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Integrating Racially and Ethnically Diverse Communities Into Planning for Disasters: The California Experience

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 April 2013

Dennis P. Andrulis ,
Nadia J. Siddiqui  and
Jonathan P. Purtle
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Abstract

Objectives: Racially/ethnically diverse communities suffer a disproportionate burden of adverse outcomes before, during and after a disaster. Using California as a locus of study, we sought to identify challenges and barriers to meeting the preparedness needs of these communities and highlight promising strategies, gaps in programs, and future priorities.

Methods: We conducted a literature review, environmental scan of organizational Web sites providing preparedness materials for diverse communities, and key informant interviews with public health and emergency management professionals.

Results: We identified individual-level barriers to preparing diverse communities such as socioeconomic status, trust, culture, and language, as well as institutional-level barriers faced by organizations such as inadequate support for culturally/linguistically appropriate initiatives. Current programs to address these barriers include language assistance services, community engagement strategies, cross-sector collaboration, and community assessments. Enhancing public-private partnerships, increasing flexibility in allocating funds and improving organizational capacity for diversity initiatives were all identified as additional areas of programmatic need.

Conclusions: Our study suggests at least four intervention priorities for California and across the United States: engaging diverse communities in all aspects of emergency planning, implementation, and evaluation; mitigating fear and stigma; building organizational cultural competence; and enhancing coordination of information and resources. In addition, this study provides a methodological model for other states seeking to assess their capacity to integrate diverse communities into preparedness planning and response.

(Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2011;5:227–234)

Keywords

diverse populationsdisaster preparednessCaliforniacommunity participatory planningminority healthdisaster planningethnic groupscultural competencycommunity health planning
Type
Original Research
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 5 , Issue 3 , October 2011 , pp. 227 - 234
Copyright
Copyright © Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc. 2011

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