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Preparedness among vulnerable populations the focus of DHS PACER Center student Myrtle Evans-Holland

(April 11, 2007)

How prepared are you and your family for a natural disaster? A 2006 survey of low-income African American families in Maryland shows that most have emergency plans, and items such as flashlights, first aid kits and a supply of food. Just nine percent, however, say they are fully prepared for a natural disaster or terrorist attack.

The survey is the work of Myrtle Evans-Holland, a doctoral student at Morgan State University and member of the DHS PACER Center of Excellence. It shows a gap between perceptions of how prepared low-income African Americans are for a disaster and actual levels of preparedness. "This points out that there is a need to provide disaster education to the public sector," says Evans-Holland.

A follow-up to a 2005 survey of African Americans and Spanish-speaking individuals following a tornado and hurricane, Evans-Hollands' study looked at low-income African Americans and disaster preparedness. While prior research on disasters has sought to compare ethnic groups such as Caucasians, African Americans and other groups, very few studies to date have looked within one specific ethnic group.

"The significance of these findings to DHS, as well as public health and emergency response planners at Federal, state and local levels, could lead to more effective planning and public health emergency response for vulnerable populations," states Evans-Holland. She urges more empirical research to determine barriers toward public preparedness and to create or modify emergency response plans.

"Risk communication, public health messages, disaster education programs, and information distribution channels need to be specific to different subgroups including vulnerable populations," recommends Evans-Holland as ways to aid individual preparedness.

Evans-Hollands' research will contribute to the body of knowledge of disasters in public health and other social science areas. She anticipates graduating in December 2007 with a doctoral degree in public health. Her advisor is Dr. Randy Rowel, Assistant Professor at Morgan State University School of Public Health Policy and Director of the Why Culture Matters Disaster Studies Workgroup.