What aspect of social services may be interrupted during a disaster?

The correct answer highlights that safe drinking water is a fundamental resource that can become compromised during a disaster. Disasters such as floods, earthquakes, or hurricanes can disrupt infrastructure, contaminating or destroying water supplies. This lack of access to safe drinking water can have immediate and severe health implications, potentially leading to dehydration, waterborne diseases, and increased mortality rates.

While access to mental health services, pediatric care, and nutrition education can indeed be impacted during a disaster, these services often are designed to respond to crises with alternate methods of delivery or support systems in place. Safe drinking water, however, is a more critical and immediate concern that affects the basic survival and health of individuals and communities during a disaster situation. Ensuring access to clean water is a priority in emergency response planning, as it directly affects health outcomes and the ability of a community to recover from the disaster.