As a Major Hurricane Threatens - The Importance of Addressing Equity in Disasters

By: Greg Padgett

As Hurricane Helene makes landfall on the northern Gulf Coast late today, it serves as a stark reminder of the persistent challenges faced by low-income, communities of color, elderly, homeless, and non-English-speaking populations when preparing for and recovering from disasters. These marginalized groups often lack access to essential resources such as emergency supplies, insurance, and reliable information in their language, making it difficult to prepare adequately or recover effectively.

Research has consistently shown that systemic barriers disproportionately affect these communities. Flood mitigation investments, for example, tend to be lower in areas with higher social vulnerability, leaving marginalized populations more vulnerable to disaster impacts. Additionally, non-English-speaking residents often struggle to receive critical information, like evacuation orders or relief efforts, due to language barriers. Immigrant communities, especially those with undocumented residents, may avoid seeking aid altogether due to fears around immigration enforcement.

While these challenges are well documented, it is important to highlight the role that organizations like the Institute for Diversity and Inclusion in Emergency Management (I-DIEM) play in addressing them. I-DIEM’s Equity Response Teams (ERTs) are a vital resource in disaster recovery efforts, especially for the most vulnerable populations. These teams are deployable, interdisciplinary groups composed of certified emergency managers, cultural competency experts, and community engagement professionals. Their primary mission is to ensure equity in all phases of the disaster cycle—preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation—for underserved and marginalized communities.

The Role of I-DIEM’s Equity Response Teams (ERTs)

In the aftermath of a disaster, inequities in response and recovery efforts often surface quickly. Communities that were already struggling before the storm—due to poverty, language barriers, or a lack of political representation—are more likely to face delays in receiving aid, encounter discriminatory practices, or be overlooked entirely by traditional disaster relief systems. This is where I-DIEM’s ERTs step in to fill the gaps.

These teams actively deploy to disaster zones to assess the challenges that survivors from marginalized communities face in the response and recovery efforts. They work directly with community leaders and local organizations to identify needs, advocate for equitable resource distribution, and ensure that the voices of these underserved populations are heard. Whether it’s ensuring non-English-speaking residents have access to critical information or advocating for the allocation of resources to low-income neighborhoods, ERTs are essential in creating a just and inclusive recovery process.

The importance of ERTs cannot be overstated. They don’t just identify the gaps; they also work on the ground to build bridges between communities and emergency management agencies, ensuring that everyone—regardless of race, income, or language—has an equal chance to recover from disasters. By doing so, I-DIEM’s teams help mitigate long-term impacts on marginalized populations and reduce the risk of these communities being left behind.

Making a Difference – One Disaster at a Time

Our teams have been on the ground in the wake of some of the most destructive disasters in recent history, including Hurricanes Ida and Ian, as well as the 2021 Kentucky Tornadoes. Each disaster has highlighted unique challenges faced by underserved communities.

After Hurricane Ida, we encountered a troubling dynamic where many non-diverse search and rescue teams were sent into communities of color, leading to fear and mistrust among residents. In a time still raw from racial injustices like the George Floyd tragedy and police shootings in Atlanta, many people hesitated to open their doors, uncertain of who to trust.

Following Hurricane Ian, we discovered a group of migrant farm workers stranded by flooding and left without food for days. Our intervention helped mobilize volunteer efforts to deliver much-needed resources to this isolated community.

In the aftermath of the Kentucky Tornadoes, we visited subsidized housing areas where residents expressed fear about the limited housing options that would be available as the community rebuilt—a concern we see time and again. After the EF4 tornado devastated Rolling Fork, Mississippi, a predominantly Black community, the destruction of housing forced many residents to relocate or travel long distances for shelter. These challenges were highlighted in I-DIEM’s groundbreaking film MUTED: Climate Marginalization in America . This is a stark example of climate displacement, an all-too-common reality for marginalized communities disproportionately impacted by extreme weather events.

Our work focuses on addressing these inequities, ensuring that vulnerable populations are not left behind in the recovery and rebuilding process.

As Helene Approaches, Equity Must Be a Priority

We continue to see heightened tropical activity each year and we know more major hurricanes are coming – possibly even this season - so the need for equitable disaster response is more critical than ever. Marginalized communities across the region—many of whom are still recovering from previous storms—are again at risk of being disproportionately affected. I-DIEM’s Equity Response Teams will be instrumental in ensuring that these communities are not forgotten in the days and weeks following the storm.

The approaching storm should serve as a call to action for local governments, emergency management agencies, and the public to prioritize equity in disaster response. We must ensure that resources are distributed fairly and that the unique needs of marginalized communities are considered at every step of the recovery process. ?I-DIEM’s Equity Response Teams play a critical role in making this happen, everyone has a part in pushing for a more just and inclusive disaster response system.

Let’s work together to ensure that all communities—especially those historically underserved—are given the tools, resources, and support they need to weather the storm. If your organization is interested in supporting this concept or participating in a deployment – please reach out .