“If we can get disaster management right for people with disability, we can get it right for all people.”

—Marcie Roth, CEO

People with disabilities have the right to protection and safety in situations of risk, including natural disasters. Yet they are disproportionately impacted during disasters and are often left out of relief and recovery efforts due to the lack of emergency healthcare to address their needs, accessible shelters and transportation, access to effective communication, and community supports.

Even before Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico in September 2017, nearly half of the disability community was living below the poverty line. Since then, mental and physical health needs have increased. People with disabilities struggle to access basic healthcare and medical supplies, and community-based services face even greater barriers. The Puerto Rico Disability Community Relief Network offers one example of disaster management model that takes the needs of people with disabilities into account, effectively demonstrating how stakeholders across sectors can work together to involve and support people with disabilities.

What can we learn from the experience of Puerto Rico? How can we improve communication and collaboration among CSOs, DPOs, government agencies, and service providers to improve outcomes for everyone? How can the Sustainable Development Goals support disaster management that addresses the needs of people with disabilities?

On June 11, 2019, a panel of experts and activists from Puerto Rico and the mainland United States explored disaster management and the potential of stakeholders across sectors to work together to involve and support people with disabilities.

Highlights from the panelists and audience:

• Coordinated collaborations between the state and federal government, the government and NGOs, and among NGOs themselves is critical at every stage of the disaster management process.
• Disaster management that truly includes people with disabilities can only be done when people with disabilities are part of the planning process.
• If disaster management strategies address the needs of people with disabilities, outcomes will be improved for everyone and communities will become more resilient.

For more information about the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, visit the UN’s website