Special Medical Needs Sheltering in Philadelphia County
Melissa Frank
Spring 2011 Capstone
Abstract
The objective of the current study was to recommend policy changes that could help
agencies concerned with special medical needs sheltering in Philadelphia County (public
or private) better address the needs of this population during an emergency evacuation. In
the event of an emergency requiring evacuation, community dwelling individuals with
special medical needs may require accommodation in specialized shelters that address
their particular needs and provide additional supports beyond what might be available at
a general population shelter. Special medical needs (SMN), as defined by North Carolina
Emergency Management, are physical, emotional/cognitive, and/or medical conditions
such that the individual requires help to minimally meet their basic needs. Philadelphia
County has a sizeable population of persons with SMN. In Philadelphia County,
Pennsylvania the city, state and non-governmental organizations such as the Red Cross,
all play a role in sheltering populations during an evacuation emergency. Organizations
involved in sheltering need to have a plan in place for meeting the medical and social
support requirements of individuals living in the community who have SMN. Interviews
were conducted with five employees of area agencies that serve a portion of this
population who would have a familiarity with what those individuals would need during
an evacuation. Common themes relating to gaps between the services currently provided
for emergency sheltering and needs as well as potential barriers in providing emergency
sheltering services were identified. Most agencies had an emergency plan, but they were
generally concerned with sheltering in-place rather than evacuation. Major barriers that
were mentioned included transportation, medication, accessibility of shelters and dietary
restrictions. Participants also expressed assumptions about the role the city government
would play during the emergency. This study recommends that county guidelines for
emergency evacuation planning be created to address the assumptions agencies have
about what will be available during the evacuation and at general population shelters.
Also, more extensive strategies for preparing individuals with SMN and their caregivers
are needed.