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• Equity frameworks have been designed to address different topics at different geographic scales, but some indicators lack validation.
• Common categories of outcomes in the equity frameworks relate to health, environment, economics, energy/utilities, education, housing, and transportation/mobility.
• Selection of equity indicators requires trade-offs.
• Criteria for selecting metrics for indicators are not always specified.
• Sociopolitical and economic differentials shape disaster experiences.
• Models of vulnerability are necessary but are not sufficient for assessing racial equity.
• Identifying meaningful indicators and metrics of racial equity requires frameworks that highlight the particular resource losses different social groups are facing.
• Indicators and metrics are often not specific to racial equity; additional disaggregated data and analytic techniques are needed to measure differences by race.
• Many indicators have not been used to assess racial equity in real-world contexts (disaster or nondisaster).
• Indicators and metrics used outside disaster PRR might offer insights for FEMA.
• Most metrics are quantitative, but qualitative information might be useful for process improvements in FEMA programs.
• A theory of change for achieving racial equity in FEMA programs is lacking.
• Appropriate measures of baseline conditions have not been identified.
• A comprehensive set of reliable and valid indicators and metrics reflecting the uneven distribution of disaster impacts has not been established.
• Criteria for systematic selection of indicators, metrics, and data are needed.

Disasters have the potential to exacerbate preexisting racial inequities. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have made commitments to reduce social inequities in mission and value statements but lack frameworks, indicators, and metrics for tracking progress toward equity goals. In-depth assessment of the racial equity of FEMA's disaster funding programs is needed to empower diverse community members and effectively target groups that need the most help to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters.

In this report, researchers describe (1) the results of a literature review and exploratory study on equity, vulnerability, and resilience, (2) the key themes related to conceptual frameworks, (3) indicators and metrics, and (4) knowledge gaps. They also provide recommendations for assessing racial equity in FEMA disaster programs.

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