“disaster preparedness for vulnerable populations...

1©2006 Helen T. Sullivan, Ph.D.

MaGrann Conference Rutgers UniversityMaGrann Conference Rutgers University

““Disaster Preparedness for Vulnerable Disaster Preparedness for Vulnerable Populations: Determining Effective Populations: Determining Effective Strategies for Communicating Risk, Strategies for Communicating Risk,

Warning, and ResponseWarning, and Response””

Helen T. Sullivan Ph.D. & Markku T. HHelen T. Sullivan Ph.D. & Markku T. Hääkkinenkkinen*1 Rider University, 2083 Lawrence Road, Lawrenceville, NJ 0864*1 Rider University, 2083 Lawrence Road, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648 USA. 8 USA. Email: Email: [email protected]@rider.edu Phone: +1.609.635.2609Phone: +1.609.635.2609

2 In collaboration with: Research Institute of the National Reh2 In collaboration with: Research Institute of the National Rehabilitation Center for Persons with Disabilities, 4abilitation Center for Persons with Disabilities, 4--1 1 NamikiNamiki, Tokorozawa, Tokorozawa--City, SaitamaCity, Saitama--PrefPref., 359., 359--8555 JAPAN. 8555 JAPAN.

3 University of 3 University of JyvJyvääskylskylää, Box 35, , Box 35, JyvJyvääskylskylää, 40014 Finland, 40014 FinlandEmail: Email: [email protected]@acm.org


For communities at For communities at risk, simply having risk, simply having a preparedness plan a preparedness plan and warning system and warning system may not meet the may not meet the needs of all needs of all residentsresidents

NOAANOAA


What if a person has a visual disability ?


What if a person has a hearing impairment?


Siren?Siren?


What if a person has a motor disability ?


What if a person has a cognitive disability?


Complex MapComplex Map

Disaster Preparedness map Disaster Preparedness map provided to citizens of provided to citizens of Urakawa JapanUrakawa Japan


Picture of same mapPicture of same map


What if a person has a print disability or is unable to communicate in the local

language?


What if a person is colorblind?What if a person is colorblind?


What does color coding tell you if you have What does color coding tell you if you have colorblindness?colorblindness?People with color deficiencies may have People with color deficiencies may have difficulty distinguishing certain colors (e.g., difficulty distinguishing certain colors (e.g., a red/green color deficiency means that reds a red/green color deficiency means that reds and greens are more difficult to distinguish). and greens are more difficult to distinguish). Many other colors are just as distinguishable Many other colors are just as distinguishable to a person with a color deficiency as to to a person with a color deficiency as to someone with normal color vision.someone with normal color vision.


Kinds of DisabilitiesKinds of DisabilitiesVisualVisualAuditoryAuditoryMobilityMobilityCommunicationCommunicationCognitiveCognitiveOr situational disability such asOr situational disability such as

ObeseObesePregnantPregnantRecent surgery Recent surgery Chronic Medical ConditionsChronic Medical ConditionsEtc. Etc.


Number of Disabled worldNumber of Disabled world--widewide

According to estimates of the United Nations/WHO, about According to estimates of the United Nations/WHO, about 10%10%or or 650 million 650 million of the worldof the world’’s population is disabled s population is disabled

In developed countries, the percentage is much higher, closer toIn developed countries, the percentage is much higher, closer to20% of the population is identified with some form of 20% of the population is identified with some form of disabilitydisability

Assume that 20% may be the more accurate figure Assume that 20% may be the more accurate figure globallyglobally…… 1.3 billion persons with disabilities1.3 billion persons with disabilities

Unified standards for data collection are in development with thUnified standards for data collection are in development with the e goal of providing an accurate count of the disabled world wide. goal of providing an accurate count of the disabled world wide.


Goals of this work :Goals of this work :

Focus on the specific challenges people with disabilities face in a disaster. Enabling people with disabilities to prepare and respond to disaster

•• Develop Awareness of Risk Develop Awareness of Risk •• Detect Alarms and Discern the type of emergencyDetect Alarms and Discern the type of emergency•• Respond quickly Respond quickly •• Shelter or evacuate as dictated by the emergencyShelter or evacuate as dictated by the emergency•• Assisting others in needAssisting others in need•• Reaching safetyReaching safety•• Returning to normalcyReturning to normalcy


Recent CatastrophesRecent Catastrophes

Pakistan Earthquake Pakistan Earthquake

Hurricane KatrinaHurricane Katrina

Indian Ocean Tsunami Indian Ocean Tsunami

are prime examples of catastrophes that have are prime examples of catastrophes that have focused our attention on the need for disaster focused our attention on the need for disaster preparedness and mitigation. preparedness and mitigation.


The South Asian TsunamiThe South Asian Tsunami

••Indian Ocean Tsunami was a low Indian Ocean Tsunami was a low probability eventprobability event

•• Majority of the population, throughout Majority of the population, throughout the affected area were not prepared and not the affected area were not prepared and not warnedwarned

•• Human nature succumbs to nature, with Human nature succumbs to nature, with some individuals heading towards the some individuals heading towards the exposed seabed instead of fleeingexposed seabed instead of fleeing

The South Asian Tsunami and AftermathThe South Asian Tsunami and Aftermath


Who wouldnWho wouldn’’t want to see the t want to see the exposed sea bottom?exposed sea bottom?

Low tide at PatongBeach, Thailand


Post Tsunami Developments:Post Tsunami Developments:

Among the estimated 200,000 people killed on December 26, 2004, were many with disabilities

Media reports, and interviews reveal some of the stories that detail the plight of persons with disabilities, such as the following:


Sri LankaSri Lanka

At a shelter for the At a shelter for the mentally and mentally and physically disabled in physically disabled in Galle, only Galle, only 41 of the 102 41 of the 102 residents of the home residents of the home survivedsurvived Source: APSource: AP

AP PhotoAP Photo


From the From the TangallaTangalla School for Blind, 16 blind School for Blind, 16 blind students on an outing were caught up in the students on an outing were caught up in the tsunami, tsunami, 12 died, and 4 of the more senior 12 died, and 4 of the more senior students escaped and helped the teachers students escaped and helped the teachers who were sighted to get out of the vehicle.who were sighted to get out of the vehicle.Source: authorSource: author’’s interviewss interviews


Problems Associated with Tourist Destinations

Transient nature of the tourist Transient nature of the tourist populationpopulation

Lack of attention & motivation to Lack of attention & motivation to seek out preparedness informationseek out preparedness information

Need for information delivery in Need for information delivery in multiple languages or through multiple languages or through symbolssymbols to theto the effectively illiterateeffectively illiterate


Disabled visitor to Disabled visitor to PatongPatong Beach, Thailand, May 2005Beach, Thailand, May 2005


After the South Asia Tsunami, the After the South Asia Tsunami, the scientists involved saidscientists involved said……

““WWe can build a Tsunami warning system, but it will be useless if e can build a Tsunami warning system, but it will be useless if people do not know how to respond to it. people do not know how to respond to it. This is an issue of This is an issue of behaviorialbehaviorial psychology, not geophysics.psychology, not geophysics.””

Comment at the Comment at the International Symposium on Tsunami Disaster Mitigation for the International Symposium on Tsunami Disaster Mitigation for the Future Future

Not an issue of geophysicsNot an issue of geophysics…… the issue is human behaviorthe issue is human behavior

Is this news?Is this news?


Understanding meanings of alertsUnderstanding meanings of alerts

Hawaii:Hawaii: As early as the 1960 it has been As early as the 1960 it has been reported that 60% of the population did not reported that 60% of the population did not understand the official meaning of the warning understand the official meaning of the warning siren prior to a tsunami. siren prior to a tsunami. LachmanLachman et alet al (1961)(1961)PatongPatong:: In a recent evacuation drill the In a recent evacuation drill the message, given in several languages, was met message, given in several languages, was met with some confusionwith some confusion as to the meaning of the as to the meaning of the alert tones (author interviews, 2005).alert tones (author interviews, 2005).


NonNon--Disabled confusedDisabled confused

Gregg 2005Gregg 2005 -- Survey results, 12% understood Survey results, 12% understood the siren warning system Hawaiithe siren warning system HawaiiStanton & Stanton & EdworthyEdworthy, 1999, 1999 Human factors Human factors research on design for effective warnings and research on design for effective warnings and sirens.sirens.Lacking research for those with physical, Lacking research for those with physical, perceptual or cognitive disabilities.perceptual or cognitive disabilities.


Path of the Hurricane KatrinaPath of the Hurricane Katrina

Path of the StormPath of the StormAugust 29August 29thth 20052005

NOAANOAA

NOAANOAA


Many of the affected were Many of the affected were unable to leave their homes unable to leave their homes to reach safetyto reach safetyAssistance often did not Assistance often did not arrive until after several days. arrive until after several days. This interval was an extreme This interval was an extreme burden on all the citizens burden on all the citizens waiting for rescue but waiting for rescue but especially difficult for Special especially difficult for Special Needs Populations Needs Populations

NOAANOAA


AP PhotoAP Photo


HurricaneHurricane KatrinaKatrina

Nursing Homes had inadequate (or nonNursing Homes had inadequate (or non--implemented) evacuation plans leaving, in one implemented) evacuation plans leaving, in one instance, residents to fend for themselves.instance, residents to fend for themselves.

34 people drowned in the St Rita34 people drowned in the St Rita’’s Nursing Home in s Nursing Home in St. Bernard's Parish St. Bernard's Parish (CNN 2005)(CNN 2005)


Hurricane Katrina Aftermath: Hurricane Katrina Aftermath: Failure at All LevelsFailure at All Levels

People confined to People confined to wheel chairs awaited wheel chairs awaited rescue or evacuation. rescue or evacuation.

NOAANOAA


CNNCNN


At the Super Dome, deaf individuals At the Super Dome, deaf individuals were confined in an area designated as were confined in an area designated as ““Deaf AreaDeaf Area”” without adequate support without adequate support for their information needs.for their information needs.


Growing international need for need for disaster awareness and mitigationdisaster awareness and mitigation

Vulnerable populations recognizedVulnerable populations recognized

Disabilities Disabilities shouldshould be consideredbe considered

But little in the way of concrete actionBut little in the way of concrete action


Recent Developments in the United States

US Presidential Directive on Including the US Presidential Directive on Including the Disabled in Disaster PreparednessDisabled in Disaster Preparedness (White (White House, 2004)House, 2004)

ButBut……


““ Disaster preparedness and emergency response systems are typically designed for people without disabilities, for whom escape or rescue involves walking, running, driving, seeing, hearing, and quickly responding to instructions, alerts, and evacuation announcements.”

National Council on Disabilities Report, April 2005


““Access to emergency public warnings, as well Access to emergency public warnings, as well as preparedness and mitigation information and as preparedness and mitigation information and materials,materials, does not adequately include people does not adequately include people who cannot depend on sight and hearingwho cannot depend on sight and hearing to to receive their information.receive their information.””

National Council on Disabilities, April 2005National Council on Disabilities, April 2005


Recommendations to include the disabled in emergency planning and delivery of preparedness materials in accessible, alternative formats

The Question: Does this answer the challenges for all disabilities?


Gallaudet University Gallaudet University Accessible Emergency Notification and Accessible Emergency Notification and Communication; State of the Science Conference Communication; State of the Science Conference November 2November 2--3 20053 2005In reality this was a In reality this was a State of the Technology State of the Technology ConferenceConference, with only one reference to science, with only one reference to scienceCovered many fascinating aspects of communication Covered many fascinating aspects of communication for the deaf as well as persons with multiple disabilities. for the deaf as well as persons with multiple disabilities. The conference highlighted the culture of the deaf. The conference highlighted the culture of the deaf.


Psychology of human behavior, not just Psychology of human behavior, not just technologytechnology

How do we succeed in getting near perfect compliance?How do we succeed in getting near perfect compliance?Educate Educate -- all persons to the possible risk in their environment. High all persons to the possible risk in their environment. High and low probability eventsand low probability events

Raising Awareness Raising Awareness -- of environmental changes so persons will have of environmental changes so persons will have maximum lead time to seek safetymaximum lead time to seek safety

Increasing Preparedness Increasing Preparedness -- Participating in DrillsParticipating in Drills GatheringGatheringCritical documents such as a passport or driving license for ideCritical documents such as a passport or driving license for identification, ntification, medicines, etc., stored in an easily available spot so that no tmedicines, etc., stored in an easily available spot so that no time is lost in ime is lost in collecting them.collecting them.

Action Action -- Quickly following preQuickly following pre--arranged steps to reach safetyarranged steps to reach safety


Information and Communication Challenges

People with disabilities can face many barriers People with disabilities can face many barriers when accessing informationwhen accessing information

Complexity Complexity of phones and other mobile devices can of phones and other mobile devices can be a be a challenge to cognitively disabled and the elderlychallenge to cognitively disabled and the elderlyPoorly designed informationPoorly designed information, such as web pages and , such as web pages and PDF documents PDF documents can excludecan exclude those with visual those with visual impairments and hinder those with learning impairments and hinder those with learning disabilitiesdisabilities


Making Information andMaking Information andCommunication TechnologiesCommunication Technologies (ICT) (ICT)

AccessibleAccessibleTo be effective, To be effective, awareness of escape awareness of escape routes and safety zones routes and safety zones must be promoted must be promoted priorpriorto the occurrence of to the occurrence of disaster through use of disaster through use of accessible materials..accessible materials..

Accessibly designed Accessibly designed materials can incorporate materials can incorporate features such as audio features such as audio and visual information and visual information and include simplified and include simplified language for the learning language for the learning or cognitively disabled or cognitively disabled and verbal descriptions and verbal descriptions of visual information of visual information such as maps for the such as maps for the visually disabledvisually disabled


The presence of visual, tactical, and The presence of visual, tactical, and auditory cues in the physical auditory cues in the physical environment must augment environment must augment information contained in preparedness information contained in preparedness materials. materials.


ExamplesExamples

Reduced complexity for user interactionReduced complexity for user interactionUtilize familiar Images (other cues?)Utilize familiar Images (other cues?)Not all tasks lend themselves to this Not all tasks lend themselves to this simplification so a need to bridge complex tasks simplification so a need to bridge complex tasks into simple units.into simple units.


FireflyMobile.comFireflyMobile.com

Verizon.comVerizon.com


Recognition facilitates recallRecognition facilitates recall

A new device for cell phone userswhile driving shows an image of thePerson calling and allows for easy Answering of desired calls.

Why?

Hands busy-eyes busy. Diminished cognitiveCapacity due to workload of driving.

Parrot.bizParrot.biz


Similar ApplicationSimilar Application

Gregg Gregg VanderheidenVanderheiden at at the Trace Center (U. the Trace Center (U. Wisconsin) is Wisconsin) is conducting research on conducting research on cell phone interfaces for cell phone interfaces for people with cognitive people with cognitive disabilities. disabilities.

Vanderheiden, et al, Human Factors & Ergonomics Society Conf 2004


My phone with ImageMy phone with Image


The Sony PSP (play stations The Sony PSP (play stations portable) typifies a new class portable) typifies a new class of of ““applianceappliance”” that allows that allows multimedia information, multimedia information, whether delivered with whether delivered with wireless or on memory cards, wireless or on memory cards, to be used anywhere. In this to be used anywhere. In this case, the information case, the information displayed is coming from the displayed is coming from the American Red Cross web American Red Cross web site. site.


Goal is to make information Goal is to make information accessibleaccessible

A Nokia 6600 mobile A Nokia 6600 mobile phone (which is phone (which is displaying the US displaying the US National Weather Service National Weather Service Alaska and West Coast Alaska and West Coast Tsunami warning Tsunami warning information), attached to information), attached to a wireless keyboard. This a wireless keyboard. This kind of keyboard is kind of keyboard is usable and useful for the usable and useful for the Deaf in order to carry out Deaf in order to carry out text messaging.text messaging.


More Research NeededMore Research Needed

Specialized interfaces for cueing and assistance, including visual and auditory signals

Include symbols and simplified language

Meeting the challenges faced by the Cognitively impaired and other groups.Cultural differences in perception needs to be incorporated into this research


Thank YouThank You

Helen T. Sullivan, Ph.D.Helen T. Sullivan, Ph.D.

Markku T. HMarkku T. Hääkkinenkkinen

Contact: Contact: [email protected]@gmail.com

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