Emergency shelters are essential to protect evacuees from any threats posed by a hurricane and provide them with basic needs and assistance until it is safe to return to their homes. In a posthurricane situation, existing critical infrastructure for emergency shelters is likely being challenged to its limits in response to growing evacuee needs. As such, the engagement of diverse infrastructure sectors across different system domains (i.e., spanning physical systems to civic and social systems) in planning is critical to adequately support the operation of shelters during posthurricane recovery. Despite the importance of these multidimensional systems, there is limited understanding in the current literature about the interplay of physical–social–civic systems in supporting the operation of emergency shelters in posthurricane situations. In order to address this gap, this study conducts an extensive literature review with a focus on the functions of critical interdependent infrastructure for hurricane shelter operations and develops a metadata-based knowledge base critical for integrated shelter planning. This study establishes critical knowledge for emergency preparedness, which includes (1) an understanding of the interdependent nature of multidimensional infrastructure systems as related to hurricane shelter operations, (2) identification of the capacity requirements to operate shelters during posthurricane recovery, and (3) integration of the aforementioned findings into the current practice of shelter planning. The developed knowledge is demonstrated through a real-world Hurricane Michael–focused case study of shelter operations in Bay County, Florida. Last, critical research needs and challenges are discussed, with planning recommendations.

The coronavirus pandemic has resulted in major disruptions in the way municipal solid waste management systems (MSWMSs) operate due to substantial distortions in waste generation trends, along with a variety of significant operational and managerial challenges. As critical infrastructure, MSWMSs have endeavored to adapt in response to such unprecedented stresses in order to maintain their operations during the pandemic. The challenges and their relevant adaptive measures, however, have varied with the progression of the pandemic across different MSWMSs. Currently, there is a limited understanding of such time-bound and system-specific phenomena, which impedes timely and effective adaptation. This study aims to fill this knowledge gap by performing a detailed and documented investigation of the longitudinal impact of the coronavirus pandemic on different MSWMSs across the United States, along with its evolution over time, using collected qualitative and quantitative data (i.e., monthly interviews with waste management personnel, online news media, and waste tonnages). This study also develops a relational database system to facilitate the systematic recording and monitoring of the pandemic’s impact on MSWMSs, as well as guide the implementation of different adaptation strategies based on distinct systems’ characteristics. Findings of this study will help solid waste decision-makers better understand the current pandemic, along with serving as a knowledge base for future pandemic scenarios towards more resilient MSWMSs.