Prioritizing Disability Inclusion in Emergency Planning

April 06, 2023 | Margaret Nilz

In January 2019, Winter Storm Harper hit Rhode Island, causing a low-pressure gas pipeline condition to interrupt natural gas heating to over 7,100 residents on Aquidneck Island during record cold temperatures. Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo declared a state of emergency for Newport County and opened heating centers for affected residents.

Newport County, located along the southern coast of Rhode Island, is home to approximately 82,000 residents. With a high proportion of elderly individuals—comprising around 24% of the total population—disaster preparedness and response measures are crucial. The aging population has implications for healthcare and social services, with increased demand for senior care facilities and programs that support the needs of the elderly during emergencies. What’s more, around 12% of the population in Newport County is reported to have a disability, further highlighting the need for accessible disaster response plans and accommodations.

Inclusive practices that prioritize the safety and well-being of all residents, regardless of age or ability, are essential in ensuring effective disaster preparedness and response. Volunteers from Organizations Active in Disasters played a crucial role in providing wellness checks and managing volunteers over three days. These organizations coordinated with state agencies at the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), bringing together several dozen volunteers from across the country and working with partners in local Community Emergency Response Teams, the National Guard, and Search and Rescue teams to conduct home wellness checks.

Accessible Preparedness in Winter Storm Harper Response

Rhode Island used several different strategies to promote accessibility in its response to Winter Storm Harper. Some of these strategies are detailed below.

Health Equity Zones

Health equity zones (HEZ), including the Newport Health Equity Zone, played a critical role in the response to the gas outage emergency and subsequent reporting process. The Newport HEZ worked with residents to identify and address issues affecting community health, including factors that impact people with disabilities.

During the gas outage, HEZ mobilized assets to fill gaps and overcome barriers in emergency response. The HEZ leveraged their knowledge, solidarity, and skillsets to creatively problem-solve when other systems failed. The HEZ office became a crucial point of contact for residents seeking help, providing critical communication channels to and from public officials.

HEZ staff and residents used informal networks to gather and disseminate information through a Facebook group and daily flyers with translations to ensure all community members were informed and involved in the response effort. This experience highlights the importance of involving HEZ communities in emergency planning and preparation to increase equity, reduce risk, and promote effectiveness in emergency response.

Voluntary Disability Registries

Disaster response efforts must ensure accessibility for people with disabilities. One strategy for promoting disability equity in emergency response is to use voluntary disability registries. Jurisdictions may use voluntary disability registries to identify and locate people with disabilities by asking them or their caregivers to voluntarily enter information into a registry designed to identify individuals who may require special assistance during emergencies.

The area utility company had a list of medical “critical care” customers, and the city and state had access to a voluntary Special Needs Registry for wellness checks. These registries allowed the National Guard, State Police, and volunteers to carry out wellness checks with the aid of the rugged hand-held devices and GIS mapping software. With this software, volunteers could track wellness checks for critical care residents indicating which residences needed assistance. The GIS mapping application allowed personnel in the field to upload information to a cloud that was easily accessible to emergency response personnel and decision-makers.

Partnerships, Collaboration, and Innovation

Through a dynamic partnership between the jurisdiction and FirstNet, the team employed innovative solutions to enhance response efforts. The collaboration resulted in the provision of 50 ruggedized handheld smartphones, which were invaluable for conducting door-to-door checks. Moreover, Wi-Fi hotspots were strategically set up at remote command centers to ensure seamless communication. These smartphones, equipped with cutting-edge geographic mapping apps, were able to connect utility data and city customer locations with voluntary registry data, facilitating the prompt distribution of fire, Emergency Medical Services, and Emergency Management services to residents in need. Volunteers in the field were therefore able to provide critical wellness check information back to the EOC in real time.

Other Actions to Promote a More Accessible Preparedness Framework

While the response to Winter Storm Harper in Rhode Island showed positive steps toward accessible and inclusive preparedness, jurisdictions can take additional actions to promote accessibility in preparedness and response.

Disability Etiquette and Inclusion in Health Agencies

Approximately one-in-four individuals in the United States has a disability, making disability inclusion crucial in all aspects of public health. Failure to include people with disabilities in public health planning can create unnecessary obstacles that worsen existing health disparities. Developing and hosting regular training for all health agency staff and partners can help them better address the needs of people with disabilities in their work. ASTHO has developed an infographic to aid in planning programs, policies, and activities that support individuals with disabilities.

Disability Inclusive Preparedness

People with disabilities must be included in preparedness efforts to identify the needs and barriers to access to emergency preparedness and response services, such as crisis communication, access to resources, allocation of vaccines and other medical countermeasures, and transportation. It is essential to develop plans with input from people with disabilities before a disaster occurs. State and territorial health agencies must ensure that plans, which include the needs of people with disabilities, are frequently updated and in place.

Data Modernization and Interoperability

Inclusive public health practice requires the collection and use of disability data. Accessible and comprehensive disability data can inform program development and emergency preparedness promoting health equity for people with disabilities. Inclusive data can help identify and address disparities in access to healthcare, public health services, and emergency response. Integrating disability data within the National Syndromic Surveillance Program can be a valuable tool for monitoring the impacts of emergencies on people with disabilities.

As the response to Winter Storm Harper demonstrated, including disability-related data in voluntary registries, GIS mapping, applications, and other data systems can help ensure that people with disabilities are not overlooked in disaster response efforts. This data can guide decision-making during emergencies and inform local, state, and national policy formation, leading to more inclusive and equitable emergency preparedness and response efforts.

Inclusive and Accessible Communication

Accessible communication is crucial in disaster preparedness and response, especially for people with disabilities. Federal policies require that information from the federal government, state, territorial, local health agencies, and other response groups must be provided in accessible formats. For instance, public announcements and emergency updates should include closed captioning and American Sign Language interpretation. Written materials should be offered in multiple formats, such as large print, braille, and plain language. Establishing lines of communication across agencies and organizations is essential to avoid communication silos that can negatively impact disaster preparedness and response—particularly for people with disabilities.

Looking Forward

Thanks to the coordinated efforts in Newport County, the gas outage incident in 2019 resulted in no reported injuries or significant damage, except for frozen water pipes. The experiences of the first responders, volunteers, and the community during the Winter Storm Harper response effort highlighted how coordination between state agencies and volunteer organizations, utilizing available technology and partnerships, can greatly improve accessibility in emergency response for people with disabilities.

However, it is crucial that we continue to identify areas for growth and development in accessible preparedness as we move forward. This includes addressing the specific needs of different disability groups and ensuring that emergency plans are inclusive and accessible to all. By prioritizing disability integration in disaster preparedness, we can create a more resilient and equitable society.