Science / Medicine : Disabled Overlooked in Quake Planning, Study Finds : Preparedness: Research on 1989 Loma Prieta disaster says drills often fail to take their needs into account. Instructional material for handicapped or frail people is called inadequate.
Earthquake preparedness drills have become routine in hospitals, schools, businesses and among emergency service agencies; proof that the threat of the Big One is never far from the minds of Californians.
But according to new research at USC, a sizable segment of the population may be overlooked in the planning process.
Thousands of disabled people, including the frail elderly, will be at great risk in the event of a catastrophic earthquake because planning drills often fail to take their needs into account, said USC professor Mansour Rahimi.
In one of the first efforts of its kind, Rahimi has studied the response of disabled people during a major earthquake--the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake near San Francisco--and has found that disabled people face unique problems that should be considered during public preparedness drills.
Among Rahimi’s major findings:
* Disabled people may not be exposed to as much earthquake preparedness material as are able-bodied people.
* They are more likely to be housed in low-income buildings made of unreinforced masonry that are very hazardous during earthquakes.
* They exhibit some good instincts during earthquakes: That is, very few let themselves become separated from walking, vision or hearing aids that are crucial to their well-being after the quake.
* They are overly confident that people will be able to get to them quickly and help them after a catastrophic earthquake.
Rahimi said he hopes the findings of his ongoing studies, which are funded by a two-year grant from the National Science Foundation, will be incorporated by earthquake preparedness agencies.
“In general, the perception is that the disabled are somewhat more vulnerable to the effects of disasters, particularly earthquakes,” said Peggy Brutsche of the Northern California Earthquake Relief and Preparedness Project. “But we only have information on the disabled in general terms. We do consider them a population with special needs that we need to learn more about.”
While the Red Cross offers some tips for the disabled during earthquakes, none of the recommendations are based on scientific study, Rahimi said.
The disabled population is not only large, he added, it is integrated throughout society.
When the frail elderly are included in the broad category of “disabled,” he said, “we are talking about a significant portion of the population--close to half.”
Today, disabled individuals are found in workplaces, schools, taking public transportation and living alone. In studying the 7.1 magnitude Loma Prieta earthquake, Rahimi found that the disabled in the Bay Area were largely left out of preparedness drills and planning.
Rahimi interviewed dozens of disabled people after the Loma Prieta quake and found some of the most basic advice for able-bodied people doesn’t hold up for the disabled. For example, people are generally told to take cover under a door frame or a heavy table during a quake.
“Our study found that many of the wheelchair-bound people were not able to move at all during a quake,” he said.
Further, few could separate themselves from a wheelchair or walking aid in order to get under a table. That is not necessarily a bad thing, Rahimi said.
“We found that those who didn’t move about too much fared better. Being restricted, in a sense, was a positive thing.”
For example, the disabled are less likely to make a mistake that many able bodied people make during earthquakes: running outside, where they may be hurt by falling debris. It may not be a good idea for disabled people to move to a door frame, Rahimi said, because some might be knocked off balance from a swinging door.
Finally, it is crucial that the disabled not become separated from assistance devices, such as walking aids, eyeglasses or medical equipment. One of the most startling lessons in the Loma Prieta study was that the disabled were often left to fend for themselves long after the earthquake ended.
Some experts have suggested setting up a “buddy system” for disabled people so that someone will assist them after a quake. But Rahimi said that some studies have suggested a buddy system would not work in the event of a catastrophic quake.
In general, earthquake preparedness planners tell people to expect to take care of themselves without assistance for one to two days after a major earthquake. This wisdom might apply to the disabled living alone just as well, Rahimi said.
Because the disabled could not move about as easily during and after an earthquake, it is essential that their homes and workplaces be earthquake-proof, he said. Most injuries from earthquakes occur by falling objects in the home, such as bookshelves, lamps, pictures and dishes.
