Promising Directions - Georgia

Hurricane Preparedness

Beginning in the summer of 2006, the Disability Resource Group (DRG), the Southeast ADA Center’s Georgia State Affiliate, began exploring what, if anything was being done along the coast of Georgia to provide emergency evacuation and shelter for people with disabilities living in areas vulnerable to hurricanes and flooding. Working with many people on the Georgia Coast, including LIFE of Savannah, it quickly became apparent that none of the established emergency agencies had any plans for evacuating and sheltering people with disabilities. In response, the DRG began to make emergency personnel in two coastal cities, Brunswick and Savannah, aware of just who people with disabilities actually are and what they will need in the event of emergency evacuation.

The first order of business was to conduct emergency management training for firemen, policemen, and other first responders. The training focused on disability awareness, making participants aware that many people with disabilities live on their own or with their families and therefore do not fit the definition of “special populations” which is defined as people who need medical support.

Emergency management personnel along the Georgia coast have become more aware that there are people with disabilities who do not need intensive medical supports but who do need accessible shelters and accessible transportation to these shelters. It also became clear that people with disabilities need to take responsibility for each other. Therefore, DRG has produced a brochure on Emergency Preparedness for People with Disabilities. The Group is also encouraging groups to connect with other organizations to make plans (e.g. the Council for the Blind in Savannah needs to establish connections with the Council in Macon) to create shelters and supports that can be used when disaster strikes.