In a widespread disaster grievously impacting people in general, people who happen to have disabilities tend to be invisible. This may partly stem from the “better dead than disabled” ethos. If a disability is considered to irretrievably diminish the quality and value of your life, why be concerned about other problems could you possibly encounter? The difficulties thrown at other people are not yours.
Anita Cameron, testifying at the 2023 Juneteenth Congressional Briefing on Inequality and Disproportionate Impacts of Covid Response on Black Disabled Communities, said “when we have disasters what happens? We’re folks with disabilities and we die needlessly…In disasters who’s more likely to die? Folks with disabilities in Black and Brown communities.”
Certainly, Hurricane Katrina was an unmitigated catastrophe for New Oleananes with disabilities, many of whom were also members of other devalued groups. Prior to the storm, many people could not act on evacuation orders because they could not get accessible transportation or could not get needed information because it was not being provided in accessible formats. As the storm bore down, many people with visible disabilities were illegally denied entrance to shelters. In some cases, this was due to fact that the American Red Cross had decided to reject people with disabilities, on the basis that they did not have enough supplies to care for them along with everyone else. This de facto rationing received virtually no mention in the press.
Nursing home residents were left to drown. At the extreme of the extreme end, one hospital dealt with the hurdles of evacuating patients with limited mobility by giving lethal injections to a minimum of seventeen individuals. Later, Louisiana responded by giving healthcare providers broad immunity for actions taken during crisis situations.
Disaster preparedness and disaster relief as well as making sure that civil rights are not lost in the shuffle are disability issues.
The Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies (The Partnership) is the only U.S. disability-led organization with a focused mission of equity for people with disabilities and people with access and functional needs throughout all planning, programs, services and procedures before, during and after disasters and emergencies. As stated on its website, “The Partnership prioritizes equity, access, disability rights, disability justice, and full inclusion …[in disasters]…; prevention, planning, response, recovery and mitigation must start with and be led by multiply marginalized disabled people who are the most disproportionately impacted.” The Partnership strives to influence disaster policies and programs, so they work for all.
A resource hub for all matters related to people with disabilities throughout all phases of disasters and emergencies, the Partnership works with communities, organizations, corporations, and governments achieve and maintain equity and full inclusion in all phases of disaster management and recovery.
The Partnership’s Disability & Disaster Hotline provides information, referrals, guidance, technical assistance and resources to people with disabilities, families, allies, and organizations assisting disaster impacted individuals with disabilities and others seeking assistance with immediate and urgent disaster-related needs. In disasters such as the recent Hurricane Helene in the southeast, the hotline helped with the following:
Search and rescue coordination
Coordination of oxygen supplies and support
Coordination of wellness checks
Information and referral resources to shelters and other immediate assistance such as food and water
Durable medical equipment replacement
Medicine storage information and support
Connecting callers to the local Centers for Independent Living and other disability and aging resources
The Partnership is now responding to the urgent needs generated by even more recent Hurricane Milton.
For things you can do to prepare for an emergency (that hopefully you will never experience), click here.
