Anne Barrett, Ph.D., Professor of Sociology, Mildred and Claude Pepper Eminent Scholar, co-authored “Ready for the next storm? An analysis of Florida’s hurricane preparedness for its residents with disabilities,” alongside fellow FSU researchers: sociology doctoral candidate Hope Mimbs, sociology doctoral student Brianna Soulie, and postdoctoral scholar Jessica Noblitt. The team also collaborated with independent researcher Cherish Michael. Their study was published in the Journal of Elder Policy (2024). The following summary was written by Kharisma Langston (M.S. Integrated Marketing and Management Communication ’26).
Florida State University Professor of Sociology Anne Barrett, Ph.D., co-authored the article “Ready for the next storm? An analysis of Florida’s hurricane preparedness for its residents with disabilities,” published in the Journal of Elder Policy. The study examined hurricane preparedness among older adults with disabilities in Florida. It also explores the availability of special-needs shelters across Florida counties designed to support these residents during storms.
Dr. Barrett and her co-authors hypothesized that older adults in Florida with disabilities are less likely to be prepared for hurricanes, and some counties may lack sufficient special-needs shelters to support them during storms. Their results indicated that people with mobility limitations and vision impairments are less likely to be hurricane-ready. Additionally, while counties with higher numbers of residents reporting these disabilities tend to have more special-needs shelters, those who rely on specialized medical equipment often face a shortage of shelter options.
“The study spots a mismatch: The people most likely to need help are often the least prepared, and some places with high needs lack enough special-needs shelter capacity,” Dr. Barrett said. “These results give state and county leaders a roadmap to target outreach, improve shelter access, and plan evacuations that work for people with disabilities.”
Their research highlights the challenges faced by older adults with disabilities during hurricanes, especially those who use medical equipment, rely on caregivers, or have mobility limitations. These individuals may lose access to electricity needed for life-sustaining devices or struggle to find safe places to evacuate. The study aims to identify gaps in hurricane preparedness by comparing the needs of these vulnerable populations with the resources available in Florida counties, such as special-needs shelters and emergency support services.
Dr. Barrett and her co-authors examined readiness at two levels. First, their study utilized data from an online survey of approximately 4,000 Floridians over the age of 50 to determine who had supplies, plans, and the ability to evacuate. Additionally, the study used data from 65 of the 67 Florida counties to observe how many shelters were special needs shelters designed to support people who need more than basic care.
Dr. Barrett believes more research could explore whether hurricane preparedness lowers risks, such as injuries and loss of medical support. She encourages studies that link the number of special-needs shelters to the challenges faced by people with disabilities throughout a storm. For example, a researcher could examine whether having more shelters allows residents with disabilities to avoid needing emergency help.
Click to learn more about Dr. Barrett and FSU’s Department of Sociology.