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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Mike Hill, Northwest Florida Health Council, Inc., 431 Oak Avenue, Panama City, FL 32401, 850-872-4128, mikehill@nwbbhc.org

Although many parts of the United States (including Florida) have had long experience with disaster preparedness planning, the importance of this endeavor was heightened for the entire country as a result of the terrorist attack in September 2001. More recently hurricanes and other natural disasters have served to increase the awareness of the need for disaster preparedness. While this heightened sensitivity has resulted in a significant increase in activity related to disaster preparedness and response, the Hurricane Katrina experience clearly demonstrated that many gaps exist in the preparedness initiatives and certain vulnerable populations have not been addressed in existing preparedness efforts. While the health impact of a disaster is a foremost concern, the needs of one particular vulnerable population—the disabled—have only recently been considered. The disabled face challenges in mobilizing prior to an event, reacting during the course of an event, and recovering from the consequences of an event. As a result, this population requires special attention in the development of disaster preparedness plans. This paper presents a health planning approach to the inclusion of the disabled population in disaster preparedness planning, illustrating the ways in which a systematic approach based on established planning principles can serve to address many of the identified deficiencies in the existing approach to planning for special populations.

Learning Objectives:

• Gain exposure to the vulnerabilities of the disabled within the disaster context
• Learn the issues related to disaster planning of particular relevence to the disabled.
• Learn how a health planning approach can address the disaster planning issues facing the disabled.

Keywords: Disasters, Disability Policy

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation