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San Mateo County Profile immediately surrounding their place of business or regular route to work but may be less familiar with the services and resources provided to the population during a disaster event. The American Community Survey estimates that 66.5 percent of workers in the County commute alone by vehicle to work. 4.4.2 Demographic Indicators for Social Vulnerability Some populations are at greater risk from hazard events because of decreased resources or physical abilities. People living near or below the poverty line, the elderly, individuals with disabilities, women, children, ethnic minorities, and renters all experience, to some degree, more severe effects from disasters than the general population. These vulnerable populations may vary from the general population in risk perception, living conditions, access to information before, during and after a hazard event, capabilities during an event, and access to resources for post-disaster recovery. Indicators of vulnerability—such as disability, age, poverty, and minority race and ethnicity—often overlap spatially and often in the geographically most vulnerable locations. Detailed spatial analysis to locate areas where there are higher concentrations of vulnerable community members can help to extend focused public outreach and education to the most vulnerable community members. Indicators from Census data are commonly used to assess social vulnerability. For the social vulnerability demographic profile component for this plan, the following indicators were selected:  Population Under 15 Years of Age—Children, especially in the youngest age groups, often cannot protect themselves during a disaster because they lack the necessary resources, knowledge, or life experiences to effectively cope with the situation. Hazard mitigation planning needs to be tailored such that the community is prepared to ensure that children are safe during disaster events and that families with children have access to necessary information and tools.  Population Over 65 years of Age—People 65 years old and older are likely to require financial support, transportation, medical care, or assistance with ordinary daily activities, especially during disasters. They are more likely to be vision, hearing, and/or mobility impaired, more likely to experience mental impairment or dementia, and more likely to live in assisted-living facilities where emergency preparedness is at the discretion of facility operators. Hazard mitigation needs to account for such needs.  People of Color—Social and economic marginalization of certain racial and ethnic groups, including real estate discrimination, has resulted in greater vulnerability of these groups to all types of hazards. Based on data from a number of studies, African Americans, Native Americans, and populations of Asian, Pacific Islander, or Hispanic origin are likely to be more vulnerable than the broader community. Research shows that minorities are less likely to be involved in pre-disaster planning and experience higher mortality rates during disaster events. Post-disaster recovery often exhibits cultural insensitivity. Since higher proportions of ethnic minorities live below the poverty line than the majority white population, poverty can compound vulnerability. Hazard mitigation plans need to identify the spatial distribution of these population groups and direct resources to reduce their vulnerability to hazards.  Limited English-Speaking Households—For populations with limited English proficiency, disaster communication may be difficult, especially in communities for whom translators and accurate translations of advisories may be scarce. Such households are likely to rely on relatives and local social networks (i.e., friends and neighbors) for information for preparing for a disaster event.  Persons with Disabilities—Persons with disabilities or other access and functional needs are more likely to have difficulty responding to a hazard event than the general population. Family, neighbors, and local government are the first level of response to assist these individuals, and coordination of efforts to meet 4-15