Disability Emergency: Disasters, Planning, Climate Change

Author: Disabled World
Updated/Revised Date: 2024/01/02
Category Topic: Disability Emergency Planning (Publications Database)

Page Content: Synopsis Definition Introduction Main Subtopics

Synopsis: Information regarding disaster and emergency planning and procedures for seniors and persons with disabilities in emergencies. People with vision, hearing loss, or speech-related disabilities often encounter many more communication barriers, especially when regular communication channels are down or overloaded. People with physical disabilities may have reduced ability to get to accessible exits, as well as reduced access to their personal items and emergency supplies.

Introduction

What is a Disaster Recovery Plan?

A disaster recovery plan (DRP) is a documented process or set of procedures to recover and protect a business IT infrastructure in a disaster. Such a plan, ordinarily documented in written form, specifies procedures an organization is to follow in the event of a disaster. It is "a comprehensive statement of consistent actions to be taken before, during, and after a disaster." The disaster could be natural, environmental, or man-made. Man-made disasters could be intentional (for example, an act of a terrorist) or unintentional (that is, accidental, such as the breakage of a man-made dam).

Main Document

People need to plan for emergency evacuation in anticipated and unanticipated situations, including chemical, biological, radiological, explosion, transportation accidents, fire, floods, earthquakes, mudslides, hurricanes, tornadoes, snow storms, power outages, etc.

For the millions of people with disabilities worldwide, surviving a disaster can be just the beginning of a greater struggle. For people with disabilities, barrier-free and barrier-ridden environments become much more hostile and difficult to deal with during and after an emergency. For example, people with physical disabilities may have reduced access to accessible exits and access to their items and emergency supplies.

People with vision, hearing loss, and speech-related disabilities often encounter many more communication barriers, especially when regular communication channels are down or overloaded. These barriers appear at a time when rapid communication may be crucial to survival and safety.

Emergency, or disaster, planning includes preparing organizations and staff to deal with natural and man-made disasters; supporting people with disabilities in preparing for a disaster; and providing education and information to ensure local and statewide emergency officials are fully prepared to address the needs of people with disabilities in case of an emergency. Typically, the needs of people with disabilities in emergency preparedness are unaddressed, or plans are not well coordinated, leaving individuals with disabilities unnecessarily vulnerable in an emergency.

The critical needs of individuals with disabilities during an emergency include the evacuation of transit systems, getting to safe shelter in a natural disaster situation, and full access to transportation systems when there is a need to evacuate a particular location. If you or someone close to you has a disability or a special need, you may have to take additional steps to protect yourself and your family in an emergency.

Steps for individuals with a disability and special needs in case of an emergency:

Preparedness Begins with You

Your family may not be together when a disaster strikes, so it is important to plan:

Preparation, which includes practice, is the key to success in dealing with a disaster. Preparation is an ongoing process. Remember that the usual means of support and assistance may not be available during an evacuation and after the disaster. Prepare a personal disaster plan with the following in mind:

Disability organizations must join with relief and rescue organizations and the media to educate and inform their constituents of disaster contingency and self-help plans. A universal design approach to meeting the needs of people with disabilities before and after a disaster will benefit many people without disabilities, such as the very young or the aged. A look at existing agreements among relief organizations and local, state, federal, and international governments will offer guidance in developing effective universal design and implementation strategies.

Subtopics

Latest Publications From Our Disability Emergency Planning Category

1: - Research estimates 850,000 pounds of heavy metals have been released into the environment in the Western United States from 2009 to 2021.

2: - Establishing a new Virginia Tech center to bring computer science, infectious disease, engineering, and the arts together to predict and prevent global pandemics.

3: - U.S. national UCSF study finds some injuries and hospitalizations from popular micromobility vehicles have doubled.

Complete Publications Database


Page Information, Citing and Disclaimer

Disabled World is a comprehensive online resource that provides information and news related to disabilities, assistive technologies, and accessibility issues. Founded in 2004 our website covers a wide range of topics, including disability rights, healthcare, education, employment, and independent living, with the goal of supporting the disability community and their families.

Cite This Page (APA): Disabled World. (Rev. 2024, January 2). Disability Emergency: Disasters, Planning, Climate Change. Disabled World. Retrieved November 6, 2024 from www.disabled-world.com/disability/emergency/

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