Our thoughts are with everyone who is coping with displacement, or whose friends and family have been impacted by Hurricane Harvey. As the vicious wind and rain of Hurricane Harvey leave east Texas and her residents in its wake and move across the coast as a tropical storm, residents are beginning to assess the damage wrought and start the process of rebuilding their lives.
This week, the Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness has made available the article Disoriented and Immobile: The Experiences of People with Visual Impairments During and After the Christchurch, New Zealand, 2010 and 2011 Earthquakes. This study tracks the experience of persons with visual impairments during sequential earthquake activity, both before and after the event. The results of the study provide a rare insight into the impact of disasters on those who are older and living with impaired vision, as well as recommendations for disaster preparedness—both for people who have visual impairments and for the agencies that provide services to people with disabilities.
Read the VisionAware Blog for a firsthand account on being prepared in a state of emergency as a person who is blind or visually impaired.
And, as the tropical storm moves across the coast and inland, the people of Louisiana now brace themselves for what damage they will have to deal with. Although we cannot predict the outcome of natural disaster, there are steps we can take to minimize the potential impact. Following are just a few.
- Compile an emergency kit.
- Know the locations of emergency exits.
- Learn about transportation systems and routes that are different from the ones you usually use.
- Prepare a list of emergency contacts and numbers.
A complete list of steps to take and resources to contact, can be found on our Emergency Preparedness page.
Catastrophic events, such as hurricanes, teach all of us to be mindful of potential emergencies, and neither age nor vision problems should prevent us from preparing ourselves. Know that when disaster strikes, you are not alone. Many people are affected during a disaster. Take strength in knowing their struggles are yours and by working together, you can weather the outcome of a natural catastrophe. We know that it will take community support, time, and resources to rebuild what has been lost. From all of us at the American Foundation for the Blind, we hope you are staying safe.
Additional Resources
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Emergency Readiness for People with Disabilities
- American Red Cross: Disaster Safety for People with Disabilities
- FEMA: Preparing for Disaster for People with Disabilities and other Special Needs
- National Fire Protection Association: Emergency Evacuation Planning Guide for People with Disabilities. This brochure, while aimed primarily at employers and building managers, contains important information for anyone with a visual impairment or other disability on evacuation procedures.
- Northeast Texas Public Health District: 18 Emergency Preparedness Topics, formatted to be friendly to deaf, blind, and limited sight populations. The information is in video and downloadable document format for public use. There is no charge for use of the materials posted on this website.
