# A Comprehensive Assessment of Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Emergency Preparedness and Crisis Response for Ohio’s Resettled Communities: A Mixed-Methods Assessment of Knowledge, Barriers, and Solutions

## TL;DR

This study assesses emergency preparedness among Ohio's resettled refugee communities, identifying knowledge gaps, barriers, and solutions for culturally appropriate crisis response.

## Contribution

The study provides a mixed-methods evaluation of emergency preparedness in five resettled communities, highlighting culturally specific barriers and engagement strategies.

## Key findings

- The Bhutanese community showed the highest familiarity with preparedness concepts, while Afghan and Congolese communities had significant gaps.
- Language barriers, race, and cultural norms were major obstacles to emergency preparedness.
- Community meetings, religious sites, and text messages were identified as effective engagement and communication platforms.

## Abstract

This study evaluated emergency preparedness, covering knowledge, challenges, and culturally and linguistically appropriate resources among five resettled refugee communities in Central Ohio: Afghan, Bhutanese, Congolese, Ethiopian/Eritrean, and Somali. It also explored youth perceptions of community engagement and the effectiveness of current crisis support initiatives. A mixed-methods approach was used, consisting of a cross-sectional quantitative survey of 266 adults and a qualitative 60-min focus group discussion with 10 youth from the resettled communities. Quantitative data was analyzed with descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests assessing differences in preparedness across communities. Quantitative findings showed that the Bhutanese group reported the highest familiarity with preparedness concepts (33.3%), while Afghan and Congolese communities showed significant gaps. Of the 266 overall respondents, only 39.5% had an emergency plan, and 15.8% felt extremely confident in handling emergencies. Language barriers were major challenges, along with those related to race and ethnic identity, religious practices, and cultural norms. Effective platforms for engagement included community meetings, religious sites, and social media, with text messages and phone calls preferred for emergency communication. Youth discussion highlighted key public health concerns, particularly gun violence, substance abuse, and mental health crises, with stigma and limited resources further hindering preparedness efforts. Participants emphasized the need for culturally relevant interventions and stronger community engagement.