Preparing Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Communities for Disasters

Presented by: Eric K. Black, International Communities Active in

Disasters (I.C.A.D.)

Building resilient, self-sustaining communities.

Who is ICAD?

Mission:

Educate, promote and develop networks to enable local and international communities to meet their specific needs in the event of a disaster.

Preparing Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Communities for Disasters

A network of individuals and organizations from around the state of Florida with a variety of disaster management experiences.• Community Organizations• Faith-Based Organizations• University professors• Public Safety Professionals• County Volunteers• Non-Governmental Organizations• Farm Worker Associations

- Florida Governor’s Hurricane Conference in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013.- Educated visiting youth and professionals from other countries- Formed Spanish Community Emergency Response Teams in two Florida counties.- Work with various migrant communities

on disaster preparedness topics.- Maintain partnerships with farm

worker associations, faith-basedinstitutions, and numerousgovernmental and non-governmentalorganizations.

Preparing Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Communities for Disasters

What has ICAD done?

No PoliticsPreparing Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Communities for Disasters

If you came here hoping we were going to discuss the politics behind

immigration you are going to be disappointed.

Session Overview

• Introduction – What is the Issue?

• Session I – Evaluation and Development

– Barriers to disaster management in the LEPC

– Asset mapping for evaluating the community

– Strategies to overcome barriers

• Session II – Models of Grassroots Disaster Preparedness

– Consulates

– Orlando CERT – urban model

– Volusia County – rural model

Preparing Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Communities for Disasters

2010 U.S. CENSUS

• According to census data, more than half of the growth in the total U.S. population was attributed to growth in the Hispanic population.

• Between 2000-2010, the Hispanic population grew by 43 percent

• Sources:

– 2010 Census Shows America’s Diversity CB11-C.N.125

– Overview of Race and Hispanic Origin: 2010

Preparing Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Communities for Disasters

• The National Response Framework presents the guiding principles that enable all response partners to prepare for and provide a unified national response to disasters and emergencies

(NRF, May 2013)

National Response FrameworkPreparing Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Communities for Disasters

• Q: Where do LEP communities, whether rural or urban, fit in?

• A: According to the National Response Framework under Special Needs Populations.

National Response FrameworkPreparing Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Communities for Disasters

• Special Needs Population: ”Populations whose members may have additional needs before, during, and after an incident in functional areas, including but not limited to: …who are from diverse cultures; who have limited English proficiency or are non-English speaking…”

National Response FrameworkPreparing Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Communities for Disasters

• Individuals or families with Limited English Proficiency

• Persons with no English speaking ability

• Diverse cultures, religions, and customs

• Children, elderly and individuals with disabilities, or special health concerns

• Transportation disadvantaged

• People in sub-standard housing

Who is in the LEP community?Preparing Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Communities for Disasters

What are the Issues?

• What do you perceive are the challenges that the LEP community faces in dealing with disasters in your jurisdiction?

• What challenges do you face when working with LEP communities in your jurisdiction?

Preparing Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Communities for Disasters

– Lack of preparedness

– Minimal media alerts in native language

– People do not know where to go for help

– Help is especially slow in arriving to LEP rural communities (lack of networks, liaisons, and preplanning)

– Trust factors

– Lack of understanding of disaster management system.

– Lack of business continuity in community markets and stores.

LEP Communities During a DisasterPreparing Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Communities for Disasters

• Lack of knowledge of U.S. emergency response systems. Not from a culture of preparation.

• Limited knowledge on how to access help during an emergency– Emergency alerts and information– Shelter– Food– Forms

• Lack of experience in certain local disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, technological disasters, and fires

• Limited networks for assistance – not fully developed• Lack of preparedness• Few, if any, community-based emergency response teams (i.e. CERT

or similar)

General LimitationsPreparing Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Communities for Disasters

• When we formed as a country, we counted on our family and community to help us in time of need.

A New ParadigmPreparing Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Communities for Disasters

• Then we counted on the government.

• Now we are shifting some of the responsibility back on the individual.

• Personal responsibility vs. government responsibility• Strained economic environment

– High number of foreclosed homes– High unemployment– Cuts in social service safety net– Rising oil prices– Large Federal deficit

• Unresolved immigration policy

Now more than ever, we need communities to be empowered and prepared to face any

potential disasters

A New ParadigmPreparing Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Communities for Disasters

All Disasters Are LocalPreparing Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Communities for Disasters

“The people closest to the problem are the ones best equipped to find the best solutions”

(Carafano & Weitz, 2006)

Time matters (72 hour principle)

Every community is unique

Every community has resources/assets

National Response FrameworkCHAPTER 1: ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Individuals and Households. Although not formally a part of emergency management operations, individuals and households play an important role in the overall emergency management strategy. Community members can contribute by:

Preparedness and TrainingPreparing Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Communities for Disasters

National Response Framework (cont’d)

• Reducing hazards in and around their homes.

• Preparing an emergency supply kit and

household emergency plan

• Monitoring emergency communications carefully.

• Volunteering with an established organization.

• Enrolling in emergency response training courses.

Preparedness and TrainingPreparing Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Communities for Disasters

Summary

• Community preparedness mitigates suffering after the incident.

• LEP community presents unique barriers not found in most other communities

• Everyone takes a role in making disaster preparedness part of our culture.

Preparing Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Communities for Disasters