Disasters and At-Risk Populations

Accessing healthcare may be a challenge to at-risk populations across the U.S. The rate of disasters has increased over the years and the COVID-19 pandemic affected communities of color, rural communities, and other underserved populations especially hard. Healthcare professionals and emergency managers may benefit from a better understanding of the complex relationships that affect fair access to healthcare. The resources in this Topic Collection highlight these considerations and lessons learned from a variety of natural and human-caused disasters and provide guidance for healthcare practitioners who are committed to improving at-risk populations’ access to healthcare.