Journal of Emergency Management最新文献

Due to increased efforts to bolster both equity and resilience to natural hazards, there is considerable interest in developing precise methods for identifying socially vulnerable populations. The objective of this paper is to explain issues with how common social vulnerability indices use United States (US) Census Bureau data for emergency management and how the Census' new Community Resilience Estimates (CRE) program overcomes these concerns. Using the 2019 CRE as a case study, we demonstrate how small area estimates of the most socially vulnerable populations in the US can be used to make statistical comparisons. We find that the high social vulnerability population rate is greater in the South, small rural and isolated areas, and environmentally toxic communities. In developing a response to bolster community resilience to natural hazards, decision-makers should rely on the CRE program to quantify socially vulnerable -populations.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has changed the world in many ways. The impact on vulnerable communities has been profound and worsened living conditions for those without proper housing, a steady job, or decent pay. Those most affected by the pandemic were women, children, older adults, immigrants, and the socioeconomically disadvantaged who belonged to non-White socio-cultural groups. The literature provides strong evidence that those who identified as Black, Hispanic, Native American, Pacific Islander, and Asian suffered the most, especially, during the early years of the pandemic. Using Centers for Disease Control and Prevention weekly data, this study examines standardized coefficients in a path analysis model to determine the relationships between socio-cultural identity, age, time period, and region with pandemic-related deaths. The regression model used in this study confirmed the relationship between socio-cultural identity and COVID-19 deaths. The results convey the value of strengthening the social element in risk reduction and emergency preparedness strategies to reduce public health disruptions affecting vulnerable communities during future emergencies.

Disasters pose significant and unique challenges for prenatal and postpartum women and birthing people along with their families, particularly within the immediate response and recovery timeframe. In this study, data pertaining to barriers and needs post-storm were collected from prenatal and -postpartum mothers affected by Hurricanes Ida and Ian in 2021 and 2022, respectively. First, following the landfall of Hurricane Ida, researchers employed a systematic social media approach to gather data from families with infants under the age of 2 who had been impacted by the storm. After Hurricane Ian made landfall, researchers used a rapid-ethnographic approach to conduct both in-person and virtual data collection to similarly investigate the experiences and issues facing families with infants under the age of 2 at the time of this storm. Across the two deployments for data collection, data were gathered from 167 respondents through online surveys, in-person interviews, or virtual interviews. This mixed-methods approach allowed researchers to gather integral data surrounding the challenges mothers and their families faced during Hurricanes Ida and Ian, especially when co-occurring crises were taking place, such as the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic and nationwide formula shortages. Contextual information was gathered through fieldwork observations regarding evacuation decision-making, unsafe feeding practices, and the lack of support for vulnerable populations, including prenatal and postpartum mothers, during disasters. This study highlights the needs prenatal and postpartum women and families have at times of disasters, the various ways that they may be vulnerable to adverse outcomes. Implications include potential policies and interventions to support these families in disasters.

As natural hazards amplify the persistence of food insecurity, the demand for evidence-informed interventions that increase resilience is needed. Developing a decentralized web-based platform to mobilize healthy food options in disaster-affected neighborhoods, designed to use real-time crowdsourced information, can help identify vulnerable populations and prioritize areas in need. A survey was administered using constructs from the Health Belief Model and Technology Accessibility Model, engaging Hillsborough County residents in the design thinking process to gauge community acceptance of a technology-based intervention during a large-scale disaster. Identifying barriers, wants, and needs of various population segments allows for more inclusive strategies for developing emergency management interventions. Results from the community survey validated the high likelihood of technology acceptance during disasters, with 90.9 percent of the respondents indicating that they would likely use a web-based food delivery service during disasters. Respondents had high levels of perceived self-efficacy and perceived ease of use with moderate levels of perceived usefulness and perceived threats. A majority of respondents (81.4 percent) agree that technology helps connect them to their community, with 83.6 percent agreeing that the internet would be useful for helping their community and 70.2 percent indicating they would feel comfortable ordering groceries online during a disaster. Whereas Hispanic survey respondents had higher levels of perceived threats; however, due to their perceived barriers were less likely to use the platform. By incorporating evidence-informed disaster management practices in the planning process, local governmental and nongovernmental organizations can develop more comprehensive plans and interventions to help communities prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters.

On October 1, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada, the largest mass shooting in US history was committed by a shooter high above the Route 91 Harvest Festival. In light of this tragedy and the increasing incidence and prevalence of mass shootings in America, it is important to examine how exposure to traumatic events (specifically mass shootings) affects the mental health of hospital physicians through the treatment of victims. This study sought to examine how witnessing mass shootings through the treatment of shooting victims psychologically affects physicians. Nine physicians who had direct contact with the victims were interviewed, and the data were analyzed for common themes using phenomenology. From the interviews, five central themes emerged: normalization of the event, denial, feelings of guilt, the positive outcomes associated with the event, and the magnitude of the patient volume. These themes show specifically how physicians are impacted by traumatic events and can be used to implement strategies to promote physician mental health.

In the wake of Hurricane Helene, North Carolina has seen its people come together in extraordinary ways, embodying the spirit of the "whole community" approach. This approach emphasizes the collaboration of various stakeholders, including local residents, businesses, government agencies, and nonprofits, to enhance disaster response and recovery efforts. By involving everyone, it ensures that the diverse needs of the community are met efficiently. This collective effort fosters resilience and strengthens the community's ability to bounce back from adversity. This disaster, of biblical proportions, has tested the state's resilience, but the response has been nothing short of inspiring. This approach not only expedites immediate recovery but also builds long-term resilience by fostering stronger relationships and trust among community members. By continuously involving all stakeholders, it ensures better preparedness for future disasters. Additionally, it promotes sustainable development practices that can mitigate the impact of future emergencies. Faith-based organizations, nongovernmental organizations, and everyday citizens have all united, pulling together to support their fellow neighbors and meet immediate needs long before federal aid could arrive.

There appears to be some confusion, misunderstanding, and unfounded concern about state governments being asked to adopt the recent initiative from the United States (US) Department of Defense regarding a dental health provider's compact for US states and territories. Yet, there needs to be a realization of the significance and priority for joining the Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact, since it directly incorporates into health care security as a strategy component. While there is a gross lack of research and information shared in this area, this editorial serves to offer such research, information, insight, and clarification to emergency management professionals on the value and necessity to openly support dental compact agreements for all US states and territories.

Introduction: Emergency evacuation from hospitals is a complicated process. This is on account of multiple categories of occupants of hospitals at any given time. This study was conducted using simulation, which simulated emergency evacuation in a teaching hospital. The aim was to identify defects in stairways and exit doors to propose design modifications to facilitate emergency evacuation.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted using Pathfinder software. The stages of the study included (1) map and model preparation, (2) field study, (3) simulation of evacuation, and (4) making feasible changes in the dimension of the hospital stairways and exit doors and examining its impact on the efficiency of evacuation processes.

Results and discussion: In the case where all people can move on their own, the evacuation time was 129.7 seconds. If the occupants of the beds and wheelchairs needed assisted evacuation, the evacuation time was 733.3 seconds, which increased by more than five times. If there were impediments in the building corridors, the evacuation was not complete, and 36 percent of the people could not be evacuated. By considering modification of around 58.6 percent in width and/or area of exit dimensions based on the field visit and its feasibility without making major structural changes, there was a reduction in the evacuation time by 46 percent.

Conclusion: The results showed that the modifications of passages could make significant improvements in the evacuation process. This would also lead to the reduction of evacuation time in emergencies.

Active shooter planning for special education classrooms requires considerations commensurate to the needs of students with mobility, cognitive, auditory, visual, and communicative limitations. The federally established Run, Hide, Fight response methodology has no modified alternative for students who are not able to meet the criteria to run, hide, or fight. School districts that implement Run, Hide, Fight plans without any modified alternatives for special education students expose a compliance lapse of the American Disabilities Act, the Department of Education's Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, and the National Preparedness Goal. To address this gap in planning, a qualitative analysis of primary source documents determined that there is insufficient active shooter planning guidance requisite to students with Access and Functional Need limitations.

Over the last few years, numerous hospitals in France have been subject to increasingly frequent and severe cyberattacks that have disrupted healthcare provision to varying degrees. To mitigate this threat, especially in light of the forthcoming 2024 Olympic Games, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris in Paris has been developing contingency plans that have been tested in simulated exercises called CRYPTolocker EXercice since May 2021. The latest simulated ransomware cyberattack that involved more than 200 participants took place on July 5, 2023, and lasted for 24 hours. Although cybersecurity contingency plans are confidential for obvious reasons, this article presents the multidisciplinary organization of the simulated attack based on previous experiences from other hospitals and general findings that are in the public domain. It was found that the procedures in place worked well overall, and countermeasures were quickly implemented to limit the severity of this simulated cyberattack. However, failings were observed in intra- and extra-hospital communication, and conflicting priorities between different categories of personnel (administrative, managerial, and clinical) hampered the information technology team in resolving various issues. Furthermore, it was found that mental fatigue, task saturation, and information overload may have overwhelmed senior managers at sporadic intervals. This often resulted in an action-reaction approach being used to find temporary solutions to immediate problems. Consequently, senior managers who participated in this simulated cyberattack were unable to think strategically and anticipate demands for middle- and long-term issues. This unprecedented exercise was an important learning experience for all participants, and the lessons learned will help further improve contingency planning and cyber resilience. It advised that all hospitals worldwide adopt and develop a similar multidisciplinary approach (taking into account their local contexts) to limit the deleterious effects of a potential cyberattack that undoubtedly will become more prevalent in the future.