Greater Impact: How Disasters Affect People of Low Socioeconomic Status

This bulletin, from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, provides an overview of the literature around disaster preparedness, response, and recovery for low-income populations, and the vulnerability of communities and families with low socioeconomic status. The bulletin explores differences between these populations compared to others regarding preparedness prior to a disaster, response to official communication/warnings as well as the impact post-disaster has on housing, physical effects like injuries, financial recovery, difficulty with obtaining and receiving aid, depression, and posttraumatic stress.