Using the Planning P, write an emergency preparedness plan

1

Running Head: Special Populations

6

Special Populations

Special Populations

Linda Gonzalez

Walden University

September 18, 2016

Special Populations

Low-income residents

Low-income residents are the people whose earnings is less than twice the national poverty line. Information from a report by the Center for American Progress showed how a disaster such as Hurricane Katrina has on lower-income and middle-income people. The emergency level is because of various reasons the main one being; these people have fewer resources to prepare for and recover from these kinds of disasters. Even though many people often refer to natural calamities as social equalizers since they do not affect based on race, class or ethnicity, these kinds of occurrences worsen our underlying economic inequalities. Comment by Dr. Ian B. Cole: Try to develop a more impactful opening statement...grab the reader's attention! Comment by Dr. Ian B. Cole: Year of publication needed Comment by Dr. Ian B. Cole: The opening section should highlight what the paper will cover

Low-income earners are also likely to have a higher percentage of the people who are affected by these disasters since they are often the majority of the people who live in the areas which have undergone in the past the most damage due to such natural calamities since property in such areas is often cheaper. Also, it is common to have better means of transportation in areas where the upper class or high-income people live than where the low-income people live. Katrina was an excellent example of this. Comment by Dr. Ian B. Cole: Good, but this requires a citation.

Due to inadequate transportation in areas where low-income people live, the low-income people will be more disadvantaged since response time for them will be longer due to the poor transport. This discrepancy directly translates to a higher number of casualties. The inadequate transportation increases the vulnerability of the elderly, the sick and the physically challenged. These also often increase the vulnerability of lower income groups since evacuation from the areas that are at potential risk of the impending disaster. Resident's disaster management policies should be focused on modifying socio-economic surroundings that make some groups more vulnerable (Sylves, 2015). Comment by Dr. Ian B. Cole: This is a real issue!

Poor Quality Housing

Due to the low income, their houses are constructed shoddily in undesirable neighborhoods which often do not have quality services and often supported by suboptimal infrastructure and these put them into greater risk in case of extreme weather. Currently, there lack over 5 million affordable-housing units. This makes the low-income families stay in cheap houses such as mobile homes and people who stay in such houses account for over half the number of deaths due to tornadoes. During the recovery periods after the disaster has stricken, the low-income people still go through the most resettling and problems due to housing usually affects them the most. Comment by Dr. Ian B. Cole: Whose houses? Comment by Dr. Ian B. Cole: Citation needed…

An analysis done revealed that housing assistance following disasters due to extreme weather conditions often favors the middle-earning people who were victims. After Katrina, the number of affordable rental units reduced by half and the result of this was a huge rise in costs of the units that were available. The rent for a two-bedroom apartment has increased by over 45% in just two years.

Non-English-speaking special populations.

The portion of the population, which is not well acquainted with English or the language that is used in that particular area also face a lot of trouble, compared to the victims who can speak the common language of the affected place. Language barriers have the ability to reduce by a significant factor the effectiveness of instructions, directives or warnings that are usually given immediately before a disaster occurs. These messages may have orders for evacuation, routes to be followed, and measures to be developed to remain safe or get help when the disaster strikes or any other information that is quite sensitive and concerns the tragedy at hand. If the broadcast is in English, and people in the affected area do not understand the language, there is a significant possibility that they will not be able to get the needed information. This miscommunication will result in not following the directions, and may ultimately lead to a higher number of casualties of the Non-English-speaking special populations just because of this small reason. Comment by Dr. Ian B. Cole: Good – this is a major issue!

In times of a disaster, individual and community prior preparation is a crucial step in reducing the effects that disasters often come with and increasing the resilience of the community. To prevent and reduce the number of casualties involved in these disasters due to Non-English-speaking special populations, it would be advisable for the federal, state, and the local authorities to invest in educating and training the Non-English-speaking special populations in their language. By taking these extra measures will help them understand reactions and responses. The local and federal government should ensure that the Non-English-speaking special populations and their counterparts who can speak English are equally prepared in case of any disaster (Kamolvej, 2010). Comment by Dr. Ian B. Cole: Good discussion here…

Another remedy to reducing the number of deaths of Non-English-speaking special populations due to language barriers is the provision of disaster preparation materials, instructions, and directives in multiple languages. The message conveyors should ensure that the information is disseminated in every language that is spoken in the area likely to be affected. In order to reduce fatalities and the effects disasters such as Katrina had on some special populations, the local and federal government should ensure that in the response plans that rescue, relief, and preparation should contain equal concentration on all groups and no group should be given preference or be at a disadvantage (Haddow, 2014). Comment by Dr. Ian B. Cole: Good, but cost can be a factor.

The federal government should make investments that will help it deal with post-disaster issues and the areas mentioned above should be addressed to ensure no group of people is at a disadvantage. The Federal Emergency Management Agency should meet their current post and pre-disaster plans. The nation as a whole should also address the economic, social and physical factors that Katrina made some groups more vulnerable than others. Some measures that would greatly help reduce this imbalance include; ensuring everyone especially the lower-income groups has access to investment funds, insurance, housing in safe locations, good transport systems and most importantly support from FEMA and the SBA (Haddow, 2014). Comment by Dr. Ian B. Cole: Good work, but make sure to include a conclusion paragraph

References

Haddow, G. D., Bullock, J. A., & Coppola, D. P. (2014). Introduction to emergency

Management (5th ed.). Waltham, MA: Butterworth-Heinemann.

Kamolvej, T. (2010). Disaster Policy and Politics: Emergency Management and Homeland

Security. Journal Of Comparative Policy Analysis: Research And Practice, 12(1-2), 215-

216. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13876980903507132

Sylves, R. (2015). Disaster policy and politics: Emergency management and homeland security

(2nd ed.). Washington, DC: CQ Press

Linda,

Please review all feedback included with your paper. Do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns. Grading elements as outlined in the application assignment writing rubric (available in the online classroom):

Assignment requirements: 30 of 30

Comprehension and examples: 40 of 40

Writing: 18 of 20

Total score: 88

Dr. Ian B. Cole