i attached the instruction
Mid-term Spring 2025
Vulnerable Populations and Social Equity in Disaster Preparedness
The importance of equity in emergency management is not a new concept. The Stafford Act
( requires FEMA assistance be delivered in an
equitable manner without discrimination on the grounds of race, color, religion, nationality, sex,
age, disability, language accessibility, or economic status.
Ensuring social equity in disaster preparedness remains a critical challenge for many emergency
management teams nationwide.
In recent years, the United States (U.S.) has been severely impacted by multiple large-scale
disasters. Multiple large and destructive hurricanes in 2017 and 2018 including Hurricanes
Harvey, Irma, Maria, Florence, and Michael led to the evacuation of millions of people. Fast-
moving wildfires in California including the October 2017 Northern California Wildfires and the
December 2017 Southern California Wildfires, along with the Mendocino Complex, Carr, Camp,
Hill, and Woolsey wildfires, led to the evacuation of thousands. Even with the rise in disasters,
many emergency management agencies remain unprepared to support all citizens in disasters,
mostly due to a lack of necessary resources assets. Although all citizens are impacted, those
populations affected by social factors, such as medical and physical disabilities, immigrant
status, language barriers, age, gender, and resources (lack of) are at higher risk (Nancy Aldrich,
William F. Benson, 2008). Lack of planning, consideration, inclusion are the main culprits.
Look at the chart below to identify data attached to vulnerable populations for California’s
largest cities. Take this data set into account when completing your assignment.
Mid-term Spring 2025
Defining Equity (Disaster Preparedness Lens):
Equity means that sociodemographic characteristics such as race, or gender, or age, or anything
else, predict the distribution of disaster aid to the extent that these things are related to the need
for aid. .1
Defining Vulnerable Population:
Any individual, group, or community whose circumstances create barriers to obtaining or
understanding information, or the ability to react as the general population. … Circumstances
that may create barriers include, but are not limited to age; physical, mental, emotional, or
cognitive status; culture; ethnicity; religion; language; citizenship; geography; or socioeconomic
status.2
Defining Social Dimensions
A cross-cutting theme that involves considering human, social, policy, and governance factors.
Mid-term Spring 2025
Assignment Focus: Developing emergency management preparedness plans with a focus on
equity and focus on vulnerable populations.
Assignment Task and Expectations:
A. Design a framework (yes this is YOUR framework) to ensure equity is a priority when
developing disaster preparedness plans. Your framework at minimum should include the
following:
• What are the issues or challenges? (Ex. Communication)
• What would your recommendations be in alignment with the issues/challenges (Ex.
Content of Communication/How things are communicated to various populations)
• At least 3 major barriers to addressing the issue/challenge.
• At least 4 items to consider when discussing equity and disaster preparedness?
• Who (includes types of leaders and organizations) needs to be at the “table” when the
disaster planning is happening?
• Citations/ References
• Clear/ Easy to follow
• Detailed
• Framework Aesthetics (how the framework looks in presentation)
Mid-term Spring 2025
References
1. Finucane, Melissa L., Linnea Warren May, and Joan Chang, Assessing Social Equity in
Disaster Preparation, Response, and Recovery. Homeland Security Operational Analysis
Center operated by the RAND Corporation, 2021.
2. Iowa Public Health Preparedness Program. Emergency planning for people with
disability. [cited 20008 Nov 14]. Available from:
URL:
pdf.
