Journal of Emergency Management最新文献

This article documents a disability-inclusive study conducted in partnership with disabilityled -community-based organizations in survey development and distribution. Information collection focused on the lived experiences of people with disabilities, their perceived impact, and their future expectations. Survey results from 413 individuals with disabilities document the disaster or personal crisis-related experiences and their subsequent impacts. Results from a selection of survey questions were identified for further exploration and their potential impact on disability-inclusive planning, response, and recovery, with a view to identifying potential variables that impact the disproportionate impact of disasters on people with disabilities. Perspectives provided by survey respondents, who were exclusively people with disabilities, overlapped with but did not necessarily align with what is known about emergency and disaster response systems. Study outcomes supported current recommended practices for inclusive planning with people with disabilities. The study supports the premise that accessibility, programmatic inclusion, and effective communication impact the lived experience of people with disabilities in disasters and warrant additional inquiry. Furthermore, the equitable and valued involvement of people with disabilities and disabilityled organizations is essential in disaster research, policy, and practice that does not leave anyone behind. Research can, and should, be conducted in coordination with disability stakeholders and people with disabilities in order to generate useful and implementable policy and practice information. This inclusive approach should take priority over rigorous academic research methods and standards for principled and practical -considerations.

A harmful untended consequence of the protective public health orders issued during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic was an increase in gender-based violence (GBV). This study examined the response of federal, provincial, and territorial governments in Canada to GBV during the peak of the pandemic (between February 2020 and October 2021) through a review of relevant media releases. These documents were then assessed for evidence of effective crisis leadership and compared to established international guidance for addressing GBV in disasters and other humanitarian emergencies. Five major themes emerged from the media review with respect to government communications and actions. First, governments announced funding to organizations working in the domestic violence sector to help support their ability to adapt their services during the pandemic. Second, media releases described efforts undertaken by governments to expand several different types of support services for victims of GBV. Third, governments promoted awareness of the ongoing problem of GBV, as well as its increase during the pandemic. Fourth, government communications acknowledged heightened risk for some populations, including Indigenous women, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex populations, and those at risk of human trafficking. Fifth, legislative and policy changes were announced by some governments during the pandemic. An analysis of the timing of communications suggests that only the federal government and one third of provinces and territories took early action to address the increase in GBV during the pandemic, which is consistent with international guidance that calls for the use of the precautionary principle. Most of the governments responded to the GBV crisis late or not at all. Although the analysis of media releases alone is insufficient to establish the scope of government actions taken to address GBV during the pandemic, public communication related to ongoing threats is an expected crisis communication competency. This study offers recommendations for practice, which might help address gender inequity in disasters.

Communities, scholars, and federal agencies have noted the increase in frequency and magnitude of hazardous events due to climate change. Emerging evidence suggests that marginalized communities are less likely to recover from a hazardous event when compared to their more advantaged peers, partly due to distrustful or nonexistent relationships with organizations meant to support recovery. These results suggest a need for research to inform governmental and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) on how best to build trusting relationships for communitiesmost in need.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) have emerged as pivotal dimensions in fostering productive and inclusive work environments. Many public organizations have come forward to embrace a DEI mindset. Since emergency management agencies (EMAs) serve a diverse population that may be vulnerable to disasters, they must recognize DEI in their efforts to create a diverse workforce as well as to serve the community. Although the best practices in DEI for public organizations have been well established, there is a dearth of literature regarding the DEI best practices in emergency management. The objective of this study is to begin to create or further define best practices for EMAs for the successful implementation of DEI, especially at the local level.

The strength of a storm, geographic location of impact, and population density dictate different response and fiscal efforts. During the last 3 weeks of September 2022, three different ocean-based storms impacted three different locations in the United States (US), which were 5,600 miles (9,000 km) apart from each other. Established case study methodology was used to contrast the meteorological data of the measured strength at impact on US shores, population density, and post-storm recovery financial allocation from the federal government for these three storms. The hypothesis was that a storm impacting a smaller geographic area with a larger population would receive greater federal financial support than a stronger storm impacting a larger area with a smaller population. Despite post-Typhoon Merbok (Alaska) being a deeper low-pressure storm and impacting more land area, it received only a fraction of the recovery funding when contrasted with Hurricane Fiona (Puerto Rico) or Hurricane Ian (Florida) but a significantly higher per capita due to its geographically isolated location and lower population density.

Objective: In 2021, approximately 82,000 Afghan civilians were emergently evacuated to the United States (US). Almost half of them were children. This study describes the healthcare needs of all evacuee children referred for urgent or emergent care in two large health systems in the months following the evacuation, highlighting important considerations for emergency response in pediatric evacuee populations.

Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study of all Afghan evacuee children referred for care at an urban quaternary care children's hospital and an affiliated community hospital system between August 2021 and February 2022. Both were located near a military base that served as a temporary residential facility for evacuees immediately after their arrival in the US. Data were abstracted into a secure online database, and descriptive statistics were examined to identify trends in health status, diagnoses, and utilization.

Results: We identified 477 children and 681 individual encounters. Fifty-two children (10.9 percent) were medically complex and accounted for 30.1 percent of all visits. The most common diagnoses were traumatic injuries (93, 13.7 percent), respiratory -illnesses (70, 10.3 percent), and complex chronic diseases (53, 7.8 percent). Proper patient identification, language access, and cultural engagement were key challenges.

Conclusion: Emergency response teams should be prepared to encounter a diverse range of common and increasingly complex pediatric health needs in disasters. Strategies such as employing cultural liaisons, expanding the availability of language services, and issuing standardized identification documents should be implemented.

Introduction: In California, as of 2024, there were 820,922 reported children with access and functional needs (CAFN) between the ages of 3 and 18. Concurrently, a noticeable increase in diagnoses points to the rise in CAFN prevalence, which has surged from 7.4 percent to over 8.6 percent in the last 3 years. This reveals the urgency behind scaling up disaster management planning and response for CAFN so that our emergency response remains proportional to the population's needs. Simultaneously, the exacerbation of climate change and inequality has amplified the dangers posed by disasters, particularly among those with intersecting identities. Therefore, it is crucial to proactively address the nuanced and context-specific requirements of CAFN in emergency settings.

Methods: We conducted a qualitative study using interview data collected from teaching staff at a local high school. The feedback was organized into codes using Atlas.ti and was subsequently used to develop policy recommendations.

Results: Our results concluded that while there are a variety of disaster mitigation strategies currently enacted in schools to protect disabled children, these alone are insufficient. Our analysis has identified specific gaps (relating to systems, mental health preparedness, and awareness) in existing policies and protocols. While CAFN teaching staff are motivated to serve their students, many cited concerns about the post-Covid pandemic educational landscape and noted increasing pressure, stemming in part from the identified gaps.

Discussion: As we recover from the pandemic, we now know more extensive policy is required to support CAFN students to prepare for both short- and long-term disasters that threaten academic success, emotional well-being, and safety. Policy recommendations have been generated to guide emerging policy toward promoting a more equitable educational landscape for CAFN students.

This study investigates the intersection of homelessness and disaster preparedness, focusing on how people experiencing homelessness (PEH) receive and respond to disaster-related information. The research emphasizes the critical roles of environmental cues and technology in alerting PEH to potential hazards. Environmental indicators, such as changes in the sky, wind patterns, and animal behavior, are commonly relied upon, although they can delay protective actions. Mobile phones serve as essential tools for accessing vital information, despite challenges related to affordability and charging access. The study also highlights the importance of trusted community members in disseminating information through informal networks. Using Lindell and Perry's Protective Action Decision Model as a framework, this qualitative study examines the lived experiences of 41 unsheltered PEH. Key findings underscore the need for tailored communication strategies, integrating services and information into emergency plans, and establishing local government dashboards to enhance disaster preparedness and resilience among PEH. The study provides actionable recommendations for emergency management to better support this vulnerable population.

How can gender and empowerment drive the development of a community's adaptive capacity to disasters? Disaster plans can be used to allocate resources, instill processes, and reach goals; however, once in place, these plans can also be a determining factor to either empower or exclude. One of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), SDG 5, targets gender equality and empowerment for all women and girls. Under the lens of SDG 5, working toward this goal of equality and empowerment as part of disaster preparedness will improve the capacity of a community to respond and recover, ultimately reducing vulnerability for everyone. Intentionally building disaster management plans toward gender equality can be one of the key strategies that improves community resilience for all. In order to identify challenges and opportunities linking policy and practice, this paper shares a case study of disaster planning in Peru to understand mitigation strategies and explore gender equality as a tool to expand adaptive capacity.