Michigan

2018

Poverty and disability affects emergency readiness

Type: Preparedness

Location: Detroit

Purpose: The City of Detroit is an example of a community with above average disability and poverty rates. In 2016, 21.7% of the population in Detroit had a disability and 39.4% were living at or below poverty level. Research shows that those living in poverty have a higher risk of having a disability. This is because those living in poverty are more likely to:

• Have more limited access to basic necessities (e.g., clean water, health care)
• Live in more dangerous environments such as:
  • Areas with low quality housing
  • Natural disaster zones
  • Environmental hazards
• Accept high risk jobs

People with a disability have a higher chance of living in poverty due to higher costs of living. This relates to medical care and the limited opportunities that may occur due to the disability. Therefore, disability can be viewed as both a cause and consequence of poverty. The objectives of the CASPER was to assess the level of household emergency preparedness in the City of Detroit, Michigan, including:

• Types of emergency preparations households have in place
• Frequency of households with residents who may have special medical needs in an emergency because of health conditions
• Most trusted and main sources of information for a household during any kind (man-made and natural) emergency
• Likelihood that households would follow public health instructions following a disaster or evacuation; including transportation needs
• Frequency of households that would need to care for a pet or a non-household dependent during an emergency
• Provide knowledge transfer and capacity building for the state/local public health partners in terms of disaster preparedness and response epidemiology

2016

Public health emergency response (CASPER) after the Flint water crisis: May 17−19

Type: Recovery

Location: Flint, MI

Purpose: To aid in the recovery efforts following the Flint water crisis, a CASPER was conducted May 17−19, 2016. Specifically, the CASPER was conducted to assess the following:

• Household- and individual-level, self-reported behavioral health concerns
• Household access to behavioral health services, including substance abuse and mental health services, and perceived barriers to access
• Self-reported physical health concerns
• Water-related resource needs and barriers to resources
• Communication with the affected community

Report: CASPER – After the Flint Water Crisis Report: May 17−19, 2016

Fact sheet: Flint Water Crisis

2012

Household emergency preparedness

Type: Preparedness

Location: Oakland County

Purpose: Assess the level of household emergency preparedness in Oakland County. Including radiation emergency preparedness due to their proximity to the Fermi Nuclear Power Plant. The objectives of the CASPER were to assess the following:

• Types of emergency preparations households have in place
• Frequency of households with residents who may have special medical needs in an emergency because of health conditions
• Most trusted and main sources of information for a household during a radiation emergency
• Likelihood that households would follow public health instructions following a disaster involving radiation
• Frequency of households that would need to care for a pet or a non-household dependent during an emergency
• Provide knowledge transfer and capacity building for the state/local public health partners in terms of disaster preparedness and response epidemiology

Report: Household Emergency Preparedness: Oakland County, Michigan