Disaster Planing & Response

In a disaster, special populations like those who are precariously housed, homeless or households with complex needs are destabilized quickly. Once disaster hits, people living on the streets or in encampments are exposed to the elements. Often they have nowhere to go, as disaster shelters may not open until more severe weather occurs, and during public health while they may be the first to be exposed to illness, they rarely have access to sufficient medical care. During the course of a disaster, these vulnerable households are more likely to be severely affected and are likely to have a more difficult time recovering from the event. Without specific and integrated strategic planning and response, these vulnerable households can slow or even prevent the stabilization of the rest of a community after a disaster.