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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

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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

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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.

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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

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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.)

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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).

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Nature of the Problem

Current evacuation systems are designed for non-disabled persons where walking or running is required (survival of the fittest mindset).

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Nature of the Problem

Restoration of accessible and other post-disaster living situations for persons with mobility impairments are often not addressed.

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Focus Areas of the Research

Emergency Managers Training Surveillance Systems Local Emergency Management Plan Guidelines Inclusion of Persons with Mobility Impairments

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Findings on Emergency Managers Training

63% of the emergency managers had not taken the FEMA, G197, or similar course on “special needs populations.”

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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.

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Findings on Surveillance Systems

Among the emergency managers, 57% do not know how many people with mobility impairments live within their jurisdiction.

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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.

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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”

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Findings on Emergency Management Guidelines

Only 20% of the emergency managers reported having specific guidelines to assist persons with mobility impairments during disasters.

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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?

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For more Information:

www.nobodyleftbehind2.org