By Susannah Senerchia, Assistant Project Coordinator, Institute for Hispanic Health, NCLR
Natural or man-made disasters can strike at any time, and being able to reach people with planning and response information and services can be critical to the safety and well-being of everybody.
In the aftermath of disasters such as Hurricane Katrina and the California wildfires, NCLR observed systemic problems in the emergency preparedness and relief systems which resulted in many Latinos not knowing how to respond or how to evacuate. Latinos, who were disproportionately affected by the impact of the disasters, were often deterred from or even denied relief services that they were entitled to. These types of situations not only risk the lives and health of those Latinos and immigrants affected, but also create an undue burden on emergency management teams who face greater challenges assisting communities that are less prepared to respond. In the event of a pandemic or biological or chemical incident, the consequences of not knowing how to react could be even more critical.
Recently, NCLR assembled a group of experts in emergency preparedness and response and guided them through the development of a tool kit for emergency managers designed to help them better connect with and serve Latino communities before, during, and after disasters. The tool kit, which includes a text and CD-ROM with additional background and audio/visual materials, can be accessed for free here.
NCLR and FEMA will also host a webinar, Meeting the Needs of Latino Communities in Emergency Management, for emergency management offices and first responders at all levels, voluntary organizations active in disasters, faith-based and community organizations, and private relief agencies. Join us on February 28 at 2 p.m. to discuss practical strategies and best practices from the tool kit with other emergency preparedness stakeholders.
NOTE: Before participating in the webinar, you must register for the event. If you have previously registered, you can use your current login information to access the webinar. If you have any questions regarding the call, please contact marcus.coleman@dhs.gov.