Vulnerable populations are those groups of individuals less able to anticipate, respond to, and recover from the impacts of hazardous events. Vulnerability may be the result of challenges due to socioeconomic status or a physical disability. Groups defined by age, race, ethnicity, or some other factor may experience higher levels of vulnerability. Vulnerability can also be heightened due to geographic location, in which these other characteristics often interact. This session will focus on the special challenges associated with, or successful strategies for, communicating warning information with one or more of these groups. This includes research on barriers to receiving, or comprehending information, challenges to acting upon it, or case studies in which vulnerable populations played a significant role in the warning communication and response process.
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