Asking Instead of Telling
All too often in Emergency Management we make certain assumptions about our target audience that are not necessarily true. A common prolific one is that we always know more than the audience about the topics we are presenting or providing guidance on. On its surface this makes perfect sense. But this is a utopian ideal. The truth is that many rarely stop to think about what is actually feasible or viable for their audience to do – exactly as the guidance prescribes. Every plan and guide we create and implement has assumptions – but how would they actually fare in non-theoretical physical reality?
While it is true that we are likely to comprehend these failures in the wake of a disaster that affects these audiences specifically, these insights may only occur on a macro level. I wanted to change this – especially when it comes to Access and Functional Needs – by focusing on the assumption characteristics and misconceptions that plague this field of EM.
This idea is one that I had thought about since my first week at the Disability Community Resource Center (DCRC) as a Disability Disaster Access and Resources Coordinator (DDARC). As I began acquainting myself with the widely accepted and published general AFN guidance, I started to notice a frightening pattern:
Faulty Assumptions.
Not just any run-of-of-the-mill assumptions. These were real potentially life-endangering problems for individuals with disabilities that overlooked critical challenges they may face on a daily basis.
This all came to a head on February 28th, 2024, when DCRC, along with the support of local community partners, hosted a unique experimental opportunity for the members of our community to become our teachers, while we, in turn, became the students. Living with a disability affects everyday actions in ways it is evident that the EM and safety sectors need to further explore.
The epiphany that sparked this effort was this:
The guidance provided throughout EM states to turn off your gas if you smell a leak. On the surface, this is quite a mundane and obvious idea. The tools through which this task is performed, however, are quite short in length – making such an action significantly challenging to downright impossible for individuals with a mobility disability that cannot bend down.
Upon further research, I failed to locate any extensions for these gas shut-off tools that could help alleviate this problem. It was then that I reached out to Chin Thammasaengsri, a good friend and Coordinator of Los Angeles CERT (South Bureau) to see if he would like to partner with me to start exploring the assumptions we rely upon in how we train and prepare the communities we serve.
The premise of the event we hosted at DCRC on Feb 28 was to put physical tools in the hands of our AFN community members and ask them to share any concerns or challenges they could foresee facing with performing the “standard” actions upon which we so heavily rely.
Here are the insights and takeaways from this event:
Gas
Individuals with mobility disabilities may not be able to bend down or reach the gas shutoff valve due to its location near the ground.
Turning on and off the gas valves were difficult for even the professionals, making it quite difficult for persons with disabilities to do.
An extension for the gas shutoff valve tools would be tremendously helpful for both persons with disabilities and also for leverage. These extensions would have to be sturdy.
The twist ties being used to secure the tools to the gas meters may not be the ideal solution since they are quite difficult to cut with a scissors or knife and may pose additional risk to persons with certain disabilities.
Due to the strength it often takes to turn off these gas valves, individuals with disabilities should start to create a preparedness plan with neighbors that can help turn off utilities in a disaster.
Water (Street Valve)
Accessing the street-facing water valve likely is not viable if the individual cannot lift heavy objects or has a dexterity disability.
The metal plate cover, which covers the water valve near the street, requires the individual to stick their finger in the small hole and lift the access plate open; which can be a great challenge for persons with visual, mobility and muscular disabilities.
Some older water valves require the use of a “T Key”, which are quite sturdy and large but require accurate pin-point dexterity to use.
The water shutoff valve can be difficult to turn.
Water (Heater)
AFN-focused water heater stickers would be incredibly helpful since they would be larger text and have instructions that are easier to understand.
The spigot for the water heater (through which you are expected to access the stored fresh water in the tank) is near the floor, making it difficult for anyone to use; but especially for individuals with disabilities. The head of the spigot may also be difficult for persons with dexterity disabilities to use.
The pilot lights and temperature controls can be quite finicky and may pose a challenge to persons with disabilities. The text on these mechanisms is also quite small.
Electric
Electric fuse boxes are often located high on a wall, preventing persons unable to stand from accessing the panel.
Breakers could likely be developed that feature a recessed area that would allow for a tool to be inserted that would be of aid to persons with disabilities since they would be able to turn the breakers on and off from afar, especially if they are horizontal breakers.
Labels with braille inside the fuse box could help persons with vision disabilities identify which switch is for what.
A tool that can hold the fuse box access-panel open would be helpful.
A mechanism that can alert an individual that they have switched on or off the circuit breakers could be especially helpful for persons with vision or auditory disabilities.
Simple clear instructions with larger text could be helpful on how to properly shut off the breakers, since the process to do so safely can be confusing.
The main breaker can be very difficult to turn on and off due to the increased voltage load on it. This was evident through the fact that event the professionals had significant difficulty in doing so.
Smoke Detectors
Smoke detectors are high up and very difficult to reach.
The small test button on the smoke detectors is very hard to distinguish from the rest of the casing as they are flat and white. The word “test” is often barely recessed into the button, making it nearly invisible for persons more than just a few inches away.
The flashing lights that denote the status of the detectors are red and green; the most common color pair challenge for persons with colorblindness.
The “test” button could be fitted with a mechanism (perhaps with a magnet on it) that would allow persons in a wheelchair to test it using a stick with a similar magnet on the end of it.
Residence Evacuation
Securing furniture, bookcases, and cabinets to the wall (as well as securing the contents inside of them) is crucial for persons with disabilities since it may be significantly difficult for them to evacuate their residence if there is debris on the floor and in the hallways.
CERT recommends childproof latches to secure the contents inside of a cabinet. The very nature of these “child-proofing” mechanisms can pose significant challenges for persons with certain disabilities such as vision and dexterity.
Apartment managers must know who has a disability so that they can incorporate them into the evacuation plan. The city could create a fillable standardized form that allows for the individual to give it to management could be helpful – especially for those that who have certain developmental disabilities.
The RYLAN program needs greater marketing towards the AFN population specifically since they are the most likely to become stuck at home and require additional help in event of a disaster.
Fire Extinguishers
The use of “PASS” (Pull the Pin, Aim at the base of the fire, Squeeze the handle, & Sweep) requires the full use of both hands.
Fire extinguishers can be quite heavy and hard to handle for persons with disabilities.
The handle requires the ability to squeeze the hand.
Contents of certain fire extinguishers need to be regularly put into motion in order to prevent them from clumping together and causing a device failure. The method for doing this, which requires the individual to pick up the extinguisher with both hands and go back and forth in an arcing motion, proved to be a difficult task for persons with certain disabilities.
Extinguishers can be seated between a person’s legs in a wheelchair and used that way. It still requires the use and complete functioning of both hands.
The “PASS” procedure can be especially difficult for persons with visual disabilities such as depth perception.
Some individuals may have a sensitivity (especially to the skin) of the contents of fire extinguishers – even sodium bicarbonate.
Go Bag & Stay Box
Stay boxes are not as talked about as go bags, yet persons with access and functional needs are more than likely going to be trapped at home or not want to evacuate in a disaster. Increased attention towards education of this topic is greatly warranted.
We regularly recommend persons with disabilities keep 2 weeks of extra medications in their go bag or stay box, but this might be difficult for them to actually do since insurance or doctors may not be willing to prescribe this extra medication. This is especially true if it contains a controlled substance.
Many organizations suggest that personal documents be put on to flash drives for emergency preparedness. This may not be the best idea because:
They are very easy to lose (a scary thought when all of your personal information is on it).
Many agencies and organizations likely have a policy against inserting random flash drives into their systems due to the inherent and very serious risk they can pose as a cybersecurity threat.
They require a working computer to access, which not every place will have in event of a disaster, or want to expose to a cybersecurity threat. This includes first responders who may need the individual’s medical information during a time-sensitive emergency. Whereas paper documents would do, flash drives can significantly complicate simple matters.
They can get damaged very easily (such as getting water or debris in them) and make them useless in a disaster.
First Aid
The widely accepted methods for basic first aid fail to consider persons with disabilities who may find these tasks to be difficult to reliably do, both on themselves and for others. A few examples are:
Putting pressure on wounds to stop bleeding.
Cleaning the wound
Applying bandages
Stabilizing fractures
Recognizing the degree of burn
Persons with certain allergies need to make sure they are not allergic to the contents of first aid kits.
Thank you to all of the organizational partners that supported the premise of this idea and helped make it come to fruition. I hope it will be the first of many similar open-forum and town-hall-like events in Emergency Management focused on hands-on disability inclusion!
Chin Thammasaengsri – Los Angeles CERT (South Bureau Coordinator)
Sofia Cervantes – State Council on Developmental Disabilities (Los Angeles Office)
Christofer Arroyo – State Council on Developmental Disabilities (Los Angeles Office)
Omari Battles – City of Los Angeles Emergency Management Department
Deisy Gonzales – Emergency Management Coordinator, City of Los Angeles Department of Disability
Vance Taylor – Chief, CalOES Office of Access and Functional Needs
Mary Rothgeb – Emergency Services Coordinator, CalOES Office of Access and Functional Needs
Michael Martinez – Disability Disaster Access and Resources Coordinator, Communities Actively Living Independent & Free (CALIF-ILC)
Renee Nash - Disability Disaster Access and Resources Coordinator, Communities Actively Living Independent & Free (CALIF-ILC)