Vulnerable populations, including older adults, children, and those with a disability, face unique challenges during an emergency. For the Central Nebraska Medical Reserve Corps (MRC), this became particularly apparent three years ago when a local assisted living facility experienced a fire and needed to evacuate residents.
The result is the unit’s newest initiative: VIPER (Vulnerable Identified Population Evacuation Response). Expected to be deployable by April of this year, VIPER includes supplies and equipment; procedures and deployment processes; training; and response capabilities for the unit’s volunteers to assist vulnerable populations during an emergency.
Read more in a recent profile from NACCHO.