Integrating Immigrant Families in Emergency Response, Relief, and Rebuilding Efforts

Ted Wang; Luna Yasui

Annie E. Casey Foundation, Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees (GCIR

January 1, 2008

This report offers a framework for how local governments can incorporate LEP residents and immigrants into the emergency planning process, increase their preparedness, and develop capacity in key public agencies to communicate with and serve these residents.1 Drawing upon the experiences of successful programs and practices, this report describes specific steps that local policymakers can take to gather information and data about their immigrant communities, to partner with immigrant groups and ethnic media, and to overcome language barriers. Prevention, community involvement, and the capacity to interact with and serve LEP residents prior to a large-scale emergency are central principles of this framework. Although this report primarily focuses on emergency preparedness and response, the strategies discussed are applicable to other phases of emergency management as well.

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