The Center for Disability and Special Needs Preparedness (DPC) works to ensure that all individuals are included in the development and implementation or emergency and disaster plans.  In almost all cases, emergency planning, including evacuations and sheltering during natural disasters, attacks of terrorism, industrial and highway accidents has not taken into consideration the communication, transportation and medical needs of persons with disabilities, and other special populations.

During the attack on the World Trade Towers, the Pentagon and other events, it was painfully obvious that most organizations are ill prepared to provide the needed support for employees and other users of their facilities.  Stories are continuing to emerge of how people with disabilities attempted to evacuate from the buildings.  In some cases, the extraordinary acts of heroism have been described in attempts to assist people with disabilities, and in other cases no options were available.  

Also in the event of a natural disaster, few if any procedures are in place.  When a hurricane recently hit the southeastern United States, emergency evacuation transportation was dispatched for residents of a coastal community.  When the bus arrived, the driver found a group of individuals with physical disabilities who needed a special life-equipped bus in order to board, requiring the driver to leave the group at the side of the road to wait for suitable transportation.  Fortunately, this case was not life threatening, but it highlights an important message for emergency planning organizations.  It is essential to ensure that your emergency response plan considers persons with disabilities and other special needs.

The DPC provides resources to assist local emergency planning organizations in the planning for individuals who need specialized communications, transportation, and medical supports.  In many cases, it is the communication with individuals with disabilities that is most crucial to successful emergency planning and implementation – from initial warnings, specific directions on how to shelter or evacuate, what personal items (like medicines and life supports) to take with them and most of all, how to communicate most effectively with individuals who are deaf, individuals with limited intellectual capacity and individuals who are easily upset, fearful or disturbed by emergency situations.

The DPC cooperates with federal, State and local agencies who are responsible for emergency planning and management including the Environmental Protection Agency, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Transportation, and other federal, State and local agencies. 

The DPC has a wide variety of resources available including print and multi-media materials, bibliographical references, training materials and packages for training professionals on-site or through distance education.  In addition, customized technical assistance is available for organization that are evaluating and/or revising their emergency planning or procedures.  For more information and a free list of available services and training resources, contact us at info@disabilitypreparedness.org  or call us at 202.338.7158 x201.