Places like this are necessary for a large civilization , its sad but true that in desperate times we take to desperate measures.
These are mere tools to maintain order when order breaks down.
they could be used in many ways, Floods,Quentines,internmant camps,prision camps,mass disaster check points,military bases, ect.
To me its not so much a surprise that these places exist, they can be used for good or Bad.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/2619829/FEMA-Camps-Coutesy-of-Google-Earth