Challenges for the disaster workforce during a compound hurricane-pandemic.

Area of Science:

• Disaster Management
• Public Health
• Emergency Preparedness

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic introduced unprecedented workforce challenges for emergency management.
• Pre-existing staffing shortages in emergency shelters were amplified by pandemic-related fatigue and stretched resources.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify concerns and strategies for emergency management planning under compound threats, specifically COVID-19 and hurricane season.
• To address critical issues in staffing, training, logistics, and support for emergency shelters.

Main Methods:

• Six workshops were conducted with 265 participants from national, state, and local levels.
• Participants included leaders, staff, experts, and advocates across disaster planning, public health, social services, academia, and healthcare.

Main Results:

• Proposed strategies to augment staff include greater reliance on volunteers and nonprofit organizations.
• Recommendations for reducing staff fatigue and redistributing responsibilities include mental health resources, personal protective equipment, sanitation supplies, and defined roles.

Conclusions:

• Findings highlight the need for further research into stressors affecting emergency management planning.
• Effective interventions are crucial for strengthening emergency shelter operations during prolonged pandemics and future disaster events.