Emergency Preparedness Survey

1. FINAL REPORT November 30, 2004 Emergency Preparedness Survey

2. Table of Contents

3. Background & Objectives • The National Organization on Disability (N.O.D.) commissioned Harris Interactive to conduct a study among emergency management officials at the state and local level in the United States about how they have incorporated the emergency needs of people with disabilities in their emergency plans. • Key objectives of this study were to: • Understand whether the needs of people with disabilities have been incorporated into emergency planning; • Identify the elements of emergency plans for people with disabilities; • Measure the level of involvement by people with disabilities in the planning process; and • Understand perceived adequacy of resources. • Results from this survey are intended for public release.

4. Sample & Methodology • Total sample includes 197 emergency management officials in the United States, comprised of 34 state, 31 big city, 62 midsize city, and 70 small city officials. • Officials are defined as those who are in charge of emergency preparedness for their jurisdiction. • Big cities are defined as areas with a population of more than 344,000 people, midsize cities have a population of 150,000 to 344,000, and small cities have a population of 149,000 people or less.These definitions are based on Census figures. • Interviewing was conducted between August 24 and September 10, 2004. • All respondents received an alert letter on N.O.D. letterhead that described the purpose of the survey and the importance of their participation. • Respondents could choose to participate online by accessing the URL provided in the alert letter or by telephone. All interviews were conducted by telephone by Harris’ Senior Council, a specialty team of executive interviewers. • Interviews averaged 10-15 minutes in length. • The margin of error for the total sample for this study is +/- 7 percentage points. • Questions may not add up to 100% due to rounding, the acceptance of multiple responses or the exclusion of any “not sure” or “decline to answer” responses.

5. Overview of Findings

6. Overview The National Organization on Disability (N.O.D.) Emergency Preparedness Survey represents a unique effort between the National Organization on Disability and the Department of Homeland Security, Office of Domestic Preparedness* to examine the efforts being made to incorporate the emergency needs of people with disabilities into the emergency planning process. Given recent events (e.g. acts of terrorism, hurricanes in Florida) and the considerable attention to emergency planning in general, it is perhaps no surprise that N.O.D. is focusing on what is being done for the disability community and their needs through its Emergency Preparedness Initiative. As further evidence to its importance, a January 2004 N.O.D. survey conducted by Harris Interactive showed that Americans with disabilities remain unprepared for emergencies and are anxious about their safety. (For more information please see www.nod.org/emergency). Throughout this report, where results are nearly similar for each level of jurisdiction (state, big city, midsize city and small city) the data is presented based on the total officials interviewed. Where results between the groups (i.e. state, big city, midsize city and small city) are statistically significant, these differences are noted in the findings. The survey findings suggest that steps are being taken to ensure people with disabilities will be served in the event of an emergency. Specifically, the majority of officials claimed to currently have a plan or one under development that incorporates the needs of people with disabilities. Further, there is a wide variety of groups and facilities (e.g. seniors, people with disabilities living independently, medical and residential facilities) that are included in the plans. Also, the majority of officials report that they have an emergency transportation plan in place that involves assigning accessible vehicles for people with disabilities. *This project was supported by Grant Number 2004-TH-TX-0003 administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office for Domestic Preparedness. Points of view or opinions in this document are those of the author and do not represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

7. Overview – Cont’d About half of officials report that members of the disability community have participated in the emergency planning process; about half say their agency has participated in a special working group or task force; and roughly half say they have a public outreach campaign to provide emergency planning information to people with disabilities. On the other hand, many officials say the disability community has not participated in emergency planning, that their agency has not participated in a special working group or task force and they do not report having a public outreach campaign in place. Furthermore, while some have developed a public information campaign, most say it is not in an accessible format although the information is being directed to people with disabilities. These findings are coupled with distinct examples of areas that will need more attention. The majority of officials report they have not received – nor do they plan to receive – funding to assist their efforts towards emergency planning for people with disabilities. And, officials are nearly twice as likely to say that the current resources are “inadequate” rather than “adequate”. Looking at the results from the perspective of the size of the jurisdiction, the data reveals that there is quite a lot of consistency in some areas of emergency planning for people with disabilities. Majorities of officials at the state, big city, midsize city and small city levels claim to have a plan in place or one that is under development that includes several types of groups and facilities.

8. Overview – Cont’d Where officials appear to differ is in three main areas: • Who has been included in the process of developing the emergency plans – state officials are more likely than officials in other jurisdictions to report that they received input from the disability community by way of a task force or special needs expert on staff. • Training – states are more likely than all other jurisdictions to have provided training on emergency issues for people with disabilities to other agencies and organizations. • Activatingemergency plans – states and midsize cities are more likely than other jurisdictions to have ever activated an emergency plan for people with disabilities. What are the implications from these results? It is true that officials should be commended for what they have done so far with the disability community and the actions that have been taken – especially since these efforts have largely been done without funding that specifically addresses the emergency needs of people with disabilities. But the fact remains that more can be done – particularly since emergency planning is an issue that will remain at the forefront for many policymakers and the public. These survey findings will serve as a starting point on which future investigation can build upon for a wide range of interested parties such as decision-makers, emergency management officials, policymakers and the disability community.

9. Executive Summary

10. Executive Summary People with disabilities and the emergency planning process • In general, a large majority of officials say they have taken into account (or are in the process of taking into account) the needs of people with disabilities into their emergency plans. These plans encompass a wide range of groups and facilities. • Nearly seven out of ten emergency officials (69%) report they have a plan in place that addresses the needs of people with disabilities, while 22% claim to have a plan under development. • A full all-hazards plan (that is, one that can be implemented for a wide range of emergencies) is the most common type of plan officials have incorporated the needs of people with disabilities into (80%). • Many types of groups are represented in the plans such as senior citizens, people with disabilities living independently and people receiving some form of home-based care – as well as types of facilities such as medical and residential facilities.

11. Executive Summary People with disabilities and the emergency planning process – cont’d • There have been some steps taken to include the disability community in the planning process. • Just over half of officials (55%) say that they received input from members of the disability community when creating their emergency plans. • Nearly half of officials (47%) are part of a task force or group that specifically address the emergency issues of people with disabilities. • Aside from an emergency transportation plan and having specialized equipment, officials are less likely to include other specific elements in their emergency plans for people with disabilities. • Three-quarters of officials (75%) claim to have an emergency transportation plan in place for those with disabilities. • Just over six in ten (61%) has purchased specialized equipment. • Nearly four out of ten officials (37%) have identified but not activated a special needs shelter. • Half of emergency planning officials (50%) say they do not maintain a special needs registry. • Just under four out of ten officials (37%) have actually activated an emergency plan for people with disabilities.

12. Executive Summary Information and Resources • Emergency planning has included – to some extent – establishing channels to provide information for people with disabilities. • Just over four out of ten officials (42%) have a public information program – however, of these officials, only 16% say the outreach campaign is in an accessible format. • About four out of ten officials (39%) do not have a public awareness campaign specifically for people with disabilities in place. • Just over half of emergency officials (52%) report that regulatory codes or standards that specifically assist in providing for people with disabilities in emergency planning or response have not been established, nor are currently being worked on. • Most emergency planning officials feel that the resources available to them are not adequate to meet the needs of people with disabilities. • The majority of officials (73%) have not received funding (and do not plan to receive funding) earmarked to address the emergency needs of people with disabilities. • Emergency planning officials are twice as likely to feel that the resources they do have are inadequate (41%) than they are to say resources are adequate (18%).

13. Executive Summary Analysis by Size of Jurisdiction • There are many similarities between the state and city level in terms of having an emergency plan in place and what is covered under these plans. However, states are more likely to include the disability community in their planning process. • State officials are more likely to have included members of the disability community in the planning process (66% vs. 62% big city, 53% midsize city and 49% small city). • State officials are more likely to have a paid special needs expert on staff (31% vs. 17% big city, 29% midsize city and 13% small city). • State officials are more likely to participate in a task force specifically to focus on issues of emergency planning and people with disabilities (65% vs. 42% big city, 45% midsize city and 43% small city).

14. Detailed Findings

15. Who have emergency preparedness officials included in their emergency plans?

16. The vast majority of emergency management authorities say they have incorporated the needs of people with disabilities into their emergency plans, or have a plan currently under development. Whether Needs of People with Disabilities Have Been Incorporated into Emergency Plan(s) Q500: Have you incorporated the needs of people with disabilities in your emergency plan(s)? Base: All respondents (n=197)

17. Those who have incorporated the needs of people with disabilities have most commonly done so in a full all-hazards emergency plan. Type of Plan that Incorporates Needs of People with Disabilities* Q505: Which plans have you incorporated the needs of people with disabilities into? Please select all that apply. Base: Have plan or it is under development (n=179) • Full all-hazards plan: An emergency plan that can be implemented for different types of emergencies. It lays out a plan for response that is general enough to be used in different scenarios. • Specific hazards plan: A plan implemented for a specific disaster (i.e., hurricane plan, earthquake plan, etc.) • Plan annex: May be a part (annex) of a larger plan that was added to address specific needs of people with disabilities (i.e., special needs annex, special needs shelter annex, etc.)

18. Emergency planning officials have included a wide variety of groups in their plans, including senior citizens, people with disabilities living independently, and those who receive home care. Whether Groups Included in Emergency Plan Q510: Which of the following groups are included in your emergency planning for people with disabilities? Please select all that apply. Base: Have plan or it is under development (n=179)

19. Officials have also included a wide variety of facilities such as medical and residential health care in their emergency planning. Whether Facilities Included in Emergency Plan Q515: Which of the following types of facilities are included in your emergency planning for people with disabilities? Please select all that apply. Base: Have plan or it is under development (n=179)

20. In general, a paid special needs expert on staff is somewhat uncommon. However, states are more likely than big or small cities to have this. Whether Have Paid Special Needs Expert Q525: Do you have a paid special needs expert responsible for emergency preparedness planning for people with disabilities? Base: Have plan or it is under development (n=179)

21. Who have emergency preparedness officials included in the emergency planning process?

22. Many officials report that members of the disability community have participated in the planning process. This is especially true at the state level. Whether Members of Disabled Community Participate in Emergency Planning Process -- % Yes (N=179) (N=29) (N=29) (N=58) (N=63) Q520: Have members of the disability community participated in your emergency preparedness planning process? By participation, we mean attending meetings, conferences, or conference calls. Base: Have plan or it is under development (n=179)

23. About half of officials have participated in a task force that is designed to address the emergency needs of the disability community. This is far more common for those at the state level. Whether Participate on Task Force that Specifically Addresses Emergency Needs of People with Disabilities -- % Yes (N=197) (N=34) (N=31) (N=62) (N=70) Q530: Do you participate on a task force or working group that specifically addresses the emergency issues and needs that affect people with disabilities? Base: All respondents (n=197)

24. How have emergency planning officials included the needs of people with disabilities?

25. About four out of ten officials who have a plan have identified but not activated a special needs shelter. Whether Identified/Activated Special Needs Shelter Q540: Have you identified and/or activated a special needs shelter that takes into account the emergency needs of people with disabilities? Base: Have plan or it is under development (n=179) Note: While there appear to be significant differences between states and all other jurisdictions, based on information provided by N.O.D. states are not responsible for identifying or activating special needs shelters.

26. While a modest majority has purchased specialized equipment for people with disabilities, there is a substantial minority that has not. Specialized Equipment for People with Disabilities Q570: Which of the following types of specialized equipment for people with disabilities has your agency purchased? Please select all that apply. Base: All respondents (n=197)

27. Three-quarters of officials claim to have an accessible transportation plan. Whether Emergency Plan Includes Accessible Transportation for People with Disabilities Q545: Do you have an emergency transportation plan that includes assigning accessible vehicles for evacuation of people with disabilities? Base: Have plan or it is under development (n=179) Note: While there appear to be significant differences between states and all other jurisdictions, based on information provided by N.O.D. states are not responsible for having emergency transportation plans.

28. While about half of officials have a special needs registry in place or under development, nearly the same number does not. Whether Have Special Needs Registry Q550: Do you maintain a special needs registry that includes people with disabilities? Base: Have plan or it is under development (n=179) Note: While there appear to be significant differences between states and all other jurisdictions, based on information provided by N.O.D. states are not responsible for maintaining special needs registries.

29. State and midsize cities are more likely than their counterparts at other levels to have ever activated an emergency plan for people with disabilities. Whether Have Activated an Emergency Plan for People with Disabilities -- % Yes (N=179) (N=29) (N=29) (N=58) (N=63) Q580: Have you ever activated an emergency plan for people with disabilities? Base: Have plan or it is under development (n=179)

30. While the majority of emergency planning officials have incorporated the needs of people with disabilities in a variety of drills, a substantial minority has not. Whether Needs of People with Disabilities Incorporated into Emergency Drills/Exercises* Q535: Have the emergency needs of people with disabilities been incorporated into any of the following? Please select all that apply. Base: All respondents (n=197) • Full scale/field exercise: All participants actually play out the response as the emergency was happening in real time. • Table top drill: A drill conducted around a table with representatives from an agency or multiple agencies who talk through different scenarios and responses. • Simulated drill: A drill that is somewhere between a table top and a full scale drill. In this type of drill, certain activities may be actually practiced but not necessarily in all aspects of the response or in real time.

31. What have emergency officials done to provide information to people with disabilities about emergency plans?

32. Roughly six out of ten officials have a public outreach campaign in place or under development. Whether Have Public Awareness Campaign Directed at People with Disabilities Q555: Do you have an outreach or public awareness campaign directed at providing emergency information to people with disabilities? Base: All respondents (n=197)

33. Just over half of officials report that regulatory standards to assist in providing for people with disabilities in emergencies have neither been established nor are being worked on. Whether Codes or Standards Have Been Established Q560: Have legislative, regulatory codes or standards been established or are they currently being worked on to assist in providing for people with disabilities in emergency planning or response? Base: All respondents (n=197)

34. About four out of ten officials say their agency has provided training on emergency issues for people with disabilities. This is especially true at the state level. Training on Emergency Issues Related to People with Disabilities Q565: Has training been offered to or conducted by your agency that includes emergency issues relating to people with disabilities? Please select all that apply. Base: All respondents (n=197)

35. What resources are available for emergency planning for people with disabilities?

36. The large majority of emergency management officials have not received funding (and do not plan to) specifically for emergency planning for people with disabilities. Whether Have Received Funding for Emergency Planning for People with Disabilities Q575: Have you received or do you plan to receive funding towards emergency planning for people with disabilities? Base: All respondents (n=197)

37. Emergency planning authorities are more likely to feel the resources available to them are inadequate to help meet the needs of people with disabilities. Adequacy of Resources Available to Meet Planning Needs of People with Disabilities Q585: Using a scale from 1 to 5, where 1 means “Not adequate at all” and 5 means “Completely adequate”, how adequate are the resources available to your agency to meet the planning needs of people with disabilities? Base: All respondents (Total: n=197; State: n=34; Big city: n=31; Midsize city: n=62; Small city: n=70)

38. Conclusion

39. Conclusion The findings from this research reveal that steps are being taken to ensure that the needs of people with disabilities are being accounted for in emergency planning. Specifically, the majority of officials claimed to currently have a plan or one under development that incorporates the needs of people with disabilities. Further, there are many types of groups and facilities included in the plans. That said, the findings suggest that more can be done – such as including the voice of the disability community in the planning process and establishing channels of communication to provide emergency information to people with disabilities. A lack of resources also appears to be a barrier – emergency officials are far more likely to feel that the resources available to them are inadequate than they are adequate. And, most officials say they have not received funding and do not plan to receive funding for addressing the emergency needs of people with disabilities. The results of this survey are useful for understanding directionally how and whether emergency preparedness officials are including people with disabilities in their emergency plans. Since emergency planning will continue to be a highly visible public policy issue, these findings can help serve as a benchmark for future investigation.