| Special needs populations are often neglected or forgotten in disaster preparedness. Post-disaster research has found that approximately 80% of emergency management agencies that experienced a disaster did not have disaster preparedness plans in place for special needs population. In the past, researchers have reviewed the lack of disaster preparedness for special needs populations in a post-disaster setting; little pre-disaster research has been done to identify what could improve disaster preparedness for special needs populations. This research surveyed Emergency Managers, the primary person within an agency responsible for mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery from natural and manmade incidents. An Exploratory Factor Analysis was used to reveal correlations between the Emergency Managers' disaster preparedness for special needs populations and the variables of education, training, and on-the-job experience. This study searched for correlations that imply greater levels of preparedness for special needs population based on those variables. Data analysis identified that the main variables had moderate to no correlation of significance. Two sub-variables (National Incident Management System training and hours per week worked in emergency management) provided significant correlations to improved disaster preparedness for special needs populations. In order to provide correlations, the data collected evaluated the level preparedness based on FEMA guidance. This research provided detailed results of disaster preparedness for special needs populations based on the actions taken (and not taken) by the Emergency Manager. In some areas, Emergency Managers are remarkably prepared, while in other areas there is still much to be done. |
