CHARLOTTESVILE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – When disasters strike, timing is critical – not just for forecasts, but for knowing who’s most at risk and how to help. Timely information can mean the difference between safety and tragedy, especially for vulnerable groups often overlooked in emergency plans.
Jonathan Colmer, an associate professor of economics and public policy at the University of Virginia, is urging authorities and first responders to identify those most at risk from natural disasters to better prepare, writing in a recent piece published in Nature.
Jonathan Colmer, associate professor of economics and public policy at UVA, co-founded and directs the Environmental Inequality Lab. (Contributed photo)
“Issuing warnings and evacuation orders are essential to save lives. However, not everyone is able to respond to the same degree. Illness, disability, lack of transport and financial constraints can all exacerbate the risk for people in vulnerable groups,” he wrote…