Usher Syndrome India (USH India): Emergency and Disaster Management

DRAFT ----

This page compiles information on tools and resources for preparing for and managing emergencies and disasters. We focus specifically on the needs of the Deafblind community in India, but a lot of information is also applicable to any type of disability.

What is an emergency? What is a disaster?

An emergency is a sudden, unexpected, serious event that requires immediate action. Examples: heart attack, robbery, vehicular collision, small fire.

A disaster is a much more serious event, natural or man-made, occuring suddenly, that can cause great loss of life, damage or hardship. Examples: flood, cyclone, riot, terrorist attack, fast-spreading fire, earthquake, famine, drought. Disasters can start as small-scale emergencies but escalate when there has been inadequate planning and wasteful use of resources.

Stages of disaster management

Emergency and disaster management involve four phases: mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. (Source [6])

How can disasters affect persons with disabilities?

During a disaster, lack of preparedness can lead to no, slow or ineffective access to first responders.
In the aftermath of a disaster, resources may become scarce. Access to resources will be challenging for persons with disabilities.

See Source [3].

What are the laws on emergency and disaster management applicable to people with disabilities?

People with disabilities need to know their rights, and need to have the courage to advocate for themselves.

Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (RPwD 2016) -- see Section 8 (Protection and Safety).

"8. (1) The persons with disabilities shall have equal protection and safety in situations of risk, armed conflict, humanitarian emergencies and natural disasters.
(2) The National Disaster Management Authority and the State Disaster Management Authority shall take appropriate measures to ensure inclusion of persons with disabilities in its disaster management activities as defined under clause (e) of section 2 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005 for the safety and protection of persons with disabilities.
(3) The District Disaster Management Authority constituted under section 25 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005 shall maintain record of details of persons with disabilities in the district and take suitable measures to inform such persons of any situations of risk so as to enhance disaster preparedness.
(4) The authorities engaged in reconstruction activities subsequent to any situation of risk, armed conflict or natural disasters shall undertake such activities, in consultation with the concerned State Commissioner, in accordance with the accessibility requirements of persons with disabilities."
More in other sections.

National Building Code of India 2016 -- lists the requirements for accessibility in buildings for persons with disabilities, as well as safety guidelines in case of fire and other calamities.

Fire Safety Act -- each state in India has its own Fire Safety Act.

UN Convention on Rights of People with Disabilities (UNCRPD) -- Article 11 states "Parties shall take ... all necessary measures to ensure the protection and safety of persons with disabilities in situations of risk, including situations of armed conflict, humanitarian emergencies and the occurrence of natural disasters."

How can persons with deafblindness prepare for emergencies and disasters?

Be experts in using assistive technologies.
When traveling alone, always inform someone where you are going.
Carry alert devices which do not require batteries or charging, such as a whistle.
Always keep your electronic devices charged, such as mobile, braille device, hearing aids, etc.
Some people prefer to wear bright colored clothes, so others can see them easily.
Take an Orientation and Mobility training course.
Some people wear a necklace or bracelet that contains name, who to call for emergency, your medical conditions, food/medicines you are allergic to, etc.
If your area is prone to certain types of disasters (like floods, earthquakes, cyclones), regularly access the news.
Register yourself in your district's list of disabled people.

How can employers make the workplace emergency-ready?

In India, employers have a legal responsibility to provide a safe working environment to persons with disabilities. The needs of persons with disabilities will vary from one person to another, so it is important to take that into account.

Employers need to have an Emergency Preparedness Plan. This is especially important when the workplace is a tall, big building. The plan needs to:

cover common types of emergencies like fire
cover the types of emergencies that are possible in its locality. For example, floods, earthquakes, cyclones, etc.
Database of people with disabilities: establish a method to gather and maintain information about employees with disabilities. See Source [7] for guidelines on how to gather sensitive personal information.
Helpline: identify ways for employees to urgently contact the emergency personnel during an emergency.
Warning system: identify ways for the emergency personnel to urgently notify the deafblind employees of an emergency. For example, a text message that can be read using their braille device.
identify accessible escape routes.
identify assistive technologies for emergencies. For example, a mobile app that vibrates, sends a text message in large print, links to a braille device, etc.
Identification of first responders
Training of emergency personnel: training topics, schedule of training
Mock drills: procedure to follow for mock drills, frequency/scheduling of mock drills, review of what failed and make adjustments to the plan. It is very important that disabled employees are part of the mock drill to ensure that they can be evacuated properly.

Prepare a workplace to be emergency-ready for the deaf/blind/deafblind employees:

Identify an escape route that is most accessible for the deafblind. For example:

with ramps or the least number of stairs
well-lit
not slippery

Make the escape route more accessible. For example:

Connect important points of the building with tactile flooring/pavings, so the visually-impaired who are cane users can easily navigate from one important point to another.
Regularly inspect for clutter on the floor along stairways and corridors, and remove it. Instill a habit in all employees of no clutter on the floor.

Conduct regular workshops that explain the Emergency Preparedness Plan and Basic Fire Safety. Attendees: persons with disabilities, their colleagues and emergency personnel.
Conduct regular Mock Drills to ensure that everyone, especially persons with disabilities, understand the evacuation procedure.