As climate change continues to advance, it affects the entire population, but who it strikes the most are the vulnerable community. Given their social status, the Latino and immigrant people suffer the most and need special consideration for disaster planning.
A similar natural disaster that neglected the elderly was Hurricane Katrina. Almost immediately after the hurricane hit the Gulf Coast, the National Council on Disability in the United States estimated that 155,000 people with disabilities lived in the three cities hardest hit by the hurricane.
These examples make it clear that climate disasters disproportionately harm vulnerable populations—especially undocumented immigrants, the elderly, and people with disabilities, yet disaster response efforts continue to overlook their specific needs.
It is essential that disaster preparedness strategies prioritize equity by actively involving marginalized communities, expanding language access, and ensuring support systems reach those most often left behind.