Predators

On June 12th, 1962, Frank Lee Morris and the Anglin brothers (Clarence and John), all convicted of bank robbery, escaped from Alcatraz prison and were never caught. Reformed and unreformed criminals live in every community. Some members of these groups – such as pedophiles, scam artists and thieves – present concerns during and after a disaster: safety issues in shelters; tracking during evacuations; and jurisdictional boundary problems – all compounded by a proficiency at avoiding authorities.

Encouraging buddy systems in shelters and service centers, educating security staff, including violence prevention groups in planning, and otherwise raising awareness can help reduce problems. Check to be sure your disaster response plans recognize this issue.