Defining, Locating, and Reaching Older At-Risk Populations in an Emergency

There are many things to consider when creating an emergency preparedness plan. As has been defined by the CDC as a strategic goal, at-risk populations need a higher level of scrutiny and involvement than has occurred in the past. The evidence from some of recent large natural disasters here in the United States, such as Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and the Tornado Clusters of 2011, indicates that at-risk older adults often bear a disproportionate share of the burden of both morbidity and mortality, as either a direct result of an event or in the aftermath of an event. By the end of this training, you will be prepared to begin creation of an emergency plan which incorporates at-risk elderly outreach through the development of a Community Outreach Information Network or COIN.