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Updated: Jun 13, 2026
06:15
A Modified Trier Social Stress Test for Vulnerable Mexican American Adolescents
Published on: July 10, 2017
Vulnerable populations: Hurricane Katrina as a case study.
1Los Angeles County Emergency Medical Services Agency, Los Angeles, CA, USA. rzoraster@ladhs.org
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine
|April 21, 2010
Summary
Identifying socio-economic factors is crucial for disaster impact mitigation. Understanding risks like poverty and housing helps improve disaster preparedness and response for vulnerable populations.
Area of Science:
- Disaster Risk Reduction
- Socio-economic Vulnerability Studies
- Public Health Preparedness
Background:
- Mitigating disaster impact necessitates identifying key risk factors.
- While physical fragility is a known vulnerability, socio-economic factors are less understood, particularly in affluent societies.
- Events like Hurricane Katrina highlight these overlooked risks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and analyze socio-economic risk factors contributing to disaster vulnerability.
- To emphasize the importance of these factors in disaster planning, mitigation, and response strategies.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of socio-economic data in relation to disaster impact.
- Case study approach examining factors revealed during major disaster events.
Main Results:
- Identified key socio-economic risk factors including poverty, home ownership status, and English language proficiency.
- Highlighted the increased vulnerability associated with ethnic minority status, immigrant status, and high-density housing.
- Demonstrated the relevance of these factors even in affluent societies.
Conclusions:
- Socio-economic factors significantly influence disaster impact and vulnerability.
- Effective disaster preparation, mitigation, and response must integrate the understanding of these diverse risk factors.
- Addressing socio-economic disparities is essential for equitable disaster resilience.
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