Citation
(2005), "Survey reveals gaps in emergency preparedness for people with disabilities", Disaster Prevention and Management, Vol. 14 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/dpm.2005.07314cab.004
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2005, Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Survey reveals gaps in emergency preparedness for people with disabilities
A US nationwide survey commissioned by the National Organization on Disability (NOD) through a grant from the US Department of Homeland Security was conducted to determine the degree to which jurisdictions take into account the needs of people with disabilities in their emergency planning and included people with disabilities themselves in the planning process. The survey of 197 state and local emergency managers across the nation found that 69 per cent of the respondents incorporated the needs of people with disabilities into their emergency plans.
An additional 22 per cent had a plan under development.
In other words, planning is underway and the emergency preparedness community recognizes that America’s 54 million citizens with disabilities require special planning and attention.
Nevertheless, the survey also found that among those who currently have a preparedness plan in place or under development:
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46 per cent did not have plans to deal with schools for students with disabilities;
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50 per cent did not have a special needs registry that includes people with disabilities;
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59 per cent did not have plans for paediatric populations; and
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76 per cent did not have a paid expert to deal with emergency preparedness for people with disabilities.
Among all respondents:
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39 per cent had not purchased specialized equipment;
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36 per cent had not been offered special training;
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73 per cent had not received funding to address emergency planning for people with disabilities; and
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42 per cent had a public awareness campaign directed at providing emergency information to people with disabilities.
The final report of the NOD Emergency Preparedness Survey is available at www.nod.org/content.cfm?id=1586
For more information, contact Tim Sullivan, NOD, 910 Sixteenth Street NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20006, USA. Tel: (202) 293-5960; E-mail: sullivant@nod.org; WWW: www.nod.org/
(Natural Hazards Observer, January 2005.)