BRIDGING THE GAP: Connecting Hispanic communities & emergency preparedness

1. Linda L. Strong, EdD, RN Director Sacred Heart University Emergency Reserve Corps BRIDGING THE GAP:Connecting Hispanic communities & emergency preparedness

2. OBJECTIVES • Identify the types, stages, and risks for various types of emergencies and disasters. • Identify methods for increasing the inclusion and participation of Latino populations in community emergency preparedness plans. • Develop an all-hazards emergency plan for where you live, work, and means of travel. • Identify community resources available for developing the knowledge and skills for ensuring individual, and family safety.

3. A Year, Six Months or Now? • Types of Disasters: Natural, Man-made, Technological • Communicable Diseases • Prevalence of Disease

4. What is an Emergency? An Emergency is defined as: An unforeseeable combination of circumstances Or The resulting state that calls for immediate action An emergency is a situation that diverts an organization from its normal operations

5. What is a Crisis? A crisis is defined as: An unstable or crucial time period Or The state in which a decisive change is impending

6. So, What’s the Difference? An emergency situation arises from a crisis and escalates in intensity

7. Emergency Management • Coordination of an organized or NOT so organized effort to attain specific goals or objectives during All Hazards. • These goals and objectives comprise the FOUR Phases of emergency management: MITIGATION PREPAREDNESS RESPONSERECOVERY

8. Connecticut Demographics

9. Connecticut’s Latino Population

10. The Disaster Continuum PRE-IMPACT (mitigation & preparation) IMPACT/DISASTER (response) POST-IMPACT (recovery)

11. Emergency Risk Communication • Risk Communication: to provide information that allows individuals or an entire community to make the best possible decision about their well-being (Andrulis et al. 2007) • Appropriate selection of messages, messengers, methods of delivery • The challenge of translated materials

12. VIRTUAL EVACUATION!NOW!

13. Latino Populations & Emergency Preparedness Andrulis, Siddiqui & Gantner (2007) reported • 49.5% (N=149) WEB sites ethnic minorities were absent • 37.9% (N=114) state importance of ethnic concerns • 12.6% (N=38) provided information, materials ore resources

14. Main Issues Carter-Pokras, Zambrana, Mora, & Aaby (2007) identified the following 5 main issues: • Emergency risk communication • Training and education • Resource guides for planners and responders • Measurement and evaluation • Policy and program initiatives

15. Causes of Vulnerability • Immigrant status • Socioeconomic status • Primary Language • Preference of information sources • Distrust of governmental authorities

16. Types of Disasters Natural, Man-made and Technological

17. Elements of Disasters • Relatively unexpected • Emergency personnel may be overwhelmed • Lives, health, and the environment are endangered

18. VIRTUAL EVACUATION! You must now be in your vehicle and ready to join your neighbors for escort out of the area. Your destination is the assembly point for the next stage: Evacuation registration. At the assembly point you realize that you left one of the four items at home.

19. Natural, Man-made, Technological Disasters Research shows that colleges/universities, municipalities, and regions across the country and world have experienced many critical incidents, emergencies and disasters from man-made and natural hazards. The list includes: • Major fires • Earthquakes • Hurricanes • Floods • Hazardous materials incidents • Civil disturbances • Domestic terrorist attacks.

20. Natural Disasters • Hurricanes //video.nationalgeographic.com/video/.../hurricanes/hur... • Tornadoes http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/kids/forces-of-nature-kids/tornadoes-101-kids/ • Fires http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/news/environment-news/surrounded-by-fire-vin/ • Floods/ Tsunami • Winter storms, blizzards, ice/Cold http://www.history.com/topics/storms-of-the-centuries/videos#white-out • Heat • Earthquakeshttp://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/environment/environment-natural-disasters/earthquakes/inside-earthquake/ • Volcanoes http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xExdEXOaA9A

21. Which of the precedingnatural disasters causes the most mortality?

22. VIRTUAL EVACUATION! You are in line for registration You have forgotten the second of the four items in your car You are not permitted to return to the vehicle You must board the next form of transportation to the shelter

23. Man-Made Disasters • Terrorism: domestic and foreign • CBRNE • Chemical • Biologic • Radiation • Nuclear • Explosives • Complex Emergencies • War/violence displacement, famine, and failing infrastructure • Hazardous materials • explosives • flammable and combustible substances • corrosives • poisons • radioactive materials. • Technological • Accidents at hazardous instillations • Accidental release of chemicals or radiation • Accidents during transport

24. Communicable Diseases • Pandemic Influenza • Enteric Diseases • Food-borne illnesses • Water-borne illnesses

25. Prevalent Diseases • Cardiovascular Diseases • Obesity • Cancer • Diabetes

26. All-Hazards Approach

27. “The health impact of emergencies and crises can be substantially reduced if both national and local authorities and communities in high-risk areas are well prepared and are able to reduce the level of their vulnerabilities and the health implications of their risks.”

28. VIRTUAL EVACUATION! You arrive at the shelter. You realize the third of the 4 items you chose to bring with you, when you were ordered to evacuate, is missing. Remove one of the two remaining items. What do you have left?

29. What Hazards are Near you? Any type of hazard or disaster can happen at any time and in any place. It is best to be aware of the hazards that could most likely affect your area.

30. Responding to Crisis and Emergencies: Home, Work or Community • Initial Assessment • Protection of the Well • Contain the Situation • Treatment of the Sick • Restoration of the Home, Work or Community to its Initial or New State

31. Preparing for Emergencies: Family, Work, and Travel

32. How to Prepare for a Disaster • The following video will help guide you toward being prepared for any hazard: • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CTj5KZk7eg

33. How to prepare for all Hazards • Build a KIT • This is something you want to do prior to a disasters. An emergency is not planned and therefore you could have to leave quickly. • Your kit should include basic items you would need to last at least 72 hours. • Have an evacuation plan!

34. What should be in your kit? • Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio • Flashlight and extra batteries • First aid kit • Whistle to signal for help • Dust mask : shelter in place • Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation • Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities • Manual can opener • Local maps • Cell phone with chargers, inverter or solar charger

35. Stay Informed • Being educated and prepared before a disaster hits can directly impact the outcome after an emergency strikes. • Be familiar with your areas warnings and alert systems. • In a disaster you only have a few moments; devise a plan that will work best for you and your family (FEMA, 2012).

36. Emergency Communication: Latino’s Preferences for Information

37. Mitigation: Distrust, Language, & Culture • Disseminate materials in ALL languages • Offer relief services in multiple languages • Integrate local organizations, churches and other non-profits into the preparedness activities • Support community led education programs • Partnerships with universities and other organizations to provide translators • Cultural sensitivity and competence training • Cultural brokering • Difference between immigration enforcement and disaster relief /response

38. Resources: Be Part of Mitigation and Preparation

39. Citizen Corps Programs Partner Programs and Affiliates Hurricane Katrina and the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001 caused many Americans to wonder how they can help prepare their communities. The Citizen Corps Partner Programs listed below give citizens the opportunity get involved. Citizen Corps' five federally sponsored partner programs help build capacity for first responders through the use of volunteers.

40. Sacred Heart Initiatives • Emergency Reserve Corps • Second level support of university emergency response • Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) • Community Emergency Reserve Team (CERT) • State Animal Rescue Team (SART) • Sister Universities • Regional Assistance

41. The Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) Program strengthens communities by helping medical, public health and other volunteers offer their expertise throughout the year as well as during local emergencies and other times of community need. MRC volunteers work in coordination with existing local emergency response programs and also supplement existing community public health initiatives, such as outreach and prevention, immunization programs, blood drives, case management, care planning, and other efforts. The MRC program is administered by HHS.

42. The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program educates people about disaster preparedness and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, and disaster medical operations. Using their training, CERT members can assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an event and can take a more active role in preparing their community. The program is administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

43. The Fire Corps promotes the use of citizen advocates to enhance the capacity of resource-constrained fire and rescue departments at all levels: volunteer, combination, and career. Citizen advocates can assist local fire departments in a range of activities including fire safety outreach, youth programs, and administrative support. Fire Corps provides resources to assist fire and rescue departments in creating opportunities for citizen advocates and promotes citizen participation. Fire Corps is funded through DHS and is managed and implemented through a partnership between the National Volunteer Fire Council, the International Association of Fire Fighters, and the International Association of Fire Chiefs.

44. USA on Watch- Neighborhood Watch works to provide information, training and resources to citizens and law enforcement agencies throughout the country. In the aftermath of September 11, 2001, Neighborhood Watch programs have expanded beyond their traditional crime prevention role to help neighborhoods focus on disaster preparedness, emergency response and terrorism awareness. USA on Watch-Neighborhood Watch is administered by the National Sheriffs' Association in partnership with the Bureau of Justice Assistance, U.S. Department of Justice.

45. Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS) works to enhance the capacity of state and local law enforcement to utilize volunteers. VIPS serves as a gateway to resources and information for and about law enforcement volunteer programs. Funded by DOJ, VIPS is managed and implemented by the International Association of Chiefs of Police.

46. Web-Based Resources • Citizen Corps • http://www.ready.gov/citizen-corps • www.citizencorps.gov/cert • C-CERT • www.c-cert.msu.edu • Disaster Relief Agencies http://disastercenter.com/agency.htm • American Red Cross • http://www.redcross.org/support/volunteer

47. Muchas Gracias!Thank you!

48. References Andulis, D.P., Siddigui, N.J., & Gantner, J.L. (2007). Preparing racially and ethnically diverse communities for public health emergencies. Health Affairs, 26(5), 1269-1279. FEMA. (2012). Ready Check- Prepare. Plan. Stay informed. Build a kit. Retrieved from http://www.ready.gov/build-a-kit Immigrants, ethnic minorities and non-English speakers . (n.d.). Available: www.mdcinc.org/sites/default/files/resources/WhenDisasterStrikes-promisingpracticies-immigrants.pdf. Latino and Puerto Rican Affairs Commission, CT, www.cga.ct.gov/prac Pittman, E. (2011). How to include diverse, vulnerable populations in emergency preparedness. Available: www.emergencymgmt/templates/gov Pokras-Carter, O., Zambrana, R.E., Moram S.E., & Aaby, K.A. (2007). Emergency preparedness: Knowledge and preceptions of Latin American Immigrants. Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 18, 465-481.

49. References Weather fatalities per the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (National Weather Service) hws.noaa.gove/om/hazstats.shtmlPEW Research Hispanic Trends Project: Demographic Profile of Hispanics in CT(2011) World Health Organization (WHO). (2007). Risk reduction and emergency preparedness: WHO six-year strategy for the health sector and community capacity development, 1-22. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/hac/techguidance/preparedness/emergency_preparedness_eng.pdf http://www.fema.gov Disaster Declarations: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CTj5KZk7eg