Which of the following is NOT an example of a vulnerable population in a disaster?

• A. Healthy adults
• B. The elderly
• C. Children
• D. Individuals with disabilities

Answer: (A)

In disaster planning, vulnerability highlights groups with higher risk and more barriers to getting help. The elderly, children, and people with disabilities are recognized as vulnerable because age-related frailty, dependence on others, mobility challenges, or special communication and medical needs can make evacuation, sheltering, or access to medications harder. Healthy adults, by contrast, typically have full physical and cognitive capacity, can self-evacuate, and recover more quickly, so they are not considered a vulnerable population. That’s why healthy adults are the correct choice for NOT being an example of a vulnerable group.