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Preparedness for Persons with Mobility Impairments
By Catherine Rooney, Michael H. Fox, Glen W. White, and Jennifer Rowland
Considerations in Emergency Preparedness: A Two Track Conference
Mailman School of Public HealthColumbia University
Washington, D.C. December 13-15, 2005
Nobody Left Behind Findings 2
Intro: “I have Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis and use a wheelchair. We had a bomb threat at work… Everyone evacuated, but I was still left on the 3rd floor by the stairwell for the firefighters to come get me. But no one came. Finally, I just struggled and I used pure fear to get myself down the stairs…” (From: Nobody Left Behind On-line Consumer Survey, 2004).
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Disaster Preparedness for Persons with Mobility Impairments
October, 2002 - September 2005
www.nobodyleftbehind2.org
Nobody Left Behind Findings 4
CDC grant awarded to KU, RTC/IL, TS# 08040, Principle Investigators: Dr. Glen White and Dr. Michael Fox.
Objectives: To determine if emergency preparedness and response systemsMeet the needs of persons with
mobility impairments;Use surveillance systems to identify
persons with mobility impairments; Have elements of emerging best
practices.
Nobody Left Behind Findings 5
Identify Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) declared disasters between 1998 – 2003.
Select a random sample of 30 counties or equivalent units (boroughs, parishes, cities) across each of the 10 federal regions.
Interview the county emergency managers.
Methods
Nobody Left Behind Findings 6
Evaluate disaster plans and any programs for persons with mobility impairments.
Identify possible best practices.
Administer on-line consumer survey.
Consult with project advisors to recommend changes.
Methods (Cont.)
Nobody Left Behind Findings 7
Nature of the Problem
Lack of empirical data on the safe, efficient evacuation of people with disabilities, including mobility impairments.
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Research on Disasters and Persons with Mobility Impairments
Few empirical research studies were found.
Two studies identified correlation between disabilities and risk of death from earthquakes (Chou, Y., Huang, N., & Lee, C., 2004; Osaki, Y. & Minowa, M., 2001).
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New Findings from KatrinaSurvey of evacuees in Houston
shelters found: 61% did not evacuate before the
storm.38% were either physically unable
to leave or caring for someone who was physically unable to leave (Kaiser, Harvard, Washington Post).
Nobody Left Behind Findings 10
Nature of the Problem
Current evacuation systems are designed for non-disabled persons where walking or running is required (survival of the fittest mindset).
Nobody Left Behind Findings 11
Nature of the Problem
Restoration of accessible and other post-disaster living situations for persons with mobility impairments are often not addressed.
Nobody Left Behind Findings 12
Focus Areas of the Research
Emergency Managers Training Surveillance Systems Local Emergency Management Plan Guidelines Inclusion of Persons with Mobility Impairments
Nobody Left Behind Findings 13
Findings on Emergency Managers Training
63% of the emergency managers had not taken the FEMA, G197, or similar course on “special needs populations.”
Nobody Left Behind Findings 14
Elements of Best Practices in Emergency Managers’ Training Local emergency management
plan specifies that training and exercises involve persons with disabilities.
Drills include evacuating persons with mobility impairments from different situations.
Nobody Left Behind Findings 15
Findings on Surveillance Systems
Among the emergency managers, 57% do not know how many people with mobility impairments live within their jurisdiction.
Nobody Left Behind Findings 16
Surveillance Findings (Cont.)
Among those who had numbers on persons with mobility impairments:
17% use database systems. 17% use an estimate. 10% use census data.
Nobody Left Behind Findings 17
Elements of Best Practices with Surveillance
Planning for Special ‘Medical’ Needs Shelter (shelter for medical and electricity/equipment needs)
Plan covers identifying persons/needs, creating database, shelter design and location, consumer education. (Lamar University, Department of Nursing, Pam Moss, RN., Beaumont Emergency Management, Sgt. Robert Smith).
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Response to Katrina “Taking a lesson from New
Orleans, Kansas Gov. Sebelius ordered state emergency planners to identify residents of Kansas’ major cities who would be unable to evacuate … whether due to a physical disability or lack of transportation.” (From: Lawernce Journal-World, 9-8-05)
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Consumer Survey Consumer Survey Collected on-line personal disaster Collected on-line personal disaster experiences from persons with mobility experiences from persons with mobility limitations. limitations. From participants’ recommendations two From participants’ recommendations two disaster preparedness posters were created.disaster preparedness posters were created. www.nobodyleftbehind2.org click on “Findings”
Nobody Left Behind Findings 20
Findings on Emergency Management Guidelines
Only 20% of the emergency managers reported having specific guidelines to assist persons with mobility impairments during disasters.
Nobody Left Behind Findings 21
Elements of Best Practices on Plan Guidelines Created Annex/Appendix on
Persons with Disabilities. Made specific reference to
the needs of persons with disabilities in the various sections of the local emergency plan.
Nobody Left Behind Findings 22
Findings on Inclusion of Persons with Mobility Impairments
Little to no representation of persons with mobility impairments in planning or revision stages.
No Best Practices Found
Nobody Left Behind Findings 23
Findings on Resources Needed
To develop guidelines for persons with mobility impairments, emergency managers need:
67% Financial resources.
33% Knowledgeable and trained
personnel.
25% A FEMA, State, or County
mandate.
17% Greater public education
efforts.
Nobody Left Behind Findings 24
Consumer Feedback
No evacuation plans in multi-story buildings, leaving people who are unable to walk abandoned at stairwells or at inoperable elevators without assistance.
Nobody Left Behind Findings 25
Consumer Feedback The Americans with Disabilities
Act (ADA) has been in existence for more than 15 years, yet disaster-related or local services still can be found to be inaccessible and disaster-related personnel uninformed of the needs and how to assist people with disabilities.
Nobody Left Behind Findings 26
Consumer FeedbackOther frightening and
sometimes life-threatening situations occur when infrastructures fail, including electrical power outages and non-accessible transportation.
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Questions After Katrina
Are there differences in disaster preparedness for persons who are disabled, seniors, or the seriously ill, and within classes, races and among states?
4 years after 9/11, when will local emergency management infrastructures be strengthened?
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The Next Disaster: Avian & Pandemic Influenza
Are You Prepared? Have You Prepared Your community,
including Persons with Disabilities?