Transcript The Impact of 2003 Wildfires on People with Disabilities

The Impact of 2003 Wildfires on
People with Disabilities
Prepared by the California State
Independent Living Council (SILC)
Sacramento, CA
Overview of Wildfires
• 19 separate fires erupted in seven different
Southern California counties.
• More than 730,000 acres burned.
• Over 36,000 homes and structures were
destroyed.
• 22 people were killed and over 200 people
were injured.
Impact on Persons with
Disabilities
• 19.6 % of California’s
population has some
form of disability.
• Many of these
Californians are
unable to evacuate
themselves in an
emergency.
• Others lack the ability
to see approaching
danger or hear
evacuation
announcements.
• Finding adequate,
accessible emergency
shelter can be
extremely difficult.
Role of the SILC
• Preparation for fires and other emergencies
by people with disabilities is a component
of, and critical to the success of, the mission
of the SILC.
• The SILC has participated in Statewide
disaster planning for several years, for the
purpose of helping emergency response and
shelter organizations be better prepared to
deal successfully with disability-related
needs in disasters.
SILC Role (Continued)
• During January and February of 2004 the
SILC held public forums in San Bernardino
and San Diego County.
• The SILC wanted to hear from emergency
responders, fire victims, and volunteers.
• The SILC wanted to know what worked
during the fires, what didn’t work, and what
people thought should be done to be
prepared for the next disaster.
Issues that impacted the
Disability Community
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Disaster Preparation
Notification
Evacuation
Sheltering & interim services
Recovery
Disaster Preparation
Problems
• No electrical backup
• Food and water not
stored
• Backup Medication
not available
• Homes not prepared
with firebreaks
• PWDs had no
evacuation plans
• Local ILCs and
similar CBOs not
included in Disaster
Planning
• Durable Medical
Goods not stockpiled
• Shelter sites not
surveyed for access
Disaster Preparation
Recommendations
• Distribute disaster prep
literature statewide
• Establish enhanced 911
systems
• Create home safety
awareness teams
• Create awareness about
defensible space
• Include Disability orgs,
similar CBOs and Transit
agencies in planning
• Assure public safety
personnel are
knowledgeable about
communicating with and
evacuating all types of
PWDs
• Create list of critical items
to stockpile in case of
emergency
• Educate media about
PWDs and their needs
Notification
Problems
• Haphazard notification • Evacuation orders
systems
were confusing,
especially to persons
• Television and Radio
with mental or
signals not available in
cognitive disabilities
remote areas
• Inadequate time from
• Some warning
evacuation orders to
messages not
the actual fire threat
accessible to blind or
deaf persons
Notification
Recommendations
• Implement Enhanced &
Reverse 911 systems
statewide—get vulnerable
people registered
• Work with local media to
ensure all messages are
accessible to all people
• Work with paratransit
providers to relay
evacuation orders
• Work with volunteer
organizations to create
emergency phone trees to
close gaps
• Consider disability needs
when purchasing
communications
technology to assist in
evacuation notifications
Evacuation
Problems
• Evacuees rushing to
reach safety created
Traffic Jams
• Evacuation plans not
always followed
• Persons with
disabilities were
stranded in homes or
apartments with no
way to leave
• Paratransit vehicles were
blocked from reentering
evacuation zones
• Family members were
not allowed access to
fire zones to aid relatives
who had not been in
contact
• Lists that identified
PWDs needing
assistance were outdated
Evacuation
Recommendations
• Transit agencies need
to be included in
planning
• Paratransit vehicles
need to be treated as
emergency vehicles
• Transit providers
should be reimbursed
for emergency costs
• Para-transit rider lists
should be available to
emergency personnel
• Drivers should receive
training in evacuation
procedures
• Dispatchers should
contact PWDs during
emergencies to check
on their ability to
evacuate
Shelter and Interim Services
Problems
• Shelters were not
always accessible to
PWD
• Communication
equipment was not
accessible
• Interpreters were not
available during early
stages
• Disabled volunteers
turned away
• Presence of media and
their equipment
contributed to
problems with access
• Shower and bathroom
facilities were not
accessible
• Service animals were
initially not allowed in
Shelters
Shelter and Interim Services
Recommendations
• ILC staff should be
included in shelter
operations and planning
• Interpreter lists should be
available for people who
are deaf
• Media areas should be
designated so they do not
impede access for PWDs
• Sheltering, and all services
provided, should be
designed with accessibility
in mind
• All volunteers should be
trained on disability
etiquette
• Access should be
maintained at shelters at
all times
Recovery
Problems
• Evacuees were not
• Large increases in rent
centrally located,
due to diminished
making resettlement
housing stock
difficult
• Stress and mental
• The large number of
anguish continue,
donated goods stressed
leading to increases in
transit systems’ ability
depression and even
to return victims
suicide
efficiently
• Health problems
• Vacant rentals are
caused by ash and dust
limited or non-existent
Recovery
Recommendations
• Volunteer
Organizations should
be enlisted to help
PWDs and seniors in
all aspects of recovery
stage
• Emergency rent
controls should be
considered
• Arrangements should
be made with transit
providers to return
both evacuees and
belongings after a
disaster
• Include mental health
services in recovery
services provided
Thank You
Are there any Questions?
State Independent Living Council
1600 K Street, Suite 100
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 445-0142 or (866) 866-7452
TTY: (916) 445-5627 or (866) 745-2889
Fax: (916) 445-5973
Or you can contact the SILC via our
Internet Homepage at:
www.calsilc.org