NURS FPX 4055 Assessment 3 Disaster Recovery Plan
NURS FPX 4055 Assessment 3 Disaster Recovery Plan
Name
Capella university
NURS-FPX4055 Optimizing Population Health through Community Practice
Prof. Name
Date
Disaster Recovery Plan
Communities like Tall Oaks often face challenges in rebuilding effectively after disasters due to deep‐seated socio‐economic disparities, varied communication styles, and cultural diversity. A robust recovery strategy must integrate governmental policies with healthcare initiatives, and employ proven techniques to enhance collaboration and information exchange among professionals. This assessment utilizes the Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication (CERC) framework to illustrate how these factors shape recovery outcomes, reduce health inequities, and promote equitable service delivery during emergencies.
Determinants of Health and Barriers in Tall Oaks
Tall Oaks, home to about 50,000 people, grapples with a mismatch between average incomes and living costs, with a median household income of \$44,444. Poverty prevalence restricts access to disaster response services, and only 22.5% of residents possess adequate health literacy, reflecting low college‐degree attainment. Uninsured individuals and Americans under 65 with disabilities face heightened vulnerability in crises. The county’s demographic mix—49% White, 36% Black, and 25% Hispanic/Latino—offers cultural richness but also creates obstacles in timely access to services (Capella University, n.d.). Flood‐prone neighborhoods like Willow Creek and Pine Ridge house many cost‐sensitive seniors, while language barriers and mistrust in healthcare further impede service uptake among Hispanic/Latino residents.
Older adults and people with disabilities often feel cut off due to weak social networks and forced relocations after flooding (Bailie et al., 2022). Financial hardship compounds these issues, limiting transportation to medical facilities such as Red Oaks Medical Center when schools and markets shut down. These intertwined social customs and economic pressures slow both immediate aid and long‐term rebuilding, underscoring the need for inclusive recovery approaches.
Interrelationships Among Determinants and Barriers
Health determinants and barriers in Tall Oaks operate within a web of interdependencies, complicating disaster readiness, recovery, and health outcomes. Economic inequality drives low‐income families and seniors into substandard, flood‐prone housing, increasing exposure to hazards. Educational gaps hinder comprehension of preparedness guidance, while cultural and language differences restrict health communication with Hispanic/Latino groups (Capella University, n.d.). Infrastructure breakdowns isolate impoverished residents without reliable transportation, delaying both evacuation and access to medical care. Financial strain prolongs recovery for those with health challenges or disabilities, exacerbating isolation (Blackman et al., 2023). Addressing these issues demands community‐wide planning, infrastructure investment, and culturally tailored communication strategies.
Promoting Health Equity Through a Culturally Sensitive Disaster Recovery Plan
The recommended plan for Tall Oaks centers on social justice and cultural sensitivity to narrow health disparities and boost service accessibility. It prioritizes marginalized groups—who bear the greatest disaster impact—by ensuring everyone, regardless of income, race, language, or ability, can reach their health potential (Bhugra et al., 2022). First, the plan implements multilingual communication and culturally adapted outreach to inform Hispanic/Latino and other minority communities. Second, mobile clinics and temporary recovery centers will serve flood‐affected areas, targeting uninsured individuals, people with disabilities, seniors, and low‐income families (Sheerazi et al., 2025). Third, economic barriers will be addressed via crisis transportation, nearby shelters, and financial aid programs for medical and housing expenses. Finally, partnerships with community organizations will expand social service networks, foster trust, and distribute resources equitably (Kristian & Fajar, 2024).
Role of Health and Governmental Policy: A CERC Framework Approach
Tall Oaks’ recovery hinges on health and government policies aligned with the CDC’s CERC framework. Across disaster phases, CERC emphasizes timely, accurate, and accessible communication. The CDC offers no‐cost training—ranging from 60‐minute webinars to multi‐hour workshops—in plain‐language emergency messaging, which over 5,000 professionals completed in 2024 (CDC, 2025). Policies like the Americans with Disabilities Act mandate accessible shelters, information, and healthcare for all. Tall Oaks ensures compliance by providing ramps, interpreters, and flexible resources at recovery sites. Under the Stafford Act, the city can secure federal funds for infrastructure repair and support services, while the Disaster Recovery Reform Act of 2018 broadens eligibility for housing and medical assistance in vulnerable areas (Horn et al., 2021). Data‐driven trace‐mapping will pinpoint service gaps, guiding resource allocation to underserved neighborhoods.
Strategies to Overcome Communication Barriers and Foster Interprofessional Collaboration
Effective disaster response in Tall Oaks requires evidence‐based measures to bridge communication divides and strengthen teamwork. Multilingual alerts, interpretation services, and community radio can reach all language groups. Facilities like Red Oaks Medical Center should adopt multilingual signage and culturally sensitive triage protocols. Cultural competency training for relief teams builds trust and improves adherence to guidance (Bonfanti et al., 2023). Platforms that integrate healthcare, social work, and emergency response enhance coordination and resource distribution (Yazdani & Haghani, 2024). Engaging local leaders, faith groups, and schools via surveys and town halls ensures feedback-driven planning and greater community satisfaction (Vandrevala et al., 2024).
Conclusion
Tall Oaks’ disaster recovery success depends on aligning social determinants, policy frameworks, and communication networks. By embedding cultural sensitivity, interprofessional collaboration, and evidence‐based strategies within the CERC model, the city can deliver equitable services, empower vulnerable populations, and strengthen resilience for future emergencies.
| Section | Key Elements |
|---|---|
| Disaster Recovery Plan | Integration of government and healthcare strategies; use of CERC framework for communication and teamwork. |
| Determinants of Health and Barriers | Socio‐economic disparities; low health literacy (22.5%); poverty (\$44,444 median income); uninsured and disabled at risk; cultural and language obstacles (49% White, 36% Black, 25% Hispanic/Latino). |
| Interrelationships Among Determinants and Barriers | Economic inequality → flood‐prone housing; educational gaps; infrastructure failures; isolation of vulnerable groups; prolonged recovery times. |
| Promoting Health Equity | Social justice and cultural sensitivity; multilingual outreach; mobile clinics; crisis transportation; financial aid; community partnerships. |
| Role of Policy: CERC Framework | CDC CERC training; ADA accessibility; Stafford Act and DRRA funding; trace‐mapping for targeted aid. |
| Overcoming Communication Barriers & Collaboration | Multilingual alerts; interpretation services; cultural competence training; interprofessional platforms; community engagement through surveys and town halls. |
| Conclusion | Emphasis on integrated, culturally informed, policy‐aligned strategies to ensure equitable, resilient disaster recovery. |
References
ADA. (2025). Health Care and the Americans With Disabilities Act | ADA National Network. Adata.org. https://adata.org/factsheet/health-care-and-ada
Bailie, J., Matthews, V., Bailie, R., Villeneuve, M., & Longman, J. (2022). Exposure to risk and experiences of river flooding for people with disability and carers in rural Australia: A cross-sectional survey. British Medical Journal Open, 12(8), e056210–e056210. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-056210
Bhugra, D., Tribe, R., & Poulter, D. (2022). Social justice, health equity, and mental health. South African Journal of Psychology, 52(1), 3–10. https://doi.org/10.1177/00812463211070921
Blackman, D., Prayag, Nakanishi, H., Chaffer, J., & Freyens, B. (2023). Wellbeing in disaster recovery: Understanding where systems get stuck. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 95, 103839–103839. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2023.103839
Bonfanti, R. C., Oberti, B., Ravazzoli, E., Rinaldi, A., Ruggieri, S., & Schimmenti, A. (2023). The role of trust in disaster risk reduction: A critical review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 21(1), 29. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21010029
NURS FPX 4055 Assessment 3 Disaster Recovery Plan
Capella University. (n.d.). RN to BSN: Online bachelor’s degree. Capella.edu. https://www.capella.edu/online-nursing-degrees/bachelors-rn-to-bsn-completion/
CDC. (2025). Crisis & Emergency Risk Communication (CERC). https://www.cdc.gov/cerc/php/about/index.html
Horn, P., A., & Lindsay, M. E. (2021). The Disaster Recovery Reform Act of 2018 (DRRA): Implementation update tables for select provisions. Congress.gov. https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/R46774
Kristian, I., & Fajar, M. (2024). Integrating community-based approaches into national disaster management policies: Lessons from recent natural disasters. The International Journal of Law Review and State Administration, 2(4), 115–125. https://doi.org/10.58818/ijlrsa.v2i4.150
Sheerazi, S., Awad, S. A., & von Schreeb, J. (2025). Use of mobile health units in natural disasters: A scoping review. BioMed Central Health Services Research, 25(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-024-12067-9
Vandrevala, T., Morrow, E., Coates, T., Boulton, R., Crawshaw, A. F., O’Dwyer, E., & Heitmeyer, C. (2024). Strengthening the relationship between community resilience and health emergency communication: A systematic review. BioMed Central Global and Public Health, 2(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s44263-024-00112-y
Yazdani, M., & Haghani, M. (2024). A conceptual framework for integrating volunteers in emergency response planning and optimization assisted by decision support systems. Progress in Disaster Science, 24, 100361–100361. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pdisas.2024.100361