Vulnerable Populations & Disaster – Your whole community benefits when people with particular vulnerabilities are supported. Accommodating their needs, especially during disasters, allows families to stay together, preserves natural support systems, prevents or mitigates acute medical conditions, and permits you as a leader to focus your community’s limited resources on the people who need these resources most. Download the tip sheet.

Access and Functional Needs Toolkit: Integrating a Community Partner Network to Inform Risk Communication Strategies – This toolkit was developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Center for Preparedness and Response, Division of State and Local Readiness. Download the toolkit.

Planning for an Emergency: Strategies for Identifying and Engaging At-Risk Groups: A guidance document for Emergency Managers – By knowing vulnerabilities in your community, you, as emergency managers, can better anticipate needs and provide information to the right people at the right time before, during, and after disasters. This document describes a process that will help you identify at-risk groups in your community. You can use this information to reduce vulnerabilities and enhance outcomes for a broader population of those at risk. Download the guide.

SAMSHA’s Concept of Trauma and Guidance for a Trauma-Informed Approach – When considering planning and response strategies it is critically important to proceed with a trauma-informed approach. This resource provides a comprehensive overview of the concept of trauma, integral considerations of a trauma-informed approach and strategies to implement a greater focus of trauma-informed planning, particularly for vulnerable populations. Download the guide.

Vulnerable Populations and Disasters – This resource was designed for faith-based leadership but is also a helpful resource for anyone in a community leadership position. This guide sheet provides a helpful overview of the needs of vulnerable populations, such as individuals with communication deficits, including strategies and considerations to better attend to the needs of these populations before, during, and after an incident or disaster. Download the guide.

Planning for an Emergency: Strategies for Identifying and Engaging At-Risk Groups – This resource provides a comprehensive overview of disaster planning needs and strategies for a variety of at risk or vulnerable populations for anyone in an emergency management planning or response role. Download the guide.