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Defines 14 crisis personas with key questions to guide scenario-based emergency response design.

May 2, 2026
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What this file does

Defines 14 crisis personas with key questions to guide scenario-based emergency response design.

When to use it

  • Designing user-centered disaster preparedness tools
  • Testing crisis communication with diverse populations
  • Creating inclusive emergency training materials
  • Validating accessibility of response plans for vulnerable groups

Persona

1. Maya (30, Single Mother, Urban)

  • Crisis Scenario: A hurricane is approaching, and she’s alone with her 4-year-old daughter.
  • Key Questions:
    • "The power is out, and I have no way to keep milk cold for my child. What do I do?"
    • "I can’t leave, but the floodwaters are rising—how do I keep my daughter and myself safe?"

2. Jamal (17, High School Student, Suburbs)

  • Crisis Scenario: He’s home alone when an earthquake hits. His parents aren’t answering their phones.
  • Key Questions:
    • "My house is shaking, and I don’t know what to do. Should I run outside?"
    • "How do I turn off the gas if I think there's a leak?"

3. Luis (68, Retired, Limited Mobility, Rural)

  • Crisis Scenario: A wildfire is spreading toward his house, and he has trouble walking.
  • Key Questions:
    • "I use a walker, and I can’t drive. How do I evacuate safely?"
    • "The smoke is making it hard to breathe—how can I protect myself?"

4. Sarah (45, Nurse, Working-Class, City)

  • Crisis Scenario: She’s in a hospital with failing backup power during a citywide blackout.
  • Key Questions:
    • "How can I keep insulin cold without a refrigerator?"
    • "What’s the best way to disinfect wounds without running water?"

5. Jordan (22, College Student, City)

  • Crisis Scenario: He’s in a foreign country when political riots break out.
  • Key Questions:
    • "Protesters and police are clashing outside my hostel. Should I leave or stay?"
    • "How do I get to the airport safely with no public transit running?"

6. Elijah (8, Child, Lost in the Woods)

  • Crisis Scenario: He got separated from his family on a hiking trip.
  • Key Questions:
    • "I can’t find my parents, and it’s getting dark. What do I do?"
    • "Should I stay in one place or try to find my way back?"

7. Maria (55, Street Vendor, Undocumented Immigrant)

  • Crisis Scenario: She loses everything in a sudden city flood but fears going to official shelters.
  • Key Questions:
    • "My home was destroyed in the flood, but I’m afraid to go to a shelter because I don’t have papers. What are my options?"
    • "Where can I get clean drinking water when all the taps seem contaminated?"

8. Daniel (40, Construction Worker, Injured, No Health Insurance)

  • Crisis Scenario: He’s working on a site when a building collapses, injuring his leg.
  • Key Questions:
    • "I think I broke my leg, but I can’t afford an ambulance. What should I do?"
    • "How do I stop the bleeding and prevent infection?"

9. Aisha (65, Grandmother, Living Alone, Disabled)

  • Crisis Scenario: A city-wide blackout leaves her trapped in a high-rise apartment.
  • Key Questions:
    • "I rely on an oxygen machine, but the power is out. How long can I go without it?"
    • "How do I get down the stairs safely when the elevators aren’t working?"

10. Ravi (28, Refugee, No Local Knowledge)

  • Crisis Scenario: A massive winter storm hits, and he doesn’t know where to go for warmth.
  • Key Questions:
    • "I’m new to this country and don’t know where to find emergency shelters. What should I do?"
    • "How can I stay warm without heating in my apartment?"

11. Emily (14, Babysitting, No Adults Around)

  • Crisis Scenario: She’s babysitting a toddler when a fire breaks out in the kitchen.
  • Key Questions:
    • "The stove caught fire, and I don’t know how to put it out. What do I do?"
    • "The baby won’t stop coughing from smoke—should I get them outside first or call 911?"

12. Jake (33, Veteran, PTSD, Prepping for Unrest)

  • Crisis Scenario: Civil unrest is growing in his area, and he wants to stay prepared.
  • Key Questions:
    • "If law enforcement breaks down, how do I secure my home without escalating the situation?"
    • "What’s the safest way to stockpile food and water without attracting attention?"

13. Olivia (27, Blind, Lives Alone in an Apartment)

  • Crisis Scenario: A major earthquake hits while she is home alone, knocking out power and disrupting her usual navigation systems.
  • Key Questions:
    • "The earthquake knocked over furniture, and I can't find my way out. How do I safely navigate my apartment?"
    • "My phone is dead, and I rely on voice assistants to call for help. What are my options now?"
    • "How can I quickly find my guide dog if they panicked and ran off during the shaking?"

14. Marcus (50, Uses a Wheelchair, Suburban Home)

  • Crisis Scenario: A wildfire is approaching, but the roads are jammed, and he can't drive.
  • Key Questions:
    • "The evacuation route is crowded, and I don’t have a vehicle. What are my best options?"
    • "The power is out, and I rely on an electric wheelchair. How can I move around safely?"
    • "If the smoke gets bad before I can leave, how do I protect myself from smoke inhalation indoors?"

What's inside

14 persona entries, each with crisis scenario and 2-3 key questions

Where it goes

Keep it in your repository where the agent or team that needs it will read it.

Worth borrowing

  • Pair each persona with a specific crisis and concrete questions to ground design decisions
  • Include underrepresented groups (undocumented, disabled, elderly) to surface hidden needs

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