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Disaster Planning for the Urban Homeless Population in the United States

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 May 2019

Stephen Morris  and
Emily Bartlett
Stephen Morris
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, United States
Emily Bartlett
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, United States
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Abstract

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Introduction:

Homeless individuals may be dependent on social services for nutrition, shelter, and protection. These services are susceptible to disruption in disasters. Individuals are often frequent utilizers of emergency health care services, and an increase in emergency medical services utilization may be predictable. Disaster planners should anticipate and plan for the needs of these special populations.1

Methods:

A review of disaster planning in US cities with high rates of homelessness was conducted. Utilizing homelessness census data, the five cities with the largest homeless population were chosen for analysis. Publicly available disaster plans specifically targeting at homeless were identified. Planning for nutritional support, shelter, protection, and emergency healthcare utilization was identified.

Results:

Planning specifically addressing the needs of the homeless was variable. Planning items surrounding nutrition and shelter were identified, but those around protection and use of emergency services were more limited.

Discussion:

Recent disasters in the United States have demonstrated the increased vulnerability of populations with high utilization of emergency services during a disaster.2 Homelessness is common throughout the United States, and appear to be underrepresented at the city disaster planning level.3 Resources to assist planners are available, but increased adoption is indicated.

Type
Vulnerable Groups
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 34 , Issue s1: Abstracts of Oral Presentations-WADEM Congress on Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2019 , May 2019 , pp. s93
Copyright
© World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2019 

References

Disaster Response for Homeless Individuals and Families: A Trauma-Informed Approach, HHS, ASPR. https://www.phe.gov/Preparedness/planning/abc/Documents/homeless-trauma-informed.pdf.Google Scholar
Dent, L.. Progress in Emergency Preparedness for Dialysis Care 10 Years After Hurricane Katrina. https://ajkdblog.org/.Google Scholar
Disaster Preparedness to Promote Community Resilience. DVA. https://www.va.gov/HOMELESS/nchav/education/VEMEC-Toolkit.asp.Google Scholar