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One of the most distressing aspects of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in the U.S. is the lopsided damage that it has triggered to poor communities and communities of color (Andraska et al., 2021). African-American, Asian-American, and Latino-American people have markedly higher infection rates, hospitalization, and death than Caucasian-American people (Andraska et al., 2021). Disparities in disease outcomes by racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic status in the U.S. are not new (Andraska et al., 2021). COVID-19 has emphasized the importance of new approaches to community engagement, community support, and cultural competence related to public health logistics planning, supply chain response, and service of people of color in the U.S. (Andraska et al., 2021).
Low-income and minority communities are often at a disadvantage during public health and natural disasters because of limited access to resources (Archer & Boonyabancha, 2011). Minority communities often have their own unique cultural, family, religious, and spiritual values that influence the way the ways they access and respond to health and safety information that require comprehension, sympathy, and empathy from predominantly White emergency planners, public health responders, and disaster recovery specialists (Catalino, 2015).
Inadequate and unempathetic comprehension of cultural values and differences can result in mismatches between aid and services concerning what might be needed most in minority communities (Davidson et al., 2013). Past instances of inadequate responses from public authorities have distrust minority communities (Catalino, 2015). These past public health and disaster response failures indicate a critical need for public health, emergency planners, and disaster response professionals to have extensive knowledge of cultural differences, equity, and inclusive approaches to the provision of community aid (Pitts, Hicklin, Hawes, & Melton, 2010; Catalino, 2015).
Inadequate public health emergency management, supply chain management, and medical services intensify the access to community resources deficiencies in minority communities (Catalino, 2015). High instances of the uninsured, substandard housing, and communities with poor sanitation have often left minority communities underprepared for public health emergencies and natural disasters (Mueller et al., 2011). The emergency management and public health logistics challenges across minority communities vary in complexity (Wright, 2011). Public and private disaster relief organizations are less prevalent in minority communities (Davidson et al., 2013). These factors and historical instances of poor public health and disaster responses in African American communities have created a lost faith in local, state, and federal governments (Bullard & Wright, 2012). Beyond history, numerous events and policies continue to impact the individuals, families, and cultural groups from various communities. As result communities have developed a lack of confidence which creates a need for improved cultural awareness within public health, emergency planning, logistics management, and emergency response professions (Catalino, 2015). These dynamics create an urgency for those in public health, emergency planning, logistics management, and emergency response professions to develop sympathy, empathy, and understanding of the historical, cultural, and ethical issues that have created disparities and inequities (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health, 2015). The need for cultural competency in public health logistics, disaster management, and emergency response has increased because the United States has become more diverse (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health, 2015). Knowledge of inclusive decision-making, cultural competency, and equity can help disaster managers, public health logistics professionals, and emergency response planners better serve the most vulnerable minority and low-income communities (Catalino, 2015). Cultural competency training and the need for diversity in disaster, public health logistics, and emergency response planning fields are critical (Alexander & Strivers, 2010).