Note: This piece stems from the Episcopal Academy’s (Newtown Square, PA) Benjamin H. Read Scholarship. The Scholarship focuses on history and service and draws funds from the Chuck Bryant fund. The Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies has been a great help throughout this process. Further work is being done for this scholarship with the American Red Cross, building sensory relief kits for people who are neurodivergent. This work is primarily done at the American Red Cross House in Philadelphia, which provides short-term housing for families in need.

Why Disasters Hit People with Disabilities Harder –
A Study on Inequality in Disaster Management

When disasters strike, natural or otherwise, people with disabilities often face life-threatening challenges that others do not. Studies and first-hand experiences show that disasters tend to hit people with disabilities harder during the emergency and throughout the recovery. These challenges range from difficulties evacuating and accessing relief, to greater health risks and difficult financial situations in the aftermath. When a large number of people are affected, it is easy for the systems in place to overlook those who are most at risk, especially when these systems have inequity at their core. Disasters often expose the marginalization that isn’t as apparent regularly. It is important to have an understanding of why so many people struggle during disasters and how to better stay protected.

This piece draws on interviews conducted with experts in disaster resilience and emergency management, including Professor Mark Abkowitz (Vanderbilt University), Professor John Mutter (Columbia University), and Professor Jeff Schliegelmilch (Columbia University), as well as published research and lived experiences from past disasters.  

Barriers to Evacuation and Safety:

During the emergency part of a disaster, evacuation can be a life-or-death challenge for people with disabilities, especially if there are transportation issues. An infamous example was Hurricane Katrina in 2005. In New Orleans, roughly 27% of households (about 120,000 people) did not own a vehicle. Evacuation orders were later than they should have been, as public transportation shut down before many residents without cars could get out. Transportation issues are already a major concern for people with disabilities in their everyday lives, so the lack of public transportation during a category five hurricane obviously only made things much worse. With buses and trains not running and no large-scale plan to assist those without cars, an estimated 100,000 people were left stranded in the city as Katrina hit. Many of those left behind were low-income residents and people with disabilities living in neighborhoods like the Lower Ninth Ward. Wheelchair users could not easily get to the Superdome shelter or leave the city without accessible transport. This was a fatal lesson that prompted demands within FEMA for the organization to “balance the requirement to quickly distribute funds to meet the needs of disaster survivors with its responsibility to be good stewards of taxpayer funds.” (This includes anyone who faces circumstances or a “situation that limits [their] ability to take action in an emergency.”)

We see similar issues to those in Katrina in other disasters. Fast-moving events like wildfires can be especially perilous for people with limited mobility or people who need assistance. In California’s 2018 Camp Fire, which was the deadliest wildfire in state history, the majority of the 85 people who died were elderly or had disabilities. These tragedies reveal how we must have more awareness in our planning process and of our routes, communications, and services. If our planning doesn’t center those most impacted, we’re not just overlooking people, we’re putting lives at risk.

Technology during Disasters:

A growing reliance on technology can become a double-edged sword in a disaster. On one hand, new tech (such as smartphone alarms, apps, and high-tech medical devices) is vital for people with disabilities to live their everyday lives. On the other hand, disasters often cause power outages and electricity failures that knock out these tools. This can, once again, leave people isolated and “stranded.” For example, in recent California wildfires, deliberate power shutoffs were used to prevent fires, but this created new dangers for people who rely on electricity to live independently. When the power went out, some wheelchair users couldn’t charge their motorized chairs; elevators trapped individuals on higher floors; and oxygen machines shut down. These scenarios show why it is necessary to have backup plans for power and communication. To prepare for this, see the tips suggested at the end of this report.

Hardships in Relief and Recovery

Surviving the initial disaster is only the beginning: the recovery period often brings a second wave of challenges for people with disabilities. Relief services, even basics (like food, water, shelter, aid), are often inaccessible to people because the systems weren’t designed with accessibility in mind. A 2023 analysis of U.S. Census data found evacuees with disabilities were far more likely to experience basic needs shortages after disasters. For example, over 74% of people who could not walk reported going without adequate food one month after a disaster, while just 9% of those who could walk said the same. Likewise, 70% of deaf evacuees lived in unsanitary conditions post-disaster, versus only 7% of hearing evacuees. These statistics confirm that disasters amplify pre-existing inequalities. 

Health needs can be complicated, and chronic conditions may worsen without timely care. Professor John Mutter, who specializes in disaster resilience at Columbia, noted the importance of medications that many individuals lose during disasters and are difficult to replace. It is suggested that everyone have backup medication and medication instructions ready for an emergency. Medical struggles can last weeks and be incredibly difficult. After Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, weeks of power outages left people rationing and sharing medicine. One person went two weeks without his oxygen tank before finally getting it back, but the damage was irreversible. 

Housing and financial recovery pose another huge gap. People with disabilities are more likely to have low incomes or live in poverty (which can partially be attributed to the high medical bills that many people with disabilities face), so they enter the recovery phase with fewer resources on average. After a disaster, this can mean less ability to rebuild homes, replace lost belongings, or endure without a steady income. Jeff Schliegelmilch, Director of the National Center for Disaster Preparedness, noted that many low-income survivors cannot afford to return home because “rebuilding costs and insurance rates skyrocket beyond their reach.” However, the best solution for some may be to not return at all, especially if the area is in a vulnerable geographical location. Dr. Mark Abkowitz, professor at Vanderbilt, stated that many places are becoming more uninhabitable each year. “It doesn’t make sense for FEMA to buy out homes and then rebuild on the same place,” he said. The best way to protect people is to live in less risky places.

Even well-intentioned relief efforts have continuously fallen short. A striking example is the Brou v. FEMA case in the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. After Katrina, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provided trailer homes for tens of thousands of displaced people, though almost none were accessible to those with disabilities. Despite roughly 25% of evacuees having disabilities, only about 2% of FEMA trailers in use were fitted for their needs. Wheelchair users had to deal with trailers with narrow doorways and no ramps, and blind evacuees got trailers with appliances and controls they couldn’t use. Brou v. FEMA was a lawsuit filed on behalf of survivors with disabilities, alleging that FEMA’s temporary housing violated disability rights laws. The case led to a 2006 settlement: FEMA agreed to provide accessible trailers (addressing the needs mentioned above and more) to those who needed them. FEMA also set up hotlines to request accessible housing and committed to better tracking of accommodation needs. Another post-Katrina reform was the Emergency Management Reform Act, which included the creation of a Disability Coordinator. A 2018 Government Accountability Office report shows that while FEMA has improved its assistance of people with disabilities, the results are slow, and FEMA continues to fall short of its legal and moral obligations to the disability community. With better plans in place, training staff and individuals to carry these out becomes FEMA a large issue. Without training, even the best-designed plans will fall short for people with disabilities.

Experiences like these have caused widespread wariness of aid programs. Dr. Abkowitz observed, “Even if there are good programs, there is a large distrust of these programs” among at-risk communities. This distrust comes from decades of inadequate responses and broken promises. Some survivors with disabilities feel alienated by recovery processes. They may be hesitant to register for assistance or disclose their needs, simply doubting that the programs will not follow through with what they say, or fearing they’ll be forced into institutions. There has been a recent push for awareness of abusive guardianships that have suppressed people with disabilities for far too long. Although the distrust in government programs is valid, it is important for people to know that they don’t have to go through this on their own. It is important for all to be informed of and take advantage of the resources available to them.

Preparing for the Next Disaster: Tips for People with Disabilities

While systemic change is needed in the future, there are proactive steps individuals can take to improve safety and preparation. If you or a loved one has a disability, consider the following preparedness tips:

• • Build a custom disability emergency kit: In addition to standard emergency supplies, include at least a week of any medications, copies of important prescriptions, and backup assistive equipment. If you use a power wheelchair or communication device, have portable chargers or battery packs ready.
  • Plan your evacuation strategy: If you don’t drive, find out ahead of time how you can evacuate. An important question to ask: Does your city/town provide accessible buses or paratransit in emergencies? Identify accessible shelters, and community centers, and make plans for service animals if needed.
  • Create a support network: Connect with trusted neighbors, friends, relatives, or caregivers who can help during a disaster. Let them know your needs and emergency plans, and make sure you know theirs. When a community is looking out for everyone, the community is always safer.
  • Prepare your home and documents: Make home modifications that could help in a disaster, and keep important documents in a waterproof folder. Prepare communication cards or apps for emergencies.
  • Make and maintain a plan: Do run through scenarios with your support network. Test equipment backups and update supplies and medication regularly. Being able to instinctively go through your plan can make a large difference.

• Register with emergency services: Many communities have voluntary “special needs” registries with local emergency management, fire, or police departments. Signing up can alert officials that you might need assistance during a disaster. Though be mindful that government registries are not certain, and it is important to have other resources to rely on during disasters.

People with disabilities have the right to be safe and included in all aspects of disaster preparedness, response, and recovery. Emergency services must better help people with disabilities, but until that is fully taken care of, it is important to take the steps necessary to make sure you are safe. Everyone must be prepared, but it is especially important for people with disabilities.

From Katrina to today, we’ve seen that when disabled people are “left behind,” it’s usually because the planning left them out. By learning from past mistakes and listening to those who have lived through them, we can push for a more inclusive approach to disaster readiness. We’re all stronger and safer when we account for everyone.