Social Equity in Local Emergency Management Planning

When disaster strikes, some populations (including low-income individuals, the disabled, the elderly, and non-English speakers) may be more vulnerable than others in terms of their capacity to cope during and after an event. Government has an important role to play in reducing these vulnerabilities...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:State & local government review 2009-12, Vol.41 (1), p.1-12
Main Authors: Gooden, Susan, Jones, Dale, Martin, Kasey J., Boyd, Marcus
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Censuses
Content Analysis
Crisis intervention
Disabilities
Disasters
Elderly
Emergencies
Emergency management
Emergency preparedness
Equity
Fairness
Handicapped
Hurricanes
Jurisdiction
Local government
Natural disasters
Older adults
Planning
Public administration
Social equality
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Summary:When disaster strikes, some populations (including low-income individuals, the disabled, the elderly, and non-English speakers) may be more vulnerable than others in terms of their capacity to cope during and after an event. Government has an important role to play in reducing these vulnerabilities by promoting social equity in the provision of services. In this study, data from 31 localities across the United States are used to examine whether (and how) county and city governments consider the needs of these vulnerable populations as they develop their emergency operations plans, which guide their response efforts to disasters. The primary findings of content analyses of the plans suggest that local governments tend to give more attention to two of these four groups: the elderly and the disabled. Recommendations for ways in which social equity concerns may be addressed in emergency operations plans are offered.
ISSN:0160-323X
1943-3409
DOI:10.1177/0160323X0904100101