01/15/2025 | News release | Distributed by Public on 01/15/2025 12:58
The California wildfires have devastated communities and displaced thousands. For wheelchair users, the crisis is even more overwhelming. Evacuating requires more planning and the homes and vehicles that were made accessible specifically for them are now gone.
"Being Disabled brings an added layer of profound vulnerability. These situations also expose the reality that Disabled people are disproportionately impacted by natural disasters," says Keely Cat-Wells.
"According to the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, nearly 50% of Disabled people impacted by disasters lose access to necessary medications or assistive devices in the chaos. And 85% of Disabled people feel excluded from community disaster preparedness efforts, leaving them unprepared when emergencies strike."
"Inaccessible evacuation routes leave many unable to reach safety and communication barriers mean emergency alerts often exclude Disabled people."
"'My house burned down in a fire" and "I left with nothing but the clothes on my back,' are not things I ever thought I'd say. Who would? Unfortunately for me and much of my community of Altadena including close friends, this is our reality now," says Katherine Beattie.
"We're all safe. We're going to rebuild. Because we love this town but also, we have nowhere else to go. It's going to take years and a lot of hardship, but we'll make it through."
The challenges disabled people face during natural disasters stem from a variety of systemic and pervasive barriers," says Cripple Media.
These include ambulances that are structurally inaccessible and unable to accommodate power wheelchairs and other mobility aids. There is also a lack of accessible shelters, often resulting in disabled people being turned away."
Being prepared for the unexpected saves lives. Ready to Roll helps wheelchair users plan for disasters, whether caused by humans or nature.