Evacuation behavior of households facing compound hurricane-pandemic threats

This study examines households' prospective evacuation behavior during a hurricane-pandemic compound threat. Data from a 2020 survey of coastal Virginia households help answer two questions: (1) What factors associated with the threat and impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and hurricanes influence the prospective evacuation behavior of households during a compound hurricane-pandemic event? (2) What are the equity implications for emergency management policies and practices to support evacuation and sheltering during a compound hurricane-pandemic event? Households in the sample were split between those who stated they would evacuate away from the at-risk region and those who would stay. Greater household vulnerability to hurricanes and COVID-19 and having sufficient financial resources increase the likelihood of evacuation. Higher-income households were more likely to have resources to evacuate and were less likely to suffer financial consequences from a hurricane or pandemic. Racial minorities are more vulnerable to the pandemic and face greater resource challenges when evacuating.

Contributions of the Paycheck Protection Program to Nonprofit Short-Term Sustainability

This article draws on literature on nonprofit resilience to hazards to explore the impact of federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans on nonprofits' staffing, services, and financial health during the COVID-19 pandemic's first year. Through propensity score matching with survey data collected in spring 2020 and winter 2021 from the New Orleans area, linked to publicly available PPP data, nonprofits that did and did not receive a PPP loan were matched on covariates representing critical resilience capacities pre-pandemic, allowing calculation of effect sizes for short-term outcomes. Results suggest that PPP tentatively supported nonprofit liquidity in the form of reserves, but had at best mixed results in promoting service maintenance, and did not support hiring or staff retention in excess of the non-treatment group. Despite the small sample size, these preliminary findings inform how PPP may have supported short-term sustainability and help guide future federal policy to support nonprofits during crises. © The Author(s) 2023.

Assessing implementation of interventions to recruit & retain the Therapeutic Radiographer workforce

Purpose or Objective Recruitment and retention of key NHS staff has been an ongoing challenge. The Reducing Pre-registration Attrition and Improving Retention (RePAIR) initiative was set up by Health Education England (HEE) in 2015 to explore effective interventions to improve retention across the student journey, from pre-enrolment to two years post qualification. Key objectives: · Map and identify areas of good practice, opportunities, and challenges of the RePAIR recommendations in England · Further embed partnership working across a range of stakeholders · Develop a shared online repository of good practice and understand the impact of COVID-19 on student education and training. Project delivered by Society of Radiographers (SoR), funded by HEE. Materials and Methods Sample: Radiotherapy approved Higher Education Institutions (HEI’s) n=10 and Radiotherapy Healthcare Providers (HCP’s) n=51 in England. A two stage project: · Multi-method survey of HEI’s, HCP’s and therapeutic radiography students on a placement expansion programme in England · Follow-up semi-structured interviews and Dual Moderator focus groups with key stakeholders Results A 100% HEI and 88% HCP survey response Key findings: • 80% of HEIs and 98% of HCPs were in favour of standardising clinical assessment documentation. • HEIs, HCPs and students felt simulation could replace up to 20% of clinical practice. • 70% of HEI’s and 51% of HCP’s surveyed had informal student support mechanisms however only 15% of HCP’s and 20% of HEI’s had extra support for year 2 • Physical and mental health and wrong career choice, were the most common reasons for attrition. • Recruitment initiatives were evident in all HEI’s and in 82% of HCP’s, however, only 27% of HCP’s were involved in retention initiatives. • Formal use of ‘culture of care’ tools was not standard practice. • All HEI’s had a transition to professional practice. 80% of HCP’s had a preceptorship programme with 20% collaborating with local HEI • Only 20% awareness of RePAIR from survey findings Conclusion Priority areas were identified and developed into workstreams: 1. Effective recruitment initiatives (e.g. outreach) 2. Effective retention initiatives, student support toolkit, return to practice 3. Strategies to increase student placement capacity (e.g. simulation and non-traditional placements) 4. Placement allocation and funding support 5. Standardised clinical assessment documentation 6. Preparation for practice (e.g preceptorship) This led to the development of an online toolkit – AHP Support Programme for Implementing Recruitment, Retention and Engagement (ASPIRRE), Standalone projects were identified, requiring separate research and development. • National project exploring requirements of implementing standardised clinical assessment. • Production of a professional body guidance document on simulation within pre-registration Therapeutic Radiography education and training programmes These projects address student and professional workforce growth, placement expansion and transformation requirements.

Changing Logistics of Evacuation Transportation in Hazardous Settings during COVID-19

The logistics of public-sponsored evacuation include transportation assets, personnel, and infrastructure. Effective orchestration leading up to a severe weather event is a complex undertaking requiring capacity that is matched to needs. However, under the compound hurricane-pandemic scenario, the demands for evacuation assistance and the capacity to meet demands change. Pre-event planning must be adjusted and transit modified to reduce risks posed to evacuees and essential workers. This study explores how visualizations of redistributed vulnerability and transportation resources influence planning. The research identifies how transportation, emergency management, and public health officials are adapting hurricane evacuation resources during the COVID-19 pandemic using original data from compound hazard workshops and participatory stakeholder focus groups. Findings show that by the peak of hurricane season, local evacuation recommendations were favored by officials, contracts were in place for noncongregate options, and public resources were adjusted to account for those requiring congregate sheltering. A need remained for coordinating interjurisdictional information about real-time weather, resources, staffing, and traffic as well as local knowledge of roadway flooding with ongoing hazard planning. (C) 2021 American Society of Civil Engineers.