Capella FPX 4055 Assessment 3

Disaster Recovery Plan: Determinants of Health and Barriers

Health Risks Among the Elderly Population

In Valley City, individuals aged 65 and older represent approximately 22% of the community. Many among this group have complex medical needs, including mobility limitations and chronic conditions, which require ongoing management and support, particularly in disaster scenarios. The need for specialized services during emergencies underscores the vulnerability of this aging population.

Challenges Faced by Persons with Disabilities

Roughly 147 residents live with hearing or speech impairments and depend on American Sign Language (ASL) or lip-reading for communication. Their safety becomes a critical concern during disasters that lead to power outages or disrupt communication systems, as these impair their ability to receive vital information.

Cultural and Linguistic Barriers

A small yet growing Latino demographic (3%) in Valley City includes undocumented individuals who face both linguistic and cultural barriers. Limited proficiency in English and fear of deportation can prevent them from seeking aid or understanding emergency protocols during disasters.

Economic Pressures and Public Safety Limitations

Ongoing financial constraints have led to staffing reductions in essential public safety roles, including police and fire departments. This has weakened the city’s disaster response infrastructure and reduced its ability to manage large-scale emergencies effectively.

Healthcare System Constraints

The Valley City Regional Hospital is operating at nearly full capacity, with 97 out of 105 beds occupied. Outdated equipment and financial limitations impede the facility’s ability to adapt to surge demands during disaster events, further compounding vulnerabilities.

Interrelationships Among Determinants and Barriers

Access Challenges for Vulnerable Groups

The elderly and individuals with disabilities encounter numerous obstacles in evacuating or receiving care during emergencies. Many shelters and care facilities lack the infrastructure to support these populations adequately (Kleinman et al., 2021).

Linguistic and Immigration-Related Hesitancy

Language differences and fear of legal consequences deter undocumented residents from accessing emergency resources, despite their heightened vulnerability (Dadson et al., 2024).

Diminished Capacity of Emergency Services

Budgetary reductions have adversely impacted police and fire departments, limiting the availability of personnel and equipment necessary for a coordinated emergency response (Dadson et al., 2024).

Insufficient Shelter for the Homeless

Shelters in Valley City are frequently overcrowded, leaving many individuals experiencing homelessness without safe refuge or transportation during disasters (Dadson et al., 2024).

Healthcare Shortages and Socioeconomic Inequities

Inadequate healthcare infrastructure, along with economic and cultural disparities, increases the risk for poor outcomes among low-income and culturally diverse populations (Lee et al., 2022).

Promoting Health Equity Through a Culturally Sensitive Recovery Plan

Planning with an Equity Lens

Centering recovery efforts around health equity helps mitigate the disparities seen among socially vulnerable populations (Kleinman et al., 2021).

Tailored Strategies for Aging Adults

Disaster plans should incorporate mobile health units, develop partnerships with long-term care facilities, and implement specific evacuation protocols to meet the needs of older adults (Kleinman et al., 2021).

Recognition of Social Vulnerability

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) classifies Valley City as socially vulnerable due to factors such as age, disability status, poverty, and homelessness (CDC, 2024a).

Inclusive and Culturally Responsive Communication

Emergency communication efforts should be multilingual and culturally appropriate to overcome barriers related to language and trust (CDC, 2024a).

Recovery Aid for Economically Disadvantaged Groups

U.S. Census data highlights that economically disadvantaged and less-educated residents experience longer recovery periods unless specific support mechanisms are implemented (Census Bureau, 2023).

Ethical Care Distribution

A just recovery strategy involves culturally competent care teams and equitable allocation of recovery resources (Census Bureau, 2023).

Policy and CERC Framework in Recovery

Role of Public Policy

Effective disaster recovery in Valley City depends heavily on inclusive and accessible government policies that prioritize vulnerable populations (ADA, 2021).

ADA Compliance and Accessibility

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) mandates that shelters and communication strategies accommodate individuals with disabilities, an essential consideration for the city’s elderly and hearing-impaired residents (ADA, 2021).

Importance of Inclusive Messaging through CERC

The Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication (CERC) framework emphasizes empathy and inclusiveness. Previous lapses, such as during a train derailment, underline the need for improvement in these areas (Hostetter & Naser, 2022).

Federal Support via the Stafford Act

The Stafford Act enables federal assistance for disaster declarations, healthcare surges, and infrastructure restoration, offering essential backing for Valley City’s recovery (FEMA, 2021).

Monitoring and Transparency

Provisions under the Stafford Act require detailed tracking of disease outbreaks, housing conditions, and at-risk populations to ensure accountability (FEMA, 2021).

Building Resilience Through DRRA

The Disaster Recovery Reform Act (DRRA) of 2018 focuses on proactive investment in community resilience, such as infrastructure upgrades and clean water access (FEMA, 2021).

Communication Strategies and Interprofessional Collaboration

Application of the CERC Framework

Employing the CERC approach ensures timely, clear, and community-specific communication, particularly valuable for diverse populations (CDC, 2024b).

Multi-Channel Emergency Alerts

Messages should be delivered in multiple formats—text, audio, and visual—to reach individuals with sensory disabilities and limited English proficiency (Lloyd, 2023).

Unified Emergency Leadership

Establishing shared leadership structures across fire, police, and healthcare services fosters cohesion and consistency in emergency response (Abbas & Miller, 2025).

Integrated Disaster Planning

Centralized planning and shared resource management reduce confusion and enhance response efficiency (Aldao et al., 2021).

Outreach to Underserved Populations

Training culturally competent outreach workers and navigators can improve support for marginalized groups such as seniors, the homeless, and individuals with disabilities (Aldao et al., 2021).

Table: Summary of Determinants, Barriers, and Recovery Strategies

References

Abbas, R., & Miller, S. (2025). Building resilient city systems through interagency coordination. Emergency Preparedness Journal, 34(1), 45-59.

Aldao, M., Chen, J., & Ruiz, A. (2021). Reaching the underserved: Emergency planning for vulnerable populations. Health Equity in Disaster Response, 19(2), 112-119.

American Disabilities Act (ADA). (2021). Accessibility guidelines for emergency preparedness. https://www.ada.gov

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2024a). Social Vulnerability Index (SVI). https://www.cdc.gov/svi

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2024b). Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication (CERC) Manual. https://emergency.cdc.gov/cerc/

Census Bureau. (2023). Population and housing data on social vulnerability. https://www.census.gov

Capella FPX 4055 Assessment 3

Dadson, J., Patel, M., & Nguyen, T. (2024). Emergency access among undocumented populations: An equity analysis. Public Health Reports, 139(1), 22-30.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). (2021). Stafford Act and Disaster Recovery Reform Act overview. https://www.fema.gov

Hostetter, S., & Naser, R. (2022). Crisis communication breakdowns in community-level disasters. Journal of Emergency Management, 40(3), 78-89.

Kleinman, A., Rodriguez, H., & Lee, C. (2021). Designing equitable disaster recovery plans. Journal of Public Health Policy, 42(4), 331–344.

Lee, M., Tran, H., & Wallace, B. (2022). Hospital capacity and response effectiveness in disasters. Healthcare Infrastructure Studies, 28(3), 95-104.

Lloyd, A. (2023). Inclusive alert systems for public health emergencies. Global Communication Review, 12(2), 60-70.

Capella FPX 4055 Assessment 3