NURS FPX 4055 Assessment 3 Disaster Recovery Plan
NURS FPX 4055 Assessment 3 Disaster Recovery Plan
Name
Capella university
NURS-FPX4055 Optimizing Population Health through Community Practice
Prof. Name
Date
Disaster Recovery Plan
Communities like Tall Oaks often face challenges in achieving successful recovery after disasters due to prevalent socio-economic inequalities, communication barriers, and cultural diversity issues. An effective disaster recovery plan depends on combining government strategies with healthcare policies, while focusing on improving communication and collaboration among specialists. The Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication (CERC) framework will be used as a guide in this assessment to illustrate how specific factors influence disaster recovery outcomes, reduce health disparities, and ensure service equity during emergencies.
Determinants of Health and Barriers in Tall Oaks
Tall Oaks is a diverse city with 50,000 residents who face significant health and safety problems due to income disparities and the cost of living. Many residents live below the poverty line, earning an average of \$44,444 annually, which affects their ability to access emergency disaster response services. Health literacy in Tall Oaks is low, with only 22.5% of residents holding college degrees. This lack of education and limited access to resources complicates disaster preparedness efforts.
The city’s population is racially diverse, with 49% White, 36% Black, and 25% Hispanic/Latino individuals, which presents both advantages and challenges in terms of communication and access to services (Capella University, n.d.). Low-income communities, especially older adults living in flood-prone areas like Willow Creek and Pine Ridge, face additional risks. Cultural barriers such as language misunderstandings and lack of trust in healthcare providers hinder timely access to essential services for Hispanic/Latino residents.
Elderly and disabled individuals in Tall Oaks often experience isolation due to a lack of support networks, which further exacerbates their vulnerability during disasters (Bailie et al., 2022). Economic struggles make it difficult for many to access healthcare, and the city’s broken infrastructure prevents residents from reaching medical facilities during emergencies. These social and economic conditions delay recovery efforts and require a more comprehensive, inclusive approach to rebuilding the community and supporting its residents in the aftermath of disasters.
Interrelationships Among Determinants and Barriers
The multiple health determinants and barriers in Tall Oaks exist within an interconnected system that complicates disaster recovery efforts. Socioeconomic disparities have resulted in substandard housing options in flood-prone areas, which disproportionately affect low-income families and elderly residents. Educational disparities also contribute to low health literacy, making it difficult for vulnerable populations to understand and act on disaster preparedness information.
Language and cultural differences create additional communication challenges, especially for the city’s Hispanic/Latino residents, who may struggle to access healthcare and resources due to these barriers (Capella University, n.d.). Infrastructure destruction further isolates disadvantaged populations, limiting their ability to evacuate or reach medical facilities. Additionally, residents lacking financial stability or mobility are particularly vulnerable, as they often struggle to recover from the physical and economic impacts of disasters (Blackman et al., 2023). An effective disaster recovery plan in Tall Oaks must address these interconnected issues by fostering collaboration, building resilient infrastructure, and creating communication strategies that account for cultural diversity.
Promoting Health Equity Through a Culturally Sensitive Disaster Recovery Plan
The proposed disaster recovery plan for Tall Oaks aims to reduce health disparities and improve access to services for marginalized populations. The plan is grounded in social justice principles, ensuring that individuals of all income levels, racial backgrounds, and abilities receive equitable support. By focusing on vulnerable groups first, the plan seeks to minimize the negative effects of disasters on those who are most likely to suffer.
A key component of the plan involves the use of multilingual communication systems and culturally appropriate outreach methods to ensure that Hispanic/Latino and other minority populations receive timely information during disasters. Mobile medical units and community recovery centers will prioritize service to flood-affected areas, helping individuals who lack health insurance, those with disabilities, the elderly, and low-income families who typically face challenges accessing healthcare (Sheerazi et al., 2025).
The plan also addresses economic barriers by providing transportation options, temporary shelters, and financial assistance for medical care and housing costs. Partnerships with community-based organizations will strengthen the social service network and build trust between residents and service providers (Kristian & Fajar, 2024). Additionally, the plan includes culturally competent training for healthcare providers and first responders to improve service delivery across diverse communities. These strategies will empower underserved communities, enhance their resilience, and ensure an inclusive, fair, and lasting recovery.
Role of Health and Governmental Policy: A CERC Framework Approach
Effective community disaster recovery in Tall Oaks is closely tied to health and governmental policies that align with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication (CERC) framework. The CERC framework emphasizes the importance of immediate, accurate, and accessible communication throughout the disaster management process. The CDC offers free virtual CERC training for health professionals, which enhances their ability to communicate clearly and effectively during emergencies. In 2024, over 5,000 professionals participated in these training sessions to improve disaster communication and safeguard public health (CDC, 2025).
CERC’s focus on clear, plain language communication helps maintain public trust and enables informed decision-making during recovery efforts. Policies such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ensure that all individuals, including those with disabilities, have access to recovery services, including shelter, healthcare, and emergency services. Tall Oaks has implemented ADA-compliant infrastructure, such as ramps and interpreters, to ensure that people with disabilities can fully participate in the recovery process (ADA, 2025).
The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act provides federal resources to support recovery efforts, including infrastructure repair and medical services for vulnerable communities. The 2018 Disaster Recovery Reform Act (DRRA) allows for more flexible use of disaster assistance funds, which helps Tall Oaks allocate resources to areas like Pine Ridge and Willow Creek that are particularly prone to flooding (Horn et al., 2021). By integrating the CERC framework with health and governmental policies, Tall Oaks can ensure an equitable recovery that meets the needs of all community members, regardless of background or ability.
Strategies to Overcome Communication Barriers and Interprofessional Collaboration
To overcome communication barriers and enhance interprofessional collaboration in Tall Oaks, disaster recovery efforts must incorporate evidence-based strategies. Multilingual communication channels, such as text alerts, radio broadcasts, and multilingual staff at shelters, will help ensure that all residents, particularly Hispanic/Latino individuals, receive timely emergency updates. Red Oaks Medical Center, for example, should implement multilingual signage and interpretation services to improve service delivery during disaster surges.
Training first responders and healthcare providers in cultural sensitivity is critical for fostering trust and ensuring that vulnerable populations receive appropriate care. Cultural sensitivity improves adherence to disaster preparedness guidelines, as individuals are more likely to engage with services that are tailored to their cultural context (Bonfanti et al., 2023). Another essential strategy involves interprofessional collaboration, where healthcare providers, social workers, and emergency responders work together to coordinate efforts and improve recovery outcomes (Yazdani & Haghani, 2024).
Involving local community leaders and organizations, including faith-based groups and schools, will also help reach residents who lack access to technology or transportation. Community surveys and town hall meetings will provide feedback to recovery teams, ensuring that services meet the needs of residents. By involving community members in decision-making, Tall Oaks can create a recovery process that is more effective and equitable, ensuring equal service access for all residents.
Conclusion
Tall Oaks’ disaster recovery efforts must prioritize health factors and communication networks that promote equity and inclusion. A culturally sensitive approach, combined with interprofessional collaboration and policy alignment, will lead to more effective recovery outcomes. By focusing on vulnerable populations, improving communication strategies, and integrating health and government policies, Tall Oaks can create a recovery plan that ensures equal access to services and long-term resilience for all residents.
References
ADA. (2025). Health care and the Americans with Disabilities Act | ADA National Network. Adata.org. 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. British Medical Journal Open, 12(8), e056210–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, Nakanishi, H., Chaffer, J., & Freyens, B. (2023). Wellbeing in disaster recovery: Understanding where systems get stuck. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 95, 103839–103839. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2023.103839
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
NURS FPX 4055 Assessment 3 Disaster Recovery Plan
Capella University. (n.d). RN to BSN: Online bachelor’s degree. Capella.edu. https://www.capella.edu/online-nursing-degrees/bachelors-rn-to-bsn-completion/
CDC. (2025). Crisis & Emergency Risk Communication (CERC). Crisis & Emergency Risk Communication (CERC). https://www.cdc.gov/cerc/php/about/index.html
Horn, P, D., A, E., Lindsay, & M, E. (2021). The Disaster Recovery Reform Act of 2018 (DRRA): Implementation update tables for select provisions. Congress.gov. 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. BioMed Central Health Services Research, 25(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-024-12067-9
NURS FPX 4055 Assessment 3 Disaster Recovery Plan
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Yazdani, S., & Haghani, M. (2024). Collaborative strategies in disaster recovery: Towards more efficient resource allocation. International Journal of Emergency Management, 12(3), 35–45. https://doi.org/10.1029/ijem.303