Cite this article：
Rao, S., Doherty, F.C., Traver, A. et al. Extreme Weather Disruptions and Emergency Preparedness Among Older Adults in Ohio: An Eight-County Assessment. Int J Disaster Risk Sci (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13753-024-00548-8
俄亥俄州极端天气对老年人的影响与应急准备：基于八个县的评估研究
Smitha Rao, Fiona C. Doherty, Anthony Traver, Marisa Sheldon, Emma Sakulich & Holly Dabelko-Schoeny
摘要：
气候变化和极端天气给老年人带来的巨大风险和影响日益明显。虽然在灾害多发地区尤为如此，但人为造成的气候变化也带来了不确定性因素，即使是在美国中西部等先前确定的“安全”地区也是如此。本文采用劣势累积理论和脆弱性信息框架以及来自多个数据源的描述性统计数据，概述了气候影响、脆弱性和县级的相关特征，重点关注生活在俄亥俄州中部的老年人。本文采用多案例比较研究方法，对具有地区代表性的主要和次要数据源进行三角测量，以评估俄亥俄州中部八个县的老年人在州和县一级的脆弱性、应急准备程度以及极端天气造成的影响等。研究结果表明样本中78%的老年人表示已根据联邦紧急事务管理局的指导方针做好了应急准备，联合县（Union County）的老年人报告的应急准备比率最高，而法耶特县（Fayette County）的老年人报告的应急准备比率最低。各县老年人因极端天气而生活受影响的比例差异很大。在研究区最偏远的农村地区中，法耶特县处于独特的不利地位，其收入中位数最低，在多个社会脆弱性维度上最为脆弱，极端天气对老年人生活造成的影响也最大。县域的研究概况提供了该地区老年人现有的脆弱性、社会经济条件、特殊需求、备灾情况和当前的受灾害影响情况，可为社区和政策层面下的资源调动提供参考。
关键词：
备灾；极端天气；美国中西部；老年人；区域评估；社会脆弱性
Extreme Weather Disruptions and Emergency Preparedness Among Older Adults in Ohio: An Eight-County Assessment
Smitha Rao, Fiona C. Doherty, Anthony Traver, Marisa Sheldon, Emma Sakulich & Holly Dabelko-Schoeny
Abstract：
The disproportionate risks and impacts of climate change and extreme weather on older adults are increasingly evident. While especially true in disaster-prone areas, human-caused climate change introduces an element of uncertainty even in previously identified “safe” regions such as the Midwestern United States. Using a cumulative disadvantage and vulnerability-informed framework and descriptive statistics from multiple data sources, this article provides an overview of climate impacts, vulnerabilities, and county-level characteristics, focusing on older adults living in Central Ohio. A comparative multiple-case study methodology was used to triangulate regionally representative primary and secondary data sources to examine state and county-level measures of vulnerability, emergency preparedness, and disruptions caused by extreme weather among older adults across eight counties in Central Ohio. Seventy-eight percent of older adults in the sample reported being prepared for emergencies per Federal Emergency Management Agency guidelines. Older adults in Union County reported the highest rates of preparedness, while those in Fayette County reported the lowest. County-level rates of disruption of life activities by extreme weather ranged widely. Among the most rural in the region, Fayette County emerged as uniquely disadvantaged, with the lowest median income, the most vulnerable across multiple social vulnerability dimensions, and the most reported disruptions to life activities from extreme weather. County profiles offer a snapshot of existing vulnerabilities, socioeconomic conditions, special needs, preparedness, and current disruptions among older adults in the region and can inform resource mobilization across community and policy contexts.
Keywords：
Disaster preparedness, Extreme weather, Midwestern United States, Older adults, Regional assessment, Social vulnerability
文章链接：
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13753-024-00548-8
