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8 - Special Needs Populations

from PART I - CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK AND STRATEGIC OVERVIEW

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 August 2011

By
Brenda D. Phillips
Edited by
Kristi L. Koenig  and
Carl H. Schultz
Kristi L. Koenig
Affiliation:
University of California, Irvine
Carl H. Schultz
Affiliation:
University of California, Irvine
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Summary

OVERVIEW

In studying the impact of disasters, concern has developed regarding populations that demonstrate a greater vulnerability to injury, death, and/or property loss. The term “special needs,” as well as vulnerable populations or populations at risk, has been applied to this group. These terms broadly cover a range of people who might need particular kinds of assistance in emergencies and disasters. Vulnerable populations include people with disabilities, senior citizens, pregnant women, infants and children, single parents, women, low-income families, and racial and ethnic minorities. Examples of unique interventions for such individuals are specially crafted warnings (in various languages and literacy levels), evacuation and transportation assistance, priority rescue, medical treatment, accessible sheltering, and assistance with rebuilding.

A broad-brush approach to vulnerability has certain benefits. First, a wider inclusion means that a given jurisdiction, organization, or community may contextualize the term. In some locations, it may be that the most vulnerable population includes senior citizens. In another location, it could be recent immigrants. Second, a broad approach captures a more complete list of those potentially at risk. Doing so allows emergency managers to understand the complexities of people's lives and circumstances. Sex, for example, can greatly increase risk in some contexts. Pregnancy may further complicate the ability to escape danger or can, itself, endanger both mother and fetus. Low-income households may lack the resources to afford protective action. If such households include seniors on fixed incomes, additional complications arise including transportation assistance and nutritional and medical support.

Keywords

disastersemergency managementmitigationrecoveryresponsepopulations at riskpreparednesssocial vulnerabilityvulnerable populations
Type
Chapter
Information
Koenig and Schultz's Disaster Medicine
Comprehensive Principles and Practices
 , pp. 113 - 130
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2009

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