A recent review conducted by the Department of Homeland Security revealed significant disparities in emergency preparedness for people with disabilities. The Civil Rights Civil Liberties office of the Department of Homeland Security called on twelve disability-related organizations, including the National Organization on Disability, to evaluate 10 states and 10 urban areas on major components of their emergency preparedness plan. Some of the components measured were transportation, communication, public information, sheltering, and training.

The lack of communication and timely planning of emergency evacuation preparedness emphasizes the need for people with disabilities to be included in the planning process. In a fact sheet created by the Department of Homeland Security, emergency preparedness for people with disabilities was marked as a main topic of concern; “Federal, State, and local governments should increase the participation of people with disabilities and disability subject-matter experts in the development and execution of plans, training, and exercises.”

Thanks to the review, the Federal, State, and local governments now have a gauge of their emergency preparedness plans and can begin to re-evaluate procedures, resources, and communication processes. The National Organization on Disability will continue to work with emergency preparedness offices within the Federal government, especially the American Red Cross, to improve planning, publicity, and execution of emergency evacuation plans for people with disabilities.

Find out more about this report at the National Organization on Disability website.