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Ensuring Inclusion: Addressing the Needs of People with Disabilities in Emergencies

This presentation discusses the importance of including people with disabilities in emergency planning and response. It highlights the need to address their special needs prior to an emergency to minimize adverse impacts. It also presents data on the current state of emergency preparedness for people with disabilities and highlights past disasters where their needs were not adequately met. The presentation includes information on available resources and contact details for further information.

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Ensuring Inclusion: Addressing the Needs of People with Disabilities in Emergencies

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  1. Annual American Public Health Association Meeting Continuing Education Institute Vulnerable Populations and Public Health Emergencies November 4, 2006 Boston, MA Hilary Styron, Director

  2. EPI OBJECTIVES • People with disabilities are included in all phases of emergency planning and response at all levels • Contribution to the nation’s overall preparedness by enlisting the special qualities of resourcefulness, determination, and ingenuity of people with disabilities • That the special needs of people with disabilities are addressed prior to an emergency to minimize the adverse impact

  3. 2005 Harris Survey • 54% of people with disabilities know whom to contact about emergency plans in their community, up from 44% in 2003 • 47% of people with disabilities have made plans to safely evacuate their homes, a significant increase from the 2003 survey results of 39%

  4. 2004 Survey of Emergency Managers • 76% did not have a paid expert to deal with emergency preparedness for people with disabilities • 73% said no funding had been received to address emergency planning for people with disabilities • 39% had not purchased specialized equipment • 36% said no special training had been offered

  5. Recent History of Disability and Disaster • 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake • 1994 Northridge Earthquake • Access to shelters • In appropriate preparedness/response instructions for PWD • Discriminatory policies/hospital referral • Lack of knowledge/coordination for disability resources/services • Access to Disaster Recovery Centers

  6. Recent History of Disability and Disaster • 1997 Minnesota Red River Flood • Access to shelters • Lack of evacuation assistance • Access to Disaster Recovery Centers • Lack of accessible disaster housing

  7. Recent History of Disability and Disaster • 2001 World Trade Center/Pentagon Terrorist Attacks • Lack of captioning during television emergency broadcasts • Lack of evacuation assistance and planning • Lack of expertise for disability services

  8. Recent History of Disability and Disaster • 2003 California Wildfires • Access to shelters • Lack of captioning during television emergency broadcasts • Lack of evacuation assistance • Lack of expertise to handle disability issues • Lack of accessible disaster housing

  9. Recent History of Disability and Disaster • 2005 Hurricanes Katrina and Rita • Access to shelters (general population or SN) • Lack of captioning during television emergency broadcasts • Lack of evacuation assistance • Lack of expertise to handle disability issues inside shelters • Lack of accessible disaster housing

  10. Recent History of Disability and Disaster • 2005 Hurricanes Katrina and Rita • In appropriate preparedness/response instructions for PWD • Discriminatory policies/hospital referral • Lack of knowledge/coordination for disability resources/services • Access to Disaster Recovery Centers • Lack of alternate communications access in shelters

  11. Special Needs Assessment 4 Katrina Evacuees (SNAKE) Report Findings “Extremely Poor Conditions” “There was major shelter client despair” lack of space overcrowding lack of food and drink no privacy areas unsafe play area criminal activity no mental health or social services on-site scores of evacuees outside shelter in tents several riots involving evacuees and law enforcement

  12. Significant Findings • 85.7% of community-based providers of services for seniors and people with disabilities do not know how to access the emergency management system • 54% of the shelter operators did not have any working agreements with disability and aging specific organizations

  13. Special Needs Assessment for Katrina Evacuees (SNAKE) Report • 50 % of those interviewed had policies, plans, and guidelines in place prior to Hurricane Katrina • 36% has someone with expertise onsite to provide guidance regarding appropriate accommodations

  14. Most underserved group: persons were deaf or hard of hearing • Less than 30% of shelters had access to American Sign Language interpreters • 80% did not have TTY’s • 60% did not have TVs with open caption capability • Only 56% of shelters had areas where oral announcements were posted.

  15. You Have The Right To An Attorney • American’s with Disabilities Act • FEMA Accessible Trailers • FCC Emergency Communication Requirement (47 CFR 79.2)

  16. What Have You Done For Me Lately? • Nationwide Plan Review • NTSB Hearing on Bus Explosion • Stafford Act Amendments • Target Capabilities List

  17. Lessons Learned or Lessons Documented? • White House After Action Report • SNAKE Report

  18. INFORMATION INCLUDED IN THIS PRESENTATION IS AVAILABLE AT www.nod.org/emergency EMAIL AT: epi@nod.org

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