Enhancing Emergency
Preparedness, Response,
and Recovery Management
for Vulnerable Populations
Task 3: Literature Review
ELLEN BURKE BECKJORD, STEFANIE STERN,
LISA S. MEREDITH, LISA R. SHUGARMAN,
ANITA CHANDRA, TERRI TANIELIAN,
STEPHANIE L. TAYLOR, & ANDREW M. PARKER
WR-581
March 2008
Prepared for the United States Department of Health and Human Services,
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Enhancing Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Recovery Management for
Vulnerable Populations
Task 3: Literature Review
BACKGROUND
Risk communication plays a critical role in preparing for, responding to, and recovering from
public health emergencies [1]. For example, in a chemical spill or radiological incident, exposed
individuals need to be informed of decontamination requirements. In natural disasters,
individuals need to have information about potential dangers and how and where they can seek
safe shelter, while in emergencies with a contagious agent, communication related to isolation
and quarantine procedures is required. In general, risk communication in the context of public
health emergencies is a complex process. Messages must be communicated in the appropriate
languages, at the right reading level, and disseminated in multiple ways amid significant stress
and uncertainty. With the goal of keeping the public safe, to be effective, risk communication
mu