Disability and Aging Populations: Katrina's Lessons for the Future

摘要

Although local, state, regional, and federal government agencies play a major role in disaster planning and response, traditional government response agencies are often ill equipped to meet the needs of disability and aging populations during emergencies. The typical approach to delivery of emergency services is not designed to provide the essential help required by these segments of our country's population. To fill the gap, a network of disability and aging-specific organizations utilize government and private sector resources to serve their clientele. There is no single organization that is capable of serving everyone. This network of providers represents a vast array of national, state, regional, and local human and social service organizations; faith-based organizations; and neighborhood associations. Compelled by the attacks of September 11, 2001, the National Organization on Disability (NOD) launched the Emergency Preparedness Initiative to ensure that emergency managers address disability concerns and that people with disabilities are included in all levels of emergency preparedness, response, and recovery. When Hurricane Katrina provided the opportunity to examine the progress on this front, the NOD deployed four assessment teams to investigate the status of response and recovery for the disability and aging populations.