Nobody Left Behind: Report on Exemplary and Best Practices in Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Response for People with Disabilities

Research and Training Center on Independent Living, University of Kansas

March 15, 2007

The Nobody Left Behind (NLB): Disaster Preparedness for Persons with Mobility Impairments research study determined the readiness of emergency management sites across the United States to assist persons with mobility impairments during disasters. This research was under the direction of Glen W. White, Principle Investigator, and Michael H. Fox, Co-Investigator, at the University of Kansas, Research and Training Center on Independent Living (RTC/IL). Thirty randomly selected sites that had experienced a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) declared disaster during 1998-2003 were the focus of the research. Emergency managers at each site were surveyed by telephone and their local emergency plans were reviewed. Experts in disaster preparedness and response and/or people with disabilities assisted in the project as advisors. One component of the NLB project was to identify exemplary polices, practices, and programs in emergency management designed to assist persons with mobility limitations. The identified exemplary situations are the basis of this white paper. With the support of policy makers in emergency management and disabilities, these
practices can serve as catalysts for change, which may be emulated by other counties, cities, parishes, or boroughs.

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