NURS FPX 4055 Assessment 3

NURS FPX 4055 Assessment 3 Disaster Recovery Plan

Student Name

Capella University

NURS-FPX4055 Optimizing Population Health through Community Practice

Prof. Name:

Date

Disaster Recovery Plan

Communities such as Tall Oaks experience unique challenges during disaster recovery, especially when faced with deep-rooted socioeconomic inequalities, communication differences, and cultural diversity. A successful recovery approach must combine governmental policies with healthcare strategies and promote interprofessional collaboration and effective information exchange. This plan utilizes the Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication (CERC) framework to explore how these variables influence health outcomes, reduce inequities, and ensure fair delivery of emergency services.

Determinants of Health and Barriers in Tall Oaks

Tall Oaks, with a population of around 50,000, contends with a noticeable disparity between income and cost of living. The median household income stands at \$44,444, a figure that limits access to essential disaster recovery services for many residents. Only 22.5% of the community demonstrates adequate health literacy, correlating with low rates of higher education. Moreover, uninsured individuals and those under 65 living with disabilities are particularly vulnerable in emergencies. The community’s racial composition—49% White, 36% Black, and 25% Hispanic/Latino—enriches its cultural landscape but introduces challenges in equitable service access (Capella University, n.d.). Neighborhoods such as Willow Creek and Pine Ridge, often hit hardest by flooding, are home to economically disadvantaged seniors. Language barriers and skepticism toward healthcare further prevent many Hispanic/Latino residents from receiving timely aid.

Older adults and individuals with disabilities often feel isolated due to limited social support and displacement during floods (Bailie et al., 2022). Financial instability also hinders travel to medical facilities like Red Oaks Medical Center, especially when schools and local stores shut down. These overlapping social and economic pressures delay both immediate emergency response and long-term recovery efforts, underscoring the urgent need for inclusive disaster strategies.

Interrelationships Among Determinants and Barriers

The determinants of health and barriers in Tall Oaks are interconnected, collectively complicating both preparedness and recovery efforts. Income inequality compels low-income families and elderly residents to inhabit substandard, flood-prone housing, increasing their risk during disasters. Inadequate education hampers the ability to understand and act on emergency guidance. Simultaneously, cultural and language barriers obstruct critical health communication, particularly among Hispanic/Latino communities (Capella University, n.d.). Poor infrastructure and unreliable transportation restrict evacuation capabilities and access to care. Financial difficulties prolong recovery for individuals with disabilities, fostering isolation (Blackman et al., 2023). To mitigate these challenges, community-driven planning, infrastructure upgrades, and culturally tailored communication strategies are imperative.

Health Equity and Policy Frameworks

Promoting Health Equity Through a Culturally Sensitive Disaster Recovery Plan

The proposed disaster recovery strategy for Tall Oaks emphasizes social justice and cultural awareness to minimize health disparities and expand service access. This plan highlights the importance of addressing the needs of marginalized populations who suffer the most during crises. The first initiative includes multilingual communication channels and culturally relevant outreach to ensure that minority groups—especially Hispanic/Latino residents—stay informed. Next, mobile medical units and temporary recovery centers will be dispatched to flood-affected neighborhoods to serve the uninsured, elderly, disabled, and low-income families (Sheerazi et al., 2025). Economic obstacles will be tackled by offering emergency transportation, accessible shelters, and financial aid for healthcare and housing. Moreover, collaborations with local community organizations will enhance resource distribution, cultivate trust, and strengthen support networks (Kristian & Fajar, 2024).

Role of Health and Governmental Policy: A CERC Framework Approach

Tall Oaks’ recovery plan aligns closely with public health and governmental policies guided by the CDC’s CERC framework. CERC highlights the importance of prompt, accurate, and inclusive communication across all phases of a disaster. The CDC provides complimentary training—ranging from short webinars to in-depth workshops—in plain-language emergency communication. In 2024 alone, over 5,000 professionals completed these sessions (CDC, 2025). Federal policies like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ensure equitable access to shelters and healthcare services by mandating accommodations such as ramps and interpreters. The Stafford Act empowers Tall Oaks to access federal disaster relief, while the Disaster Recovery Reform Act (DRRA) of 2018 extends eligibility for aid in medically underserved areas (Horn et al., 2021). Additionally, data-driven trace-mapping will help authorities identify underserved neighborhoods and allocate resources more effectively.

Communication and Collaboration Strategies

Strategies to Overcome Communication Barriers and Foster Interprofessional Collaboration

To enhance its disaster response, Tall Oaks must implement practical, evidence-based communication and teamwork strategies. Multilingual emergency alerts, interpretation services, and community radio broadcasts can reach linguistically diverse populations. Hospitals like Red Oaks Medical Center should incorporate multilingual signage and culturally sensitive triage systems. Cultural competency training for healthcare and emergency personnel improves public trust and adherence to health guidelines (Bonfanti et al., 2023). Integrated platforms that connect healthcare, emergency response, and social services enhance interprofessional coordination (Yazdani & Haghani, 2024). Community engagement through surveys, schools, town halls, and religious institutions ensures feedback-driven responses and boosts public confidence (Vandrevala et al., 2024).

Conclusion

Effective disaster recovery in Tall Oaks depends on a comprehensive plan that integrates social determinants, health policies, and culturally responsive communication. By embedding the principles of the CERC framework—along with interprofessional collaboration and culturally competent outreach—the city can ensure equitable service delivery, empower its vulnerable populations, and increase resilience for future crises.

Table: Summary of Key Elements

References

ADA. (2025). Health care and the Americans With Disabilities Act | ADA National Network. https://adata.org/factsheet/health-care-and-ada

Bailie, J., Matthews, V., Bailie, R., Villeneuve, M., & Longman, J. (2022). Exposure to risk and experiences of river flooding for people with disability and carers in rural Australia: A cross-sectional survey. BMJ Open, 12(8), e056210. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-056210

Bhugra, D., Tribe, R., & Poulter, D. (2022). Social justice, health equity, and mental health. South African Journal of Psychology, 52(1), 3–10. https://doi.org/10.1177/00812463211070921

Blackman, D., Prayag, G., Nakanishi, H., Chaffer, J., & Freyens, B. (2023). Wellbeing in disaster recovery: Understanding where systems get stuck. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 95, 103839. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2023.103839

NURS FPX 4055 Assessment 3 Disaster Recovery Plan

Bonfanti, R. C., Oberti, B., Ravazzoli, E., Rinaldi, A., Ruggieri, S., & Schimmenti, A. (2023). The role of trust in disaster risk reduction: A critical review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 21(1), 29. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21010029

Capella University. (n.d.). RN to BSN: Online bachelor’s degree. https://www.capella.edu/online-nursing-degrees/bachelors-rn-to-bsn-completion/

CDC. (2025). Crisis & Emergency Risk Communication (CERC). https://www.cdc.gov/cerc/php/about/index.html

Horn, P., & Lindsay, M. E. (2021). The Disaster Recovery Reform Act of 2018 (DRRA): Implementation update tables for select provisions. https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/R46774

Kristian, I., & Fajar, M. (2024). Integrating community-based approaches into national disaster management policies: Lessons from recent natural disasters. The International Journal of Law Review and State Administration, 2(4), 115–125. https://doi.org/10.58818/ijlrsa.v2i4.150

Sheerazi, S., Awad, S. A., & von Schreeb, J. (2025). Use of mobile health units in natural disasters: A scoping review. BMC Health Services Research, 25(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-024-12067-9

NURS FPX 4055 Assessment 3 Disaster Recovery Plan

Vandrevala, T., Morrow, E., Coates, T., Boulton, R., Crawshaw, A. F., O’Dwyer, E., & Heitmeyer, C. (2024). Strengthening the relationship between community resilience and health emergency communication: A systematic review. BMC Global and Public Health, 2(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s44263-024-00112-y

Yazdani, M., & Haghani, M. (2024). A conceptual framework for integrating volunteers in emergency response planning and optimization assisted by decision support systems. Progress in Disaster Science, 24, 100361. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pdisas.2024.100361