Why Preserving Health Data is Critical for Urban Resilience
The Evolution of Emergency Preparedness Goes Far Beyond Seed Banks
To better prepare for disaster, Americans may want to contemplate a new survival strategy. Bug out bags, Wilderness Medicine, Bunkers, Prepper Closets, Canning and Seed Banks are all important prepping strategies. They are all based on existing knowledge about possible dangers. President Trump's Executive Order that terminates DEI programs undermines any measures to protect public health with the elimination of health equity programs that target disadvantaged groups. The result is a loss of crucial knowledge about health inequities that may increase the impact of disaster on certain populations.
Understanding COVID-19's Impact on Vulnerable Communities
Based on CDC research, we know that Black, Hispanic, and Native American communities experienced higher rates of COVID-19 infection, hospitalization, and death compared to White communities.
The pandemic revealed critical disparities in our healthcare system:
Black and Hispanic individuals were 2.8 times more likely to be hospitalized
Death rates were double among minority populations compared to White individuals
Communities of color faced significant barriers to accessing healthcare
Mental health impacts disproportionately affected minority communities
Economic consequences hit marginalized groups hardest
Black and Hispanic individuals were roughly 2.8 times more likely to be hospitalized and 2.0 times more likely to die from COVID-19 compared to White individuals. Communities of color and those living in poverty often faced barriers to accessing healthcare, which exacerbated the impact of COVID-19. Black and Hispanic patients were less likely to have access to testing and treatment early in the pandemic, contributing to worse health outcomes. According to The Bureau of Labor Statistics, unemployment rates for Black and Hispanic workers peaked at higher levels compared to White workers during the pandemic. As a result, the pandemic also took a toll on mental health, with communities of color and low-income individuals reporting higher levels of stress, anxiety, and depression than White adults. Understanding and minimizing the factors that contribute to this health disparity will help us better prepare for future epidemics and pandemics.
Creating Digital Archives: A New Frontier in Preparedness
Right now, raising awareness about the importance of preserving health data and advocating for policies that support data preservation and accessibility is critical. Creating information data banks that ensure that critical health data remains accessible for future use will help to mitigate the impact of policy changes on public health efforts.
Emergency preparedness may adapt to protect not just physical resource but also to save the knowledge base that helps cities protect their most vulnerable populations during crises. As recent events have shown, urban resilience depends on understanding and addressing the complex interplay of social, economic, and health factors that shape disaster impacts across different communities.
Perhaps, some preppers will turn their attention to creating information banks that store valuable datasets and research before they disappear from federal agencies. Will creating secure digital archives become a new frontier for prepping? Seed banks are important but it seems that we can no longer bank on the preservation of knowledge that should be used to help Americans.