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Assessing Social Equity in Disaster Preparation, Response, and Recovery
Jan 5, 2022
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Federal Emergency Management Agency have committed to reduce social inequities but lack frameworks, indicators, and metrics for tracking progress. In this report, researchers describe the results of a literature review, the key themes related to conceptual frameworks, and indicators and metrics. They also identify knowledge gaps and provide recommendations for assessing racial equity in these programs.
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Disasters have the potential to exacerbate preexisting racial inequities. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have made commitments to reduce social inequities in mission and value statements but lack frameworks, indicators, and metrics for tracking progress toward equity goals. In-depth assessment of the racial equity of FEMA's disaster funding programs is needed to empower diverse community members and effectively target groups that need the most help to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters.
In this report, researchers describe (1) the results of a literature review and exploratory study on equity, vulnerability, and resilience, (2) the key themes related to conceptual frameworks, (3) indicators and metrics, and (4) knowledge gaps. They also provide recommendations for assessing racial equity in FEMA disaster programs.
This research was conducted using internal funding generated from operations of the Homeland Security Research Division (HSRD) and within the HSRD Recovery Cost Analysis Program.
This report is part of the RAND Corporation Research report series. RAND reports present research findings and objective analysis that address the challenges facing the public and private sectors. All RAND reports undergo rigorous peer review to ensure high standards for research quality and objectivity.
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