At Risk Populations

Populations and individuals most at risk of severe consequences from a disaster, due to societal, economic, and health-related factors.

The Emergency Preparedness Guide offers helpful emergency preparedness recommendations for individuals who require ongoing dialysis. Specifically, the guide discusses how to function during an interruption in dialysis services and provides food stockpiling suggestions that are specifically tailored for someone on dialysis. It uses a readable format to convey user-friendly information that may be life-saving for a dialysis patient.

An all-hazards guide is designed to serve as a basis for a general family disaster plan. While it does not provide specific information on pandemic influenza, it offers a thorough approach to basic planning for emergencies. The guide provides a template in which household members can record vital information, such as prescription medication needs, allergies, and special functional needs.

The Family Preparedness Guide for People with Disabilities was created by two Florida agencies to assist families in preparing for a variety of emergencies. The guide provides general instructions for creating segments of a family emergency plan, including guidelines for communicating, keeping pets safe, and building a disaster supply kit. After providing a general basis for family preparedness, the guide focuses on specific planning needs for people with disabilities.

Background

Yearly bouts of seasonal influenza and even pandemic influenza strains can be fairly different in how quickly and pervasively they spread, the severity of illness they cause, and the groups of people most at risk of infection. Consequently, the general public may experience confusion about who is at risk for influenza from year to year, making demand for vaccine unpredictable.

Background

Emergency shelters vary by the types of services they offer, with some providing only the basics of food, shelter, and access to medical care. In 2010, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) released state and local guidelines for specific services that people with functional needs may require in general population shelters. Recommendations include furnishing communication assistance, accessible sleeping accommodations, and equipment to facilitate tasks of daily living.

Background

A significant number of Florida's 19 million residents are likely to be considered vulnerable during or following a disaster. Approximately 18% of Floridians are elderly, 23% have a language barrier, 12% live below the poverty line, and 18% have a disability.

Background

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are developmental disorders that can affect how children communicate, interact with other people, and perceive their environments. While the number of people with an ASD is unknown, CDC estimates that 1 in 110 children is affected. Children with ASD may have extreme difficulty communicating and experience threats to their personal safety during disasters.

Background

Each year, on average, some 5% to 20% of United States residents become ill from seasonal flu, and more than 200,000 people are hospitalized for flu-related complications. Most people will have mild illness; however, some individuals are at an elevated risk for developing flu-related complications, including adults 65 years of age and older and people who have certain medical conditions (eg, weakened immune system, heart disease, chronic lung disease). A challenge providing vaccine to many vulnerable people is being able to reach them.

Background

Individuals who are homeless, homebound, lack health insurance, speak limited English, or have limited access to financial resources or medical care are typically the most in need of and have the greatest challenges accessing the influenza vaccine.

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