly area is as basic as preparing an emergency kit. Before a disaster:
- Decide which assembly area you will go to.
- Learn how to get there safely.
- Share this information clearly with your family.
This helps reduce uncertainty and makes the first hours after a disaster easier to manage.
Earthquakes and other disasters cannot be completely prevented, but the level of knowledge and preparedness directly affects the outcome.
Learning your assembly area in advance is one of the simplest yet most critical steps in that preparation.