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 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 systems Television and Radio signals not available in remote areas Some warning messages not accessible to blind or deaf persons Evacuation orders were confusing, especially to persons with mental or cognitive disabilities Inadequate time from evacuation orders to the actual fire threat

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 centrally located, making resettlement difficult The large number of donated goods stressed transit systems’ ability to return victims efficiently Vacant rentals are limited or non-existent Large increases in rent due to diminished housing stock Stress and mental anguish continue, leading to increases in depression and even suicide Health problems caused by ash and dust

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 Phone: (916) or (866) TTY: (916) or (866) Fax: (916) Or you can contact the SILC via our Internet Homepage at: