Special Needs Populations Overview

The Office of Human Services Emergency Preparedness and Response (OHSEPR), in coordination with our partners works to enhance planning and preparedness for populations with special needs and help ensure that these individuals receive appropriate services and support before, during, and after an emergency. Consideration of populations with special needs is especially important in certain aspects of emergency human services planning, response, and recovery, such as with communications, evacuation assistance, mass care support, transportation, and housing.

Before, during and after an incident, members of this population may have additional needs in one or more of the following functional life areas:  maintaining independence; communication; transportation; supervision; and medical care. Individuals in need of additional response capabilities may include those who:

1. Have disabilities;
2. Live in institutionalized settings;
3. Are elderly;
4. Are pregnant women;
5. Are from diverse cultures;
6. Have limited English proficiency or who are non-English speaking;
7. Are children; and/or
8. Do not have adequate transportation.