Effective Communications for 

People with Disabilities: 

Before, During, and After 

Emergencies

National Council on Disability

May 27, 2014
National Council on Disability

1331 F Street, NW, Suite 850

Washington, DC 20004

Effective Communications for People with Disabilities: Before, During, 

and After Emergencies

This report is also available in alternative formats upon request and on the National 

Council on Disability (NCD) Web site (www.ncd.gov).

May 27, 2014

202-272-2004 Voice

202-272-2074 TTY

202-272-2022 Fax

The views contained in this report do not necessarily represent those of the 

Administration, as this and all NCD documents are not subject to the A-19 Executive 

Branch review process.
 ■ ■ 

■ ■ ■ 

1 

National Council on Disability

An independent federal agency making recommendations to the President and Congress 

to enhance the quality of life for all Americans with disabilities and their families.

1331 F Street, NW Suite 850 Washington, DC 20004

202-272-2004 Voice 202-272-2074 TTY 202-272-2022 Fax www.ncd.gov

Letter of Transmittal

May 27, 2014

President Barack Obama

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President:

The National Council on Disability (NCD) is pleased to submit the enclosed report, Effective 

Communications for People with Disabilities Before, During, and After Emergencies. Effective 

communications is critical and can save lives during emergencies. 

The need for effective communications for people with disabilities was brought home by a 

news account in the case of a survivor of Hurricane Sandy. “When police with megaphones 

rolled through Carole Lazorisak’s Oakwood Beach neighborhood in the hours before the 

hurricane thrust ashore, she did not hear their announcement about evacuation help. In the 

days after the surge ripped her Tarlton Street home off its foundation, filled it with water to a 

depth of 5 feet and tossed her shed nearly a block away, she joined the thousands of other 

dazed victims at Miller Field in New Dorp, seeking some answers and a measure of comfort.

But for Ms. Lazorisak, who has been deaf since birth, walking through the bustling relief 

center was like being in a movie on silent. There were no signs providing information for the 

deaf or directing people to translation services. She left feeling more isolated than ever.”*

Unfortunately, history has repeatedly shown that the concerns of people with disabilities and 

others with access and functional needs in emergency situations are frequently overlooked or 

minimized, notwithstanding the great urgency that surrounds the need to respond to the 

disability community’s concerns in all phases of emergency management, including mitigation, 

preparedness, response, and recovery. Effective communications must be provided to all people 

with disabilities and others with access and functional needs.

During the writing of this report, the United States experienced several major disasters, both 

natural and manmade, including Hurricane Sandy and the Boston Marathon bombings.

Stories of inadequate or unavailable communications for people with disabilities, such as Ms. 

Lazorisak, were common. These recent experiences reinforce the need to focus attention on 

accessible emergency communications at the local, state, tribal, and federal levels.

This report identifies barriers, facilitators, and successful practices to providing effective 

emergency-related communications. The report examines the current state of affairs 

concerning the accessibility of emergency-related communications; reviews the enforcement 
2

of disability laws and regulations as they pertain to effective communications before, during, 

and after emergencies. Information on the experiences and perceptions of people with 

disabilities as they relate to emergency-related communications is also provided. Based on the 

findings of the report, NCD recommends that:

• Emergency managers ensure that the communications needs of people with 

disabilities and others with access and functional needs are integrated into all parts of 

emergency planning at the local, state, tribal, and federal levels.

• Emergency managers increase outreach efforts to the disability community. 

• DOJ, in collaboration with other agencies as appropriate, increases monitoring and 

enforcement of federal laws, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and 

the Rehabilitation Act, which require that emergency communications be fully 

accessible to people with disabilities, and funding should be appropriated accordingly. 

• The FCC increases its monitoring and enforcement of federal laws and regulations 

that require that emergency communications be fully accessible to people with 

disabilities, and funding should be appropriated accordingly.

• The FCC and FEMA continue to work toward ensuring that alerts and warnings are 

fully accessible to people with disabilities.

NCD is committed to helping ensure complete communication access for all people with 

disabilities before, during, and after emergencies, and promoting inclusive emergency 

management practices on the local, state, tribal, and federal levels. To that end, it is NCD’s 

expectation that the experiences of people with disabilities, proven strategies, and 

recommended practices detailed in this report will help guide stakeholders as they work 

together to ensure inclusive emergency management practices, including full communication 

access for all people with disabilities before, during, and after emergencies.

NCD looks forward to working with the Administration, Congress, and the emergency 

management community in continuing to ensure that all people with disabilities are provided 

effective communications before, during, and after emergencies.

Respectfully,

/s/

Jeff Rosen

Chairperson

* Young, D. 2012 (Dec. 8). “Deaf Staten Island victim of Hurricane Sandy says pleas go 

unheeded.” Staten Island Advance. Accessed June 6, 2013.

http://www.silive.com/eastshore/index.ssf/2012/12/deaf_staten_island_victim_of_h.html

(The same letter of transmittal was sent to the President Pro Tempore of the U.S. Senate 

and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.)
3 

National Council on Disability Members and Staff

Members 

Jeff Rosen, Chairperson

Kamilah Oni Martin-Proctor, Co-Vice Chair

Lynnae Ruttledge, Co-Vice Chair

Gary Blumenthal

Chester A. Finn

Sara Gelser

Matan Aryeh Koch 

Captain Jonathan F. Kuniholm, USMC (Retired)

Stephanie Orlando

Ari Ne’eman

Janice Lehrer-Stein 

Clyde E. Terry

Fernando M. Torres-Gil, Ph.D.

Alice Wong

Pamela Young-Holmes 

Staff 

Rebecca Cokley, Executive Director 

Stacey S. Brown, Staff Assistant

Julie Carroll, Senior Attorney Advisor

Lawrence Carter-Long, Public Affairs Specialist

Joan M. Durocher, General Counsel & Director of Policy

Geraldine-Drake Hawkins, Ph.D., Senior Policy Analyst

Sylvia Jones, Director of Administration

Robyn Powell, Attorney Advisor

Anne Sommers, Director of Legislative Affairs & Outreach
4

Acknowledgments

This report has been prepared under the direction of the National Council on Disability 

(NCD) by the Center for Advanced Communications Policy (CACP) at the Georgia 

Institute of Technology. NCD expresses its appreciation to James D. White, director of 

communications studies at the CACP, who was the principal investigator and director of 

research for this project. NCD acknowledges the contributions to different sections of the 

report by June Kailes, Braeden Benson, Hillary Alberta, and Shui Yu; and by Dana Jones 

and Kathryn Jones. John Morris provided input and support from Wireless Rehabilitation 

Emergency Research Center (Wireless RERC) survey research. 

NCD also acknowledges the participation of the emergency management professionals 

and other experts who agreed to be interviewed for this report; Helena Mitchell for her 

expert advice; and the members of an ad hoc advisory panel, who offered valuable input 

as the report was being developed: Nancy Duncan, executive director, Disability 

Resource Group; Richard Devylder, former senior advisor for accessible transportation, 

Department of Transportation; Tom Ditt, emergency preparedness coordinator, state of 

North Carolina; Tim Fike, fire chief, Nevada County (CA) Consolidated Fire District; Joy 

Kniskern, Georgia Tech, Alternative Media Access Center (AMAC); Lee Mabie, director 

of emerging consumer markets, AT&T Mobility; and Jim Tobias, Inclusive Technologies.
5

Contents

Letter of Transmittal...................................................................................................... 1

National Council on Disability Members and Staff..................................................... 3

Acknowledgments......................................................................................................... 4

Executive Summary ...................................................................................................... 9

Introduction: Origins of the Research and Description of the Problem................. 13

Section 1. Providing Effective Emergency-related Communications: 

Facilitators and Barriers..................................................................... 17

1.1. Introduction: People with Disabilities and Emergency 

Communications ....................................................................... 17

1.1.1. Expanding the Definition of Disability................................. 17

1.1.2. The Importance of Emergency Communications.............. 19

1.1.3. Defining Communications .................................................. 20

1.1.4. Characteristics of Effective Emergency 

Communications................................................................. 22

1.2. The Structure of Emergency Communications.......................... 24

1.2.1. Emergencies Are Local ...................................................... 25

1.2.2. Coordination Is Key ............................................................ 26

1.3. Communications Approaches: Focus on the Individual and 

the Local Level.......................................................................... 29

1.3.1. Types of Emergency Communication at the Local Level.. 29

1.4. Emergency Communications and Behavioral Response .......... 37

1.4.1. What Is a “Typical” Behavioral Response? ....................... 37

1.4.2. Social Capital and Trust ..................................................... 38

1.4.3. “Hearing” the Warning ........................................................ 40

1.4.4. Understanding What the Warning Means and Acting 

On It..................................................................................... 48

1.5. Conclusion ................................................................................ 52

Section 2. The Emergency Management Landscape......................................... 55

2.1. Key Stakeholders...................................................................... 55

2.1.1. Government........................................................................ 55

2.1.2. NGOs .................................................................................. 63

2.1.3. Private Sector ..................................................................... 68

2.2. The Current Legal Landscape................................................... 70

2.2.1. Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. § 701 et seq........... 70

2.3. Relevant Lawsuits..................................................................... 83

2.3.1. Brooklyn Ctr. for Independence of the Disabled v. 

Bloomberg, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 159532 (S.D.N.Y. 

Nov. 7, 2013)....................................................................... 83
6 

2.3.2. Giacopini v. City of Richmond ............................................ 83

2.3.3. Communities Actively Living Independent & Free v. 

City of Los Angeles, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 118364 

(C.D. Cal. Feb. 10, 2011) ................................................... 84

2.3.4. California Foundation for Independent Living Centers 

v. City of Oakland, C07-04608 EDL................................... 84

2.3.5. Disability Policy Consortium v. Commonwealth of 

Massachusetts.................................................................... 85

2.4. Conclusion ................................................................................ 85

Section 3. Emergency-related Communications: The Individual 

Perspective.......................................................................................... 87

3.1. Planning Is Key ......................................................................... 87

3.1.1. Disaster Planning ............................................................... 88

3.2. Federal, State, and Local Emergency Communications ........... 92

3.2.1. How the System Works...................................................... 92

3.3. How Individuals Handle Alerts ................................................ 100

3.3.1. Methodology ..................................................................... 100

3.4. Conclusion .............................................................................. 109

Section 4. Emergency-related Communications: The Local Emergency 

Management Perspective ................................................................. 111

4.1. Planning Is Key: Interviews with County-level Emergency 

Management ........................................................................... 111

4.1.1. Results of Analysis and Findings by Research 

Question.............................................................................113

4.1.2. Result of Analysis and Findings by Research Theme......118

4.2. Promising Practices ................................................................ 125

4.2.1. Emergency Planning at the Agency Level....................... 126

4.2.2. Emergency Planning at the Individual Level ................... 134

4.3. Technology and Social Media ................................................. 138

4.3.1. Smart911 and SmartPrepare ........................................... 138

4.3.2. Next Generation 911......................................................... 141

4.3.3. Video Remote Interpreting and Video Relay Services.... 142

4.3.4. Apps.................................................................................. 143

4.3.5. Social Media ..................................................................... 144

4.3.6. Digitization of Medical Records........................................ 145

4.3.7. Replacing Durable Medical Equipment and Assistive 

Technology........................................................................ 146

4.3.8. Multimodal Alerts and Warnings....................................... 147

4.4. Training and Guides................................................................ 148

4.4.1. Guidebooks....................................................................... 148

4.4.2. Classes ............................................................................. 149
7

4.5. Sustainability........................................................................... 150

4.5.1. Making Accessibility a Priority .......................................... 150

Section 5. Findings and Recommendations..................................................... 153

References................................................................................................................. 167

Appendix A. Partial List of NGOs and Disability-specific Organizations 

Interested in the Social Inclusion of People with Disabilities 

and Others with Access and Functional Needs ............................. 183

Appendix B. Communication Among Emergency Management and First 

Responders ....................................................................................... 187

Appendix C. Some Useful Links for Section 4.2: Promising Practices.............. 191

Endnotes.................................................................................................................... 195
8

List of Tables

Table 1. Some Solutions to Accessible Communication Needs.......................... 20

Table 2. Emergency Communications Among Stakeholders .............................. 27

Table 3. Factors Influencing Public Response.................................................... 39

Table 4. Relevant Laws That Address Rights and Accessibility of People with 

Disabilities and Others with Access and Functional Needs................... 80

Table 5. Have you ever received, verified, and/or passed on emergency alert 

information? ........................................................................................ 101

Table 6. How were you alerted, and how did you verify the emergency 

information? ........................................................................................ 102

Table 7. Have you ever received, verified, and/or passed on emergency alert 

information via social media?.............................................................. 103

Table 8. How did you pass on or forward the emergency alert information?..... 103

Table 9. Methods of Receiving and Verifying Alerts.......................................... 104

Table 10. For the most recent instance when you received a public emergency 

alert, how were you alerted?............................................................... 106

Table 11. If you shared the alert information for the most recent public alert you 

received, how did you share it?........................................................... 108

Table 12. Counties by Characterization and Region........................................... 112

List of Figures

Figure 1. Two Models of Communication............................................................. 21

Figure 2. Stakeholders in Emergency Communications....................................... 28

Figure 3. How People Behave in Responding to Emergency Communications ... 41

Figure 4. Dissemination of Information through the Incident Command System.. 93

Figure 5. Map of Counties Interviewed............................................................... 113

Figure 6. Five Themes for Promising Practices.................................................. 126

Figure B-1. Incident Command Structure............................................................... 188

Figure B-2. A Hybrid ICS/ESF Structure................................................................ 189
9 

Executive Summary

The National Council on Disability (NCD) plays a critical role in promoting successful 

disability policies regarding emergency management through the publication of 

information and policy recommendations. Through its emergency management work, 

NCD has identified numerous instances of inaccessible communication before, during, 

and after emergencies. Examples of barriers to effective communication include the 

following: 

● Televised emergency announcements by officials that do not include American 

Sign Language (ASL) interpreters

● Inaccessible emergency notification systems

● Inaccessible evacuation maps

● Web sites with emergency information that is not accessible to screen readers 

used by people who are blind or who have low vision

● Shelters at which no one is able to communicate with people who are deaf or hard 

of hearing

● Emergency communication in language that is inaccessible to people with 

intellectual or developmental disabilities and people with limited English proficiency

● 911 systems that do not allow people with disabilities to contact them via textbased communication

The legitimate concerns of people with disabilities and others with access and functional 

needs in emergency situations are frequently overlooked or minimized, notwithstanding 

the great urgency that surrounds the need to respond to the disability community’s 

concerns in all phases of emergency management, including mitigation, preparedness, 
10

response, and recovery. Effective communication must be provided to all people with 

disabilities. This research examines communication before, during, and after 

emergencies for people with sensory disabilities (deaf, hard of hearing, blind, low vision, 

deaf-blind, and speech disabilities) as well as people with mobility, intellectual, 

developmental, and psychiatric disabilities. The study documents successful practices 

and identifies facilitators and barriers to providing effective emergency-related 

communication; reviews the enforcement of current disability laws and regulations as 

they pertain to effective communication before, during, and after emergencies; and 

surveys the emergency management community to identify challenges and best 

practices for effective communications for people with disabilities. 

The research and anecdotal evidence for this report unequivocally demonstrate that 

people with disabilities must be an integral part of emergency communication activities 

before, during, and after an emergency or disaster, small or large, natural or manmade. 

This report and its recommendations focus on how to help make that integration happen, 

in particular through planning activities at the local level. 

Summary of Key Findings and Recommendations

Key Findings

● The communication needs of people with disabilities are not being fully integrated 

by emergency managers in planning efforts.

● There is a lack of consolidated, consistent, and coordinated guidance available to 

emergency managers on the communication needs of people with disabilities.

● There is an ongoing need for increased outreach to the disability community by 

emergency managers.

● Technology plays an increasingly vital role in emergency communications yet 

remains largely inaccessible for many people with disabilities.
11

● Despite legal mandates to provide effective communication to people with 

disabilities before, during, and after emergencies, emergency communications 

remain largely inaccessible.

● Alerts and warnings that are multimodal are better able to reach people with 

disabilities.

Key Recommendations

● Emergency managers must ensure that the communications needs of people with 

disabilities and others with access and functional needs are integrated into all 

parts of emergency planning at the local, state, tribal, and federal levels. 

● The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Department of Justice 

(DOJ), and Federal Communications Commission (FCC) should collaborate to 

create specific guidance for local officials regarding effective communication 

before, during, and after emergencies. 

● Emergency managers must increase outreach efforts to the disability community. 

● States, in collaboration with FEMA as appropriate, should provide guidance and 

training to local emergency managers on effective communications for people with 

disabilities, and funding should be appropriated accordingly.

● DOJ, in collaboration with the FCC as appropriate, should closely monitor the 

inaccessibility of social media and strongly consider issuing regulations to ensure 

accessibility.

● DOJ, in collaboration with other agencies as appropriate, must increase its 

monitoring and enforcement of federal laws, such as the Americans with 

Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Rehabilitation Act, which require that emergency 

communications be fully accessible to people with disabilities, and funding should 

be appropriated accordingly. 
12

● The FCC must increase its monitoring and enforcement of federal laws and 

regulations that require that emergency communications be fully accessible to 

people with disabilities, and funding should be appropriated accordingly.

● DOJ, in collaboration with the FCC, must address Web site accessibility, 

particularly Section 508 compliance.

● The FCC and FEMA must continue to work toward ensuring that alerts and 

warnings are fully accessible to people with disabilities.

Conclusion

Effective communication is critical and can save lives during times of emergency. 

Emergency managers must address the needs of the whole community, including people 

with sensory disabilities (deaf, hard of hearing, blind, low vision, deaf-blind, and speech 

disabilities) as well as people with intellectual or developmental disabilities and people 

with psychiatric disabilities. Planners must communicate with everyone in ways that are 

easy to access and understand. Planners must also use communication methods that 

reach everyone in the community.

NCD is committed to ensuring complete communication access for all people with 

disabilities before, during, and after emergencies, and promoting inclusive emergency 

management practices on the local, state, tribal, and federal levels. To that end, it is 

NCD’s hope that the experiences of people with disabilities, proven strategies, and 

recommended practices detailed in this report will guide stakeholders as they work 

together to ensure inclusive emergency management practices, including full 

communication access for all people with disabilities before, during, and after 

emergencies. 
13

Introduction: Origins of the Research and Description 

of the Problem

The National Council on Disability (NCD) plays a critical role in promoting successful 

disability policies regarding emergency management through the publication of 

information and policy recommendations. For example, following Hurricanes Katrina and 

Rita, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) implemented changes to the 

emergency alert requirements that paralleled NCD’s recommendations in the 2005 report 

Saving Lives: Including People with Disabilities in Emergency Planning. 

NCD publications that address emergency management and effective communications

include the following: 

● National Disability Policy: A Progress Report (issued annually)

● Effective Emergency Management: Making Improvements for Communities and 

People with Disabilities (2009)

● Homeland Security, Emergency Preparedness, Disaster Relief and Recovery 

Public Consultation (2007)

● The Need for Federal Legislation and Regulation Prohibiting Telecommunications 

and Information Services Discrimination (2006)

● The Impact of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita on People with Disabilities: A Look 

Back and Remaining Challenges (2006)

● The Needs of People with Disabilities with Psychiatric Disabilities During and After 

Hurricanes Katrina and Rita: Position Paper and Recommendations (2006)
14

● Emergency Management and People with Disabilities: Before, During, and After 

Congressional Briefing (2005)

● National Council on Disability on Hurricane Katrina Affected Areas (2005)

● Saving Lives: Including People with Disabilities in Emergency Planning, News 

Conference Transcript (2005)

As a result of this work, NCD was given responsibilities in the 2006 Post-Katrina 

Emergency Reform Act. As part of these responsibilities, NCD participated in two events 

that illustrated the need to place additional emphasis on effective communication. In 

September 2011, NCD held an all-day meeting with the Federal Emergency 

Management Agency’s (FEMA’s) regional disability integration specialists, at which they 

discussed the current state of emergency management as well as barriers and 

facilitators to the inclusion of people with disabilities. Also in September 2011, NCD 

cosponsored FEMA’s Getting Real II conference, which highlighted promising practices 

in inclusive emergency management. During both meetings, critical issues related to 

effective communication were raised.

Through its emergency management work, NCD has identified numerous instances of 

inaccessible communication before, during, and after emergencies. Examples of barriers 

to effective communication include these:

● Televised emergency announcements by officials that do not include American 

Sign Language interpreters

● Inaccessible emergency notification systems

● Inaccessible evacuation maps

● Web sites with emergency information that is not accessible to screen readers 

used by people who are blind or have low vision
15

● Shelters at which no one is able to communicate with people who are deaf or hard 

of hearing

● Emergency communication in language that is inaccessible to people with 

intellectual or developmental disabilities and people with limited English 

proficiency

● 911 systems that do not allow people with disabilities to contact them via textbased communication

During the writing of this report, the United States experienced several major disasters, 

both natural and manmade, including Hurricane Sandy and the Boston Marathon 

bombings. Unfortunately, stories of inadequate or unavailable communications for 

people with disabilities were common.1 These recent experiences reinforce the need to 

focus attention on accessible emergency communication at the local, state, tribal, and 

federal levels.

Effective communication is critical and can save lives during emergencies. Emergency 

managers must address the needs of the whole community, including people with 

sensory disabilities (deaf, hard of hearing, blind, low vision, deaf-blind, and speech 

disabilities) as well as people with intellectual or developmental disabilities and people 

with psychiatric disabilities. Planners must communicate with everyone in ways that are 

easy to access and understand. Planners must also use communication methods that 

reach everyone in the community.

The legitimate concerns of people with disabilities and others with access and functional 

needs in emergency situations are frequently overlooked or minimized, notwithstanding 

the great urgency that surrounds the need to respond to the disability community’s 

concerns in all phases of emergency management, including mitigation, preparedness, 

response, and recovery. Effective communication must be provided to all people with 

disabilities and others with access and functional needs. This report examines 

communication before, during, and after emergencies for people with sensory disabilities 
16

(deaf, hard of hearing, blind, low vision, deaf-blind, and speech disabilities) as well as 

people with mobility, intellectual, developmental, and psychiatric disabilities. 

The report documents successful practices and identifies facilitators and barriers to 

providing effective emergency-related communication; it examines the current state of 

affairs concerning the accessibility of emergency-related communication; reviews the 

enforcement of disability laws and regulations as they pertain to effective communication 

before, during, and after emergencies; and collects information on the experiences and 

perceptions of people with disabilities as they relate to emergency-related 

communication. 
17

SECTION 1. Providing Effective Emergency-related 

Communications: Facilitators and Barriers

1.1. Introduction: People with Disabilities and Emergency

Communications

1.1.1. Expanding the Definition of Disability

According to the United States Census Bureau, in 2010, an estimated 56.7 million 

people (18.7% of the civilian noninstitutionalized population) had a disability (Brault, 

2012). The Census Bureau breaks down the term “disability” among people ages 15 and 

older as follows:

● Difficulty seeing: 8.1 million (3.3%)

● Difficulty hearing: 7.6 million (3.1%)

● Difficulty speaking: 2.8 million (1.2%)

● Upper and lower body limitations: 30.6 million (12.6%)

● Difficulty with at least one activity of daily living: 9.4 million (3.9%)

● Limited mental or cognitive function: 10.6 million (4.4%)

o Intellectual disability: 1.2 million (0.5%)

o Developmental disability: 944,000 (0.4%)

o Learning disability: 3.9 million (1.6%)
18

This report will broaden the Census description of disability because, as stated in the 

NCD report Saving Lives, “In disaster management activities, it is important to think 

about disability broadly” (NCD, 2005, p. 11). This broad approach is reflected in the 

language used by FEMA and others in the emergency management community: “People 

with disabilities and others with access and functional needs” is intended to include 

broad and diverse groups of people who benefit from physical, communication, and 

program access. We have chosen to use this expanded definition of disability in this 

report for the following reasons.

The term includes people who may or may not meet the definitions of civil rights laws or 

some of the other 60-plus diverse and sometimes conflicting definitions of disability 

(Kailes & Enders, 2007). The first National Response Framework specified that people 

with disabilities and others with access and functional needs includes “populations 

whose members may have additional needs before, during, and after an incident in 

functional areas, including but not limited to maintaining independence, communication, 

transportation, supervision, and medical care” (DHS, 2008c, p. 17). Those functional 

areas may have different imperatives; for example, communications before an 

emergency (receiving warning information) will likely differ from communications during 

the emergency. 

The term also encompasses some of the cross-disability and cross-cultural issues 

regarding emergency communications, including individuals with more than one disability 

or with limited English proficiency. FEMA says, “When communities integrate the access 

and functional needs of children and adults with and without disabilities in all phases of 

community-wide emergency management, they strengthen their ability to prepare for, 

protect against, respond to, recover from and mitigate all hazards” (FEMA, 2011b, p. 40).

Finally, when the needs of people with disabilities and others with access and functional 

needs are included and accommodated in planning and services, many more people will 

benefit from accessible communications—an estimated 50 percent of the population 

(Kailes, 2007, p. 236). 
19

1.1.2. The Importance of Emergency Communications

Emergency communications are critical in emergency management; they make the 

difference between life and death on some occasions. When alerts and warnings are timely 

and accurate, and the proper preparedness information is provided, the first steps in 

managing the emergency effectively and mitigating the effects of a disaster have been taken. 

At the same time, such communications are a process. The individual’s response to 

emergency communications can be affected by factors external to the emergency 

communication: by the disseminator and the individual’s trust in the disseminator; by the 

way the communication is issued; by the individual’s ability to understand the 

communication; and much more. For people with disabilities and others with access and 

functional needs, the list of such factors grows exponentially. In the words of Marcie 

Roth, director of the Office of Disability Integration and Coordination at FEMA, 

“Information has to be accessible to be actionable” (Roth, 2013). 

The literature abounds with studies and anecdotes concerning emergency 

communications for people with access and functional needs, especially questions of 

accessibility. NCD’s Saving Lives report found that people with disabilities and others 

with access and functional needs are often left out of emergency planning, meaning that 

their needs might not be met when the plan is implemented (NCD, 2005). A recent study 

by the Wireless Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center (Wireless RERC) found that 

the first nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System, in November 2011, was often 

inaccessible due to the lack of captioning and inadequate verbal communications 

(Wireless RERC, 2012b).

Inaccessibility of emergency communications diminishes the effectiveness of these

communications, and emergency managers at the local, state, tribal, and federal levels 

must remember that people with access and functional needs comprise over half the 

population, meaning that accessible emergency communication goes far beyond 

reaching a small proportion of the public. Simple, easy-to-understand instructions in 
20

clear, large print and audible form should be the communication norm, not the exception 

and not just when providing emergency information for people with vision disabilities. 

Such mandates for the accessibility of information benefit everyone. For example, people 

who are in a different room at the time of an emergency broadcast will be able to hear 

alerts and warnings if they are spoken, while people who have lowered the volume on 

their televisions will benefit from large captions illuminating the details of the emergency 

message. In short, the solutions to accessibility needs are of potential benefit to the great 

majority. 

Table 1. Some Solutions to Accessible Communication Needs

Need Type Solution

Technical

• Amplified telephones

• ASL (American Sign Language)

• Assistive listening devices

• Audio warnings

• Braille

• Computer-assisted real-time transcription (CART)

• Captions (display of text on screen, usually a transcription of 

audio)

• Large print

• Magnifiers

• Multimedia

• Raised print signs

• Text-to-speech 

• Video description

Physical/Content

• Interpreters

• Plain language/instructions

• No jargon, acronyms, truncated, or abbreviated text

1.1.3. Defining Communications

While communication can be defined as “to make common to many,” it can denote two 

different processes: (1) the transmission of information (a one-way process), and 
21

(2) sharing information (a common or mutual process) (Williams, 1985). Both are 

included in current emergency communication strategies (see Figure 1). 

In the transmission of information, communication more closely follows the Shannon and 

Weaver model, which implies that communication is a linear and essentially one-way 

process from sender to receiver (Leaf, 2005; Shannon & Weaver, 1963; Targowski & 

Bowman, 1988). Targowski and Bowman note that although the transmission model of 

communication does allow for feedback, this model is essentially “static”: The goal of the 

transmission model is to get the message across to the receiver (p. 15). This process is

in line with current government communications, in which local, state, tribal, or federal 

organizations act as gatekeepers and determine the content, timing, and method of 

dissemination of the emergency message. Typically, this model is less about 

communication and more about the dissemination of information, as in alerts and 

warnings (De Marchi, 1993).

Figure 1. Two Models of Communication

In contrast, the idea of sharing information implies a common or mutual process. As 

described in the interactional or transactional model of communication, the sender and 

receiver exchange messages. The National Research Council (NRC) notes this 

dichotomy, seeing typical risk communication as a transmission or one-way process 

“from experts to non-experts” but describing this view as “too limiting” and arguing for a 

“distinction between risk messages and the risk communication process” (NRC, 1989, 

p. 2). The NRC says that risk communication (e.g., emergency communication) “[is] an 
22

interactive process of exchange of information and opinion among individuals, groups 

and institutions” (p. 21). For Mileti, an individual’s response to a public warning is a social 

process (Mileti, 1995; Mileti and Sutton, 2009). 

1.1.4. Characteristics of Effective Emergency Communications

In a report on public alerts and warnings, the Partnership for Public Warning2 provided a 

comprehensive overview of the various promising practices of public warning systems, 

emphasizing warning systems that provide “the ability for government authorities to 

communicate with individuals prior to, through and after the emergency event. In addition 

to alerting individuals, an effective public warning system provides information on how to 

prevent and protect against disasters, and information to assist in recovery efforts” (2004, 

p. 3). The report calls for public warning systems that disclose as much information to the 

public as possible during all phases of an emergency, including specifics about the nature 

of the threat, who may or may not be at risk, and potential protective actions. The system 

should have the capability to continually repeat and update all warnings to ensure that as 

many people as possible are exposed to them and that the warnings are “disseminated via 

as many channels as possible” (p. 18). In addition, the report advises that those issuing 

warnings “recognize that ‘the public’ is not a homogenous entity” (p. 9). Therefore, multiple 

warning systems may be needed to properly disseminate comprehensive warnings to the 

various entities that make up the public, including people with disabilities and others with 

access and functional needs. For this reason and to capture the notion of sharing 

information, this report refers to “communications” throughout. 

Emergency communications relating to preparedness, response, or recovery efforts can 

occur in a variety of ways. Official sources issue television, radio, or print alerts and 

warnings, or outgoing notification systems, also known as Reverse 911; individuals call 

911 to report an emergency; officials and individuals may have face-to-face 

conversations; or individuals may use social media to let others know they are safe. 

Typically, emergency communications are transmitted with more urgency and 
23

importance than day-to-day communications. Emergency communications are effective 

when they are timely, accurate, and clear (FEMA, 2010b). 

During an emergency, the goal of effective communication is to elicit a response that will 

minimize a person’s vulnerability or risk; for example, people may need to evacuate, take 

shelter, or gather supplies before a storm (Aguirre, 2004). De Marchi (1993) notes that 

desired behavioral response during an emergency is not attained by simply issuing 

instructions via what Mileti (1995) calls a stimulus-response model. Instead, many 

personal and external factors will affect an individual’s response during an emergency. If 

people experience emergencies as part of a group (either permanent or temporary), they 

watch what others do, work together, experience panic, and so on. Where are people 

with disabilities in such a situation? How are they perceived by others in the group? Are 

they part of the emergency response social process or outside of it? 

According to De Marchi (1993), because behavioral response depends on many social 

and psychological factors, official emergency communications “must be based on a longterm strategy where a stable communicative relationship is established between the 

public and those in charge of managing the hazard and the aftermath of a disaster” (p.

185). Continual communication or the sharing of information between officials and 

individuals before, during, and after an emergency will enhance the effectiveness of 

communication, especially during the emergency. 

Effective emergency communications are essential for all individuals, but communication 

requirements for people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs are 

often unmet. Kailes (2008) says, “The challenge is that most disaster response systems 

are designed for people who can walk, run, see, drive, read, hear, speak and quickly 

understand and respond to instructions and alerts” (p. 10). As the Department of Justice 

(DOJ) stated regarding the Americans with Disabilities Act, effective communication for 

people with disabilities means that “whatever is written or spoken must be as clear and 

understandable to people with disabilities as it is for people who do not have disabilities. 

This is important because some people have disabilities that affect how they 

communicate” (DOJ, 2007a, p. 1). Therefore, in order for emergency communications to 
24

be effective for all individuals, they must be accessible. Public entities, including state 

and local governments, have to ensure that communications with applicants, 

participants, members of the public, and companions with disabilities are as effective as 

communications with others (28 C.F.R. § 35.160(a)(1)). Among other things, public 

entities are required to “furnish appropriate auxiliary aids and services where necessary 

to afford qualified individuals with disabilities . . . an equal opportunity to participate in, 

and enjoy the benefits of, a service, program, or activity of a public entity,” including 

emergency management (28 C.F.R. § 35.160(b)(1)). Examples include captioning or use 

of American Sign Language interpreters for people who are deaf or hard of hearing; 

verbal communication, large print, or braille for people who are blind or have low vision; 

and accessible Web sites and multimedia. Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 

culturally competent translations for people with limited English proficiency are also 

required (this means that translations must actually make sense in the target language). 

It should be emphasized here that accessibility is not a suggestion, but a requirement. 

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), as amended; the 21st Century 

Communications and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA); the Post-Katrina Emergency 

Management Reform Act (PKEMRA); the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 

Emergency Assistance Act (Stafford Act), as amended; the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as 

amended; the Communications Act of 1973, as amended; Executive Orders #13407 and 

#13347; and regulations from DOJ and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) 

all require accessible communications for people with disabilities before, during, and 

after an emergency or disaster (see Section 2).

1.2. The Structure of Emergency Communications

The needs of emergency communications differ depending on whether communication 

occurs at the local, state, tribal, or federal level. For the most part, this report will focus 

on a communication approach that separately considers effective emergency 

communications to, from, and among individuals at the local level, as explained below. 

This includes government-initiated emergency alerts, recovery information, and other 
25

urgent communications and one-way information from official sources, as well as

emergency plans and evacuation routes from businesses or places of interest.

1.2.1. Emergencies Are Local

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) says that effective emergency response 

“depends on integration of the whole community and all partners executing their roles and 

responsibilities,” especially through a unified response (DHS, 2013b, p. 7). Although 

emergencies can require cooperative response efforts (local, state, tribal, and federal 

emergency management, as well as nongovernment organizations (NGOs) and the 

private sector), the National Response Framework (NRF) emphasizes that organizational 

preparation for, response to, and recovery from a disaster are to follow a tiered response, 

in which emergency management begins at the local level and moves upward to the state 

and federal levels if “additional resources or capabilities are needed” (DHS, 2013b, p. 6). 

An old adage states that “all emergencies are local” (Col, 2007; DHS, 2008b; DHS, 2013b;

Matherly and Mobley, 2011; Partnership for Public Warning, 2004). The NRF is explicit: 

“The responsibility for responding to natural and manmade incidents that have 

recognizable geographic boundaries generally begins at the local level—with individuals 

and public officials in the county, parish, city or town affected by the incident” (DHS, 

2013b, p. 11). According to the Partnership for Public Warning (2004), “Local government 

has the primary responsibility to warn its citizens and to assist them in preparing, 

responding and recovering from disasters,” but it “requires the cooperation and assistance 

of State governments, the Federal government and the private sector” (pp. 2,4). 

The DHS’s National Mitigation Framework (NMF) (2013a) and NRF (2013b) emphasize 

that, in addition to local, state, and federal government, NGOs, private sector entities, 

communities, and individuals are important stakeholders in emergency preparedness 

and response. As stated in the NMF, “Those who play a role in mitigation range from an 

individual making decisions about how to manage the risks in his or her life, to local 

jurisdictions and large metropolitan regions working to manage their community 
26

members’ risks from threats and hazards, to state and Federal agencies administering 

large, multi-purpose programs” (DHS, 2013b, p. 2).

1.2.2. Coordination Is Key

At all levels, authorities have a responsibility to effectively communicate with individuals, 

providing “information on how to prevent and protect from disasters, and information to 

assist in recovery efforts” (Partnership for Public Warning, 2004, p. 3). Although the 

primary responsibility to ensure the safety of individuals begins with local authorities, for 

emergency communications, coordination is key. The NRF states:

Those who lead emergency response efforts must communicate and 

support engagement with the whole community by developing shared goals 

and aligning capabilities to reduce risk of any jurisdiction being 

overwhelmed in times of crisis. Layered, mutually supporting capabilities of 

individuals, communities, the private sector, NGOs, and governments at all 

levels allow for coordinated planning in times of calm and effective 

response in times of crisis. Engaged partnership and coalition building 

includes ongoing clear, effective, and culturally appropriate communication 

and shared situational awareness about an incident to ensure appropriate 

response (DHS, 2013b, pp. 5–6).3

Because resources are limited at the local level, communication and coordination among 

local authorities and neighboring jurisdictions, the state government, NGOs, and private 

sector organizations are critical and can help ensure that local areas have adequate 

resources. Private sector organizations may provide services such as communication 

networks, transportation, or medical care; NGOs can provide local governments with 

information regarding various populations in the community or resources to aid in disaster 

recovery. Table 2 lists emergency communications that may occur among stakeholders at 

the local level. To the extent possible, this knowledge should be harvested in advance 

through preparedness activities. Effective emergency communications begin well before 

an emergency and continue during recovery and mitigation efforts. Fluid communications 

among all stakeholders, especially before and after an emergency, will help increase the 

effectiveness of communication during response efforts.
27

Table 2. Emergency Communications Among Stakeholders

Initiator of 

Communications:

Local 

Government Individuals NGOs Private Sector

Local

Government

Branches of local 

government

must coordinate 

with each other 

during an 

emergency. 

Individuals

communicate 

with local 

governments for 

help (911) or to 

get emergencyrelated 

information. 

NGOs 

communicate 

with local 

governments to 

offer supplies, 

shelter, and 

other support for 

individuals. 

Private sector 

communicates with 

local governments 

to offer supplies 

and infrastructure 

support (water, 

power, 

communication 

networks, etc.). 

Individuals Local 

government 

distributes 

preparedness, 

response, and 

recovery 

information to 

individuals. 

Individuals 

communicate, 

coordinate 

preparedness 

efforts, warn 

others, get 

recovery 

information, 

offer help, and 

validate 

warnings.

NGOs distribute 

preparedness, 

response, and 

recovery 

information and 

supplies to 

individuals. 

Private sector

delivers

preparedness, 

response, and 

recovery 

information to 

individuals. 

Businesses plan

emergency 

response for 

employees. 

NGOs Local 

government 

distributes 

preparedness, 

response, and

recovery 

information, and 

may request 

supplies from 

NGOs. 

Individuals 

communicate 

with NGOs, 

requesting help 

or providing 

emergencyrelated 

information. 

NGOs 

communicate 

with each other 

regarding 

preparedness, 

response, and 

recovery 

information and 

supplies. 

Private sector 

communicates with 

NGOs, offering 

supplies or 

requesting 

assistance. 

Private Sector Local 

government

distributes 

preparedness, 

response, and 

recovery 

information, and 

may request 

supplies from 

private sector. 

Individuals 

communicate 

with local 

government to

request help or 

provide 

emergencyrelated 

information. 

NGOs 

communicate 

with private 

sector regarding 

preparedness, 

response, and 

recovery 

information and 

supplies. 

Private sector 

communicates with 

other private sector 

entities to offer or 

coordinate 

supplies. 
28

In order for emergency communications to be effective, it is important to consider all the 

stakeholders involved. At any time, emergency communications may occur between or 

among two or more stakeholders with varying levels of urgency and locality. Figure 2 is 

based on observations from Wardell and Su (2011) that domestic response should be 

treated as “a large-scale system—an enterprise consisting of numerous stakeholders, 

inputs, and processes that work together to save lives” (p. 1).

Figure 2. Stakeholders in Emergency Communications

Source: Adapted from Wardell & Su, 2011.

The figure illustrates that unidirectional and bidirectional emergency communications can 

occur between an individual and any of the four stakeholder groups (government, 

individual, NGO, or private sector) at the local, state, tribal, or federal (national) level. 

The NRF specifies stakeholders as local, state, and federal government; individuals, 

families, households, and communities; NGOs; and private sector entities (DHS, 2008b; 

DHS, 2013b). What is not captured by the graphic, however, is the added layer of 

communications that can occur between and among each of these groups; for example, 

between NGOs and local governments or the private sector. 
29

Although NGOs and private sector businesses are often left out of the emergency 

communications literature, they can play a major role in preparedness, response, and 

recovery from an emergency. The NRF says that “private-sector organizations and 

NGOs contribute to response efforts through partnerships with each level of government” 

(DHS, 2013b, p. 10). Private sector organizations not only need to issue emergency 

communications for employees but also play a critical role in “protecting critical 

infrastructure systems and implementing plans for the rapid restoration of normal 

commercial activities and critical infrastructure operations following a disruption” (p. 9).

NGOs can offer support services including but not limited to “identifying physically 

accessible shelter locations”; “providing search and rescue, transportation, and logistics 

services”; and “assisting, coordinating, and providing disability-related assistance and 

functional needs support” (p.11).

1.3. Communications Approaches: Focus on the Individual and the 

Local Level 

The needs of emergency communications will differ depending on whether 

communication occurs at the local, state, tribal, or federal level. This report will use a 

communication approach that separately considers effective emergency communications 

to individuals, from the individual, and among individuals at the local level. This includes 

government-initiated alerting for an emergency, recovery information, and other urgent 

communications and one-way information from official sources. It also includes 

emergency plans or evacuation routes from businesses or places of interest.

1.3.1. Types of Emergency Communication at the Local Level

Communication to the Individual

According to the National Organization on Disability (NOD), emergency communications 

to individuals are not confined to alerts and warnings about impending disasters. 

Effective emergency communications must be ongoing, providing information well before 
30

an event (typically preparedness outreach), directly preceding an event (typically alerts 

and warnings), during an event (instructions), and following an event (recovery 

information) (NOD, 2009). The Partnership for Public Warning (2004) notes that effective 

warning systems provide “the ability for government authorities to communicate with 

citizens prior to, through and after the emergency event. In addition to alerting citizens, 

an effective public warning system provides information on how to prevent and protect 

against disasters, and information to assist in recovery efforts” (p. 3). Thus, effective 

emergency communications will include preparedness, response, recovery, and 

mitigation communications. It is important to recognize the social context in which those 

communications occur. The poor have fewer resources to spend on preparation, suffer 

the greatest disaster losses, and have the most limited access to public and private 

recovery assets (Pawar, Simon, & Epstein, 2009; Scola, 2009; Tierney, 1993). 

Preparedness

Effective communications begin long before an actual emergency by preparing both 

emergency personnel and citizens for potential emergencies and aid in reducing the 

impact of an emergency. FEMA sees preparedness as a continuous cycle of “planning, 

organizing, training, equipping, exercising, evaluating, and taking corrective action” 

(FEMA, 2010a, pp. 1-4). Preparedness efforts include identifying hazards, preparing 

emergency response and emergency communication plans, disseminating information 

concerning potential hazards, testing the Emergency Alert System (EAS), testing 

emergency plans and warning systems, training first responders, informing and 

educating the public, and procuring supplies. Preparedness, like emergency response, 

begins with the individual and extends to local, state, tribal, and federal authorities. 

Community involvement for risk communications is another key strategy. Beckjord et al. 

(2008) suggest that in order to maximize an individual’s trust in emergency 

communication, each community should involve people with disabilities and others with 

access and functional needs not only as representatives in emergency planning but also 

to help develop communication strategies. This will ensure that the needs of people with 

disabilities and others with access and functional needs are properly considered and that 
31

solutions are implemented. This approach is described in NCD’s 2005 report Saving 

Lives and in the National Mitigation Framework (DHS, 2013a), and is a theme of this 

report.

In its ADA Best Practices Tool Kit for State and Local Governments, the Department of 

Justice advises that the ADA requires planning ahead for effective communication with 

people with disabilities and identifying resources for auxiliary aids and services. This 

includes planning ahead to make information available in alternative print formats such 

as large print and braille, and electronic formats such as CDs or thumb drives. It also 

includes finding qualified interpreters and training all employees to recognize the need 

for effective communication with people with disabilities (DOJ, 2007a). All public safety 

answering points (PSAPs), such as 911 and other emergency services, must be able to

directly receive TTY calls without relying on an outside relay service or a third party 

service (DOJ, 1998, p. 4). Currently, legislation is being developed for a Next Generation 

911 system. This system will implement text-to-911, allowing individuals to send text 

messages to PSAPs. This is especially beneficial for people who are deaf or hard of 

hearing and who may traditionally have relied on TTY to contact 911. 

Response 

According to Tierney (2001), “Emergency response consists of actions taken a short

period prior to, during and after disaster impact to reduce casualties, damage, and 

disruption” (p. 19). Tierney further explains that response can include “detecting threats, 

disseminating warnings, evacuating threatened populations, searching for and rescuing 

trapped disaster victims, providing emergency medical care, taking action to contain 

ongoing threats, and providing emergency food and shelter” (p. 19). The Partnership for 

Public Warning (2004) reiterates the emphasis on responsibility at the local level: “Even 

though some warnings may originate outside of the local community (e.g., hurricane 

warnings from the National Weather Service or terrorist alerts from the Federal 

government), it is primarily the responsibility of the local authorities to ensure that 

citizens are provided with the information they need to protect themselves and their 

families” (p. 4). 
32

The most common way individuals receive alerts and warnings is through television 

(Hammer & Schmidlin, 2002). However, with the upswing in the use of alternative 

technologies (such as email and text messaging) for alerting, reliance on television as 

the primary source is declining. In 2009, research on emergency alerting methods found 

that 95 percent of participants with disabilities received alerts via television (Mitchell, 

2010). Today, that percentage has dropped to 55 percent, and text messages, which 

once placed sixth, now place second at 31 percent (Morris, Mueller and LaForce, 2013).4 

For the time being, television remains the most popular reception device, but as noted by 

the Wireless RERC (2011), serious accessibility problems exist for television emergency 

communications. The nationwide EAS test revealed that alerts via television broadcasts 

were inconsistent in their use of audio and therefore not reliable or accessible to people 

who are blind or have low vision. Some people with low vision have said that the text 

crawl is too small and goes by too fast to decipher. Some people who are hard of 

hearing found the quality of the audio poor and the attention signal not in a frequency 

they could hear well, and respondents who are deaf said they would probably miss a 

televised EAS alert because it does not include a visual alert mechanism (Wireless 

RERC, 2012b). 

In an effort to implement the provisions of the CVAA, the FCC released a report and 

order (2013d) that address the accessibility of televised emergency information for 

people who are blind or have low vision. The rule requires that emergency information 

conveyed visually during non-newscast programming also be presented aurally and 

represents a positive step toward enabling people who are blind or have low vision to 

receive emergency information. However, the rule is not applicable to EAS messages (p. 

9) and does not address the accessibility barriers experienced by people who are deaf or 

hard of hearing when emergency information is televised. Furthermore, there is a twoyear compliance deadline, so the impact of the rule on industry practice will not be 

known for some time. Unfortunately, laws, rules, and regulations do not in themselves 

guarantee the removal of access barriers; enforcement is necessary. 
33

Shelters and Relief Services

Under the ADA, shelters must provide equal access, including “safety, food, services, 

comfort, information, a place to sleep until it is safe to return home, and the support and 

assistance of family, friends and neighbors” (DOJ, 2007d, p.1). In emergency situations, 

the responsibility to provide accessible services often falls on a third party (such as the 

American Red Cross), which operates the shelter for the local government agency. 

These third party agencies are required to ensure accessibility unless these actions 

“would result in a fundamental alteration in the nature of a service, program, or activity or 

that would cause undue financial and administrative burdens” (DOJ, 2007d p. 1).

The ADA Best Practices Tool Kit for State and Local Governments (DOJ, 2007d, p. 8) 

states that “from the moment people begin to arrive at a shelter, good communication 

between staff, volunteers and residents is essential Accessible communications are 

required, but the reality often differs from the requirement. Sullivan and Hakkinen (2006) 

described the lack of accessibility in shelters during Hurricane Katrina: “At the Super 

Dome, deaf individuals were confined to an area designated as ‘Deaf Area’ without 

adequate support for their information needs; their isolation was compounded by the lack 

of signing translators, and public address announcements never reached them” (p. 4). 

The National Organization on Disability (NOD, 2009) noted that, after Hurricane Katrina, 

“over 80 percent of the shelters did not have access to TTY; 60 percent of the shelters 

did not have captioning TV capabilities. Less than 30 percent had access to sign 

language interpreters” (p. 14). 

In its report The Needs of People with Disabilities with Psychiatric Disabilities During and 

After Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, NCD (2006b) was alarmed to find that “first 

responders and emergency managers such as shelter operators often violated the civil 

rights requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the 

Rehabilitation Act. . . . Some of the most common forms of discrimination included: 

People with disabilities were segregated from the general population in some shelters 

while other shelters simply refused to let them enter. People with psychiatric disabilities 

were denied access to housing and other services because of erroneous fears and 
34

stereotypes of people with psychiatric disabilities” (p. 3). Time has not improved the 

situation. The Division of Disability Services for the New Jersey Department of Human 

Service reported that in the three weeks after Hurricane Sandy, it received 647 calls from 

disabled residents looking for assistance, mostly with accessible shelter and medical 

needs (D’Amico, 2013). Alarmingly, the 2013 National Preparedness Report (DHS, 

2013c) stated that “despite FEMA’s efforts to issue communication accessibility kits and 

ensure physical accessibility, Sandy disaster recovery centers lacked the necessary 

features and equipment to serve all survivors until several weeks or months after 

opening” (p. 6).

In several of the interviews carried out for Section 4 of this report, respondents 

commented that emergency managers often set up “special medical needs” shelters at 

which people with disabilities are to be housed during an emergency. Most people with 

disabilities do not have “special medical needs” and prefer to go to a general population 

shelter so they can be with their family and peers. In addition, the ADA Best Practices 

Tool Kit (DOJ, 2007d) points out that while some communities may open shelters 

specifically for people with disabilities (e.g., a local school for the deaf opening a shelter 

for people who are deaf or hard of hearing), people with disabilities are not required to 

take shelter in such locations. In short, the ADA requires that general population shelters 

be fully accessible and ensure accessible communications. This is also a preparedness 

issue, in that the public should be aware in advance of what the options are going to be 

and should have the right to say how and where they want to shelter. 

Recovery

As noted in NCD’s 2009 report Effective Emergency Management: Making 

Improvements for Communities and People with Disabilities, “The recovery time period is 

the least well researched phase in the emergency management life cycle” (p. 137). 

Interviews with emergency management carried out for Section 3 and Section 4 of this 

report echoed the view that communities often plan for the disaster to come but not for 

the “then what?” This represents a missed opportunity: The recovery phase provides the 
35

opportunity for communities to ensure that they are complying with federal law and are 

fully accessible as they rebuild.

Anecdotal evidence from Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Sandy reflects numerous 

instances of inaccessible shelters and unmet needs (NCD, 2009; personal 

communications). The recovery process moves from short-term to long-term resolutions, 

and accessible and effective communications are needed at every step (NCD, 2009). 

Acquiring shelter and housing, whether temporary or permanent; ensuring transportation 

and the ability to return to work; and accessing basic supplies—all involve 

communications. Individuals must have a way to communicate their needs to officials 

and the surrounding community, and officials must effectively communicate the 

availability of solutions to individuals. Kailes and Enders (2007) note that before

emergency response and the ensuing recovery, emergency management needs to 

understand the demographics of the area in order to better meet anticipated needs, 

especially relative to shelters and subsequent recovery efforts. 

According to Mileti and Gailus (2005), losses from a disaster are typically not 

unpredictable; rather, they stem from the “predictable result of interactions among three 

major systems: the physical environment (the events themselves); the social and 

demographic characteristics of the communities that experience them; and the buildings, 

roads, bridges and other components of the built environment” (p. 493). NCD’s 2009 

report Effective Emergency Management notes that when people with disabilities are 

added to the social and demographic characteristics mentioned by Mileti and Gailus, and 

when the built environments are inaccessible to people with disabilities, “the complexity 

of the issue expands” (p. 193).

Mitigation

While mitigation at the emergency level is one of the first steps in preparedness, it is also 

often incorporated into the recovery phase. FEMA uses disaster recovery centers as 

both recovery and mitigation facilities. The centers are readily accessible facilities or 

mobile offices where applicants may go for information about FEMA or other disaster 
36

assistance programs (FEMA, 2012b). Not only do the centers offer general recovery 

information and support, including registration for federal assistance and information on 

community resources, but they also offer information on how to mitigate the effects of 

future disasters. For example, FEMA uses mitigation representatives to help show 

people how to “rebuild [their] homes to be more flood resilient, or how to build a safe 

room” (FEMA, 2012b).

FEMA defines mitigation as “capabilities necessary to reduce loss of life and property by 

lessening the impact of disasters” (DHS, 2013a, p. 1), while NCD’s 2009 report Effective 

Emergency Management says the purpose of mitigation is “to reduce risk, create a more 

disaster-resilient built environment through structural measures, and enhance individual 

resilience through nonstructural measures” (p. 186). FEMA stresses that in order for 

mitigation strategies to work effectively, it is imperative that we understand all threats 

and hazards, and the “associated vulnerabilities and risks” (DHS, 2013a, p. 2). 

NCD’s 2009 Effective Emergency Management report outlines two forms of mitigation: 

nonstructural and structural. Nonstructural mitigation involves reducing the potential 

damage from a disaster through the use of information, education, and other programs, 

including insurance. Structural mitigation includes reducing risk within the built 

environment; for example, through the use of automatic sprinklers or by retrofitting 

buildings to withstand earthquakes (NCD 2009). NCD says that mitigation may be the 

“most powerful tool to reduce risks for people with disabilities,” but such efforts must 

actually “consider the needs of people with disabilities” in order to be effective (p. 185). 

To grasp the relevancy of mitigation, imagine the impact of a flood on a community. The 

flood might wipe away many ramps, especially if they are add-ons, and could result in 

the loss of Internet or mobile wireless connectivity (meaning a communications 

breakdown) or of all power (with loss of mobility or of the ability to recharge a host of 

accessories, some of them of critical importance). Mitigation is unlikely to anticipate all 

possible eventualities, but it can greatly lessen the negative impacts of a disaster. 

The recently released National Mitigation Framework (NMF) states that mitigation 

encompasses “the capabilities necessary to reduce the loss of life and property by 
37

lessening the impact of disasters” (DHS, 2013a, p. 1) and emphasizes that “advanced 

planning to ensure disability-related assistance/access and functional needs support 

services, durable medical equipment, and consumable medical supplies mitigates the 

adverse effects that disasters have on individuals with disabilities and others with access 

and functional needs” (p. 18). The NMF includes seven core capabilities that are needed 

for mitigation; one of these is Public Information and Warning. Under that capability, the 

NMF is explicit about the need to inform the public, including the disability community,

how to connect preparedness to resilience:

Information and messaging should ensure effective communication with 

individuals who have disabilities or access and functional needs, including 

those who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind, or have low vision, through the 

use of appropriate auxiliary aids and services, such as sign language and 

other interpreters and the captioning of audio and video materials. (DHS, 

2013a, p. 23)

1.4. Emergency Communications and Behavioral Response

1.4.1. What Is a “Typical” Behavioral Response?

Misconceptions about behavioral response during disasters abound. Often there is an 

assumption that individual response is irrational and may result in mass panic, severe 

shock, helplessness, social disorganization, low morale, and even looting (Helsoot &

Ruitenberg, 2004; NRC, 2011; Perry & Lindell, 2003; Trainor & McNeil, 2008; Trainor et 

al., 2008). However, a countervailing view suggests that during and after an emergency, 

people will respond rationally, often exhibiting initiative to assist others during emergency 

situations (NRC, 2011; Trainor et al., 2008). Trainor and McNeil (2008) stress that it is 

important for policymakers and emergency managers to understand that people do not 

necessarily exhibit irrational behavior during emergencies, so they can “move beyond 

the notion that the problem with warning and response is ‘getting people to be rational 

and do what we say.’” Instead, policymakers need to ask themselves, “How can we 

change our approach so that it takes into account how people process warning 

information?” (p. 1).
38

Mileti (1995) argues that behavioral response does not follow a traditional stimulusresponse model, so the desired response cannot necessarily be elicited simply by 

issuing instructions. People process emergency communication, especially alerts and 

warnings, based on a social-psychological process (Goltz & Mileti, 2011; Helsoot & 

Ruitenberg, 2004; Mileti, 1995; Wood et al., 2012). First, an emergency communication 

is disseminated and received by an individual. The assumption here is that the individual 

must actually be able to receive and comprehend the message as the transmitter 

intended, which may not necessarily be the case. People might not be paying attention; 

cannot access the message because of some level of disability; or do not understand the 

message because of extraneous factors such as high levels of noise. People’s 

behavioral responses will depend on many factors, including their personal 

understanding of the warning, their belief in impending risk, and their personalization of 

that believed risk (Mileti, 1995). Also, the alert or warning occurs in a larger context, one 

that encompasses how the meaning of the message relates to previous messages and 

to information from other sources (NRC, 2011). Although the essence of behavioral 

response is the reaction and the ability to act on information provided about a certain 

risk, response will depend on the ability to access and process information, as laid out by 

Mileti (1995) and supported by Wood et al. (2012) and Goltz and Mileti (2011). This 

includes the role played by the technology used to deliver the alert or warning; different 

population groups will have different levels of access to or acceptance of different 

technologies, according to variables that include such factors as age and income (NRC, 

2011). For example, not everyone owns a smart phone or uses social media. 

1.4.2. Social Capital and Trust

Behavioral response is a dynamic process affected by many factors. As shown in 

Table 3, these factors can be separated into two categories: (1) influences of the warning 

disseminator (external factors), and (2) influences of the warning receiver (personal 

factors) (Mileti, 1995; NRC, 2011; Wood et al., 2012). Trainor and McNeil (2008) 

concluded that behavioral response is not only a personal prerogative but is based on 

many factors, including social power, resources, culture, gender, characteristics of the 
39

warning message, characteristics of the hazard, social networks, experience with the 

hazard, credibility of the person/agency issuing the warning, knowledge, and ability to

take action. 

Table 3. Factors Influencing Public Response

External Factors Personal Factors

Source

Consistency

Accuracy and Clarity

Level of Information

Frequency

Method/Channel of Dissemination

Accessibility

Environmental Cues

Social setting and Social Ties

Pre-warning Perceptions

Socio-demographic and Psychological 

Characteristics

Access or Functional Need

Similar to behavioral response, communication barriers cited by Beckjord et al. (2008)

include “emotional interference, trust, resources to disseminate communication, 

inconsistent or ambiguous messaging, preconceived assumptions based on prior 

experiences with the type of emergency addressed, cultural beliefs, interpretations, 

language barriers, and specific disability-related issues” (p. 57). 

Emotional Interference, Social Capital 

According to Rooney and White (2007), a person’s social capital is important during an 

emergency, as “coworkers, family friends, neighbors and strangers often [form] 

spontaneous networks during and after disasters that provide needed assistance” (p. 

209). Beaudoin (2007), who defines social capital as the intangible resources of social 

connections and social networks that can be accessed and mobilized in purposive 

action, states that social capital has exhibited “positive associations with important 

outcomes, such as the health, safety, and education of individuals and communities 

alike” (p. 637). Prior to an emergency situation, people with disabilities are typically 

predisposed to have lower levels of social capital (White, 2012), which can affect their
40

ability to confirm alerts, find transportation for evacuation, have access to supplies, and 

find shelter locations. This may be especially true for people who rely on caregivers. 

Going forward, there is a question of whether new technology will have an effect on the 

social capital of people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs. 

Phones are now equipped with social media apps that provide easy access to contacting 

others, crowdsourcing resources,5 and receiving information in general. NCD’s 2011 

report The Power of Digital Inclusion suggested that the social capital deficit has 

effectively disappeared for the younger generation of people with disabilities, who 

typically use new digital technology at close to the same rate as the general population, 

although this finding may not be generalizable to some specific categories of disability. 

Trust 

Research by Wray et al. (2006) describes the relationship between emergency 

communications disseminated by local or federal officials and trust in the 

communications. Wray determined that although there is a general lack of trust in

government, individuals were more likely to trust local officials than federal officials. As 

NCD’s 2009 report Effective Emergency Management noted, “Many authorities have little 

credibility in the disability community, owing in part to a history of circumventing the 

disability community in planning for disasters” (p. 93). Mileti 1995) pointed out that 

effective communication during an emergency depends on the effectiveness of the 

communication before the emergency. If people with disabilities and others with access 

and functional needs are included in the planning process, they will likely have a higher 

level of trust in emergency officials.

1.4.3. “Hearing” the Warning 

Before an individual can respond to an alert or warning, that person must actually 

receive and understand it. The Partnership for Public Warning (2004) emphasizes that 

the public is not a homogenous entity and calls for multiple communication/warning 
41

systems that redundantly send the same message in order to get the message to all 

members of the public.

In Mileti’s 1995 analysis, behavioral response occurs in the steps illustrated in Figure 3 

(comments added). 

In addition, the medium matters, whether it be television, telephone (fixed or mobile), 

radio, the Internet, word of mouth, or a combination. Individuals must be actively 

engaged with the medium through which the alert or warning is disseminated. For people 

with disabilities and others with access and functional needs, this is an imperative 

consideration, as they may need alternative means of “hearing” emergency 

Figure 3. How People Behave in Responding to 

Emergency Communications

"Hear" the Warning

•People with disabilities may face barriers when receiving a 

warning if communication channels are not accessible.

Understand the Warning

• Different people might have a different understanding of what 

emergency is being communicated. 

Develop Belief in the Risk

•People with disabilities and others with access and functional 

needs must have an established trust in the disseminator of the 

alert or warning.

Personalize the Risk

•Verification of an alert or warning is often part of the 

personlization process and often depends on social capital.

•People with disabilities must be able to access their most trusted 

sources in order to verify alerts and warnings.

Decide on a Course of Action

• Behavioral response is personal.

• Communication that is effective and accessible during normal 

times is more likely to be effective during an emergency.
42

communication if they are deaf, hard of hearing, blind, have low vision, intellectual or 

developmental disabilities, or limited English proficiency (Waugh, 2008). 

In general, inconsistent or ambiguous messaging must be avoided. For emergency 

communications to be “heard” effectively, messages must be timely, consistent, 

accurate, accessible, and clear. People who are deaf or hard of hearing may rely on 

television captioning to receive communications during an emergency. Errors and 

inconsistency in captioning can cause confusion in an emergency situation (Stout, 

Heppner, & Brick, 2004). For example, a news network may eliminate captioning once 

the initial shock of an emergency has passed, leaving people who are deaf or hard of 

hearing without access to the information. Or TV stations might choose to scroll updates 

on the emergency at the bottom of the screen, making them inaccessible to people who 

are blind or have low vision.

The following are some of the challenges in responding to emergency communications 

that people with specific disabilities might face, as well as some disability-specific 

solutions. 

Deaf and Hard of Hearing 

People who are deaf or hard of hearing may have limited access to emergency 

communication disseminated via television if there is no captioning and American Sign 

Language (ASL) interpretation, or if closed captioning of the regular programming blocks 

the weather crawl or vice versa (Wood & Weisman, 2003). The FCC requires that all 

stations abide by its rules on closed captioning or face stiff fines. The rules are 

comprehensive, having been expanded to cover analog television in 1993, digital 

television in 2002, and emergency messages in 2013 (FCC, 2013d). Research shows 

that emergency information is best understood in one’s first language; for many deaf 

people, ASL is their first language. Thus, the FCC should require that ASL interpreters 

be present during all emergency broadcasts. 
43

Also, people who are deaf or hard of hearing may not hear weather sirens or the alert 

tone at the beginning of a television alert, causing them to miss vital information. The 

National Research Council (2011) notes that one challenge for people who are deaf or 

hard of hearing is that of the “‘eye-busy’ situation in which the attention of a person with 

impaired hearing is focused elsewhere” (p. 40).

Accessibility solutions: 

People who are deaf or hard of hearing will vary in their degree of hearing ability, so one 

accessibility solution will not fit all. To ensure that communications are accessible for all 

individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing, emergency management officials should 

make their messages and methods of dissemination robust and redundant. Solutions 

include ensuring that television alerts are captioned and that captions do not block 

weather crawls (or vice versa) that may be used to communicate updated weather alerts 

during a news cycle (Wood & Weisman, 2003). ASL interpretation must be provided 

“onscreen during emergencies” and “captioning of any kind should not block it” (Stout et 

al., 2004, p. 7). Personal warnings can also be used, such as warnings issued through 

Reverse 911 or the Wireless Emergency Alert/Commercial Mobile Alert System. 

"Hear" the Warning: Accessibility Solutions

Closed captions Weather crawls that 

do not block the captions American Sign Language Personal warnings

Blind and Low Vision

NCD’s 2009 report Effective Emergency Management notes that people who are blind or 

have low vision may not be able to access all information presented via television due to 

reliance on “graphics and crawling text to communicate disaster warnings.” Recent 

research by the Wireless RERC following the November 9, 2011, national test of the 

Emergency Alert System found that the test was completely inaccessible to people who 

were blind or had low vision, owing to a lack of auditory warnings. For such people, 

emergency communications must be auditory, in large print, or in braille. If information is 

conveyed online, screen readers may be ineffective if Web sites are not accessible. 
44

Weather maps, which project storm location and path, are also ineffective without an 

auditory aid (NCD, 2009).

Accessibility solutions: 

People who are blind or have low vision vary in their ability to see, so not all accessibility 

solutions will work for everyone. Emergency management officials or entities need to 

ensure that alerts, warnings, and other communications are accessible and complete, 

which may mean that redundancy is necessary. Alerts and warnings, especially those on 

television, need to be auditory and the tone must be followed by comprehensive 

emergency information, including what action should be taken. When only captioning or 

a weather crawl is used, people who are blind or have low vision might miss the warning 

altogether. Print information should be available in large print and braille, while signs 

should include raised lettering as well as braille. Video descriptions of key visual 

elements should be provided for TV programming to increase accessibility (FCC, 2013d; 

Oklahoma City Health Department, 2013). The FCC is addressing the accessibility of 

televised emergency information for people who are blind or have low vision, although 

challenges remain. 

"Hear" the Warning: Accessibility Solutions

Auditory alerts Large print Braille Video

description Text-to-speech Raised-print signs

Deaf-Blind

For people who are deaf-blind, the universal symbol for an emergency is an “X” tactilely 

“drawn” on the individual’s back. The person then knows to follow another individual to 

safety (Huebner et al., 2003). However, NCD’s 2009 report Effective Emergency 

Management notes that communication can range from sign language near the person’s 

face to sign language in the palm to words written on the palm with a finger. Another 

common method in which deaf-blind people can receive emergency communication is 

through the use of a vibrating pager, which alerts them to receive follow-up information 

from a rewritable braille machine.
45

Accessibility solutions: 

For people who are deaf-blind, essential warning systems tend to be personal and may 

be indirect (i.e., delivered through a third party). It is important that alerts and warnings 

be routed through devices that will notify people who are deaf-blind; this often means

tactile devices, such as vibrating pagers or bed shakers. It is also important to ensure 

that after the individual is alerted, he or she is provided with information, which may be 

done either through a rewritable braille machine or through tactile sign language, 

perhaps by a caregiver. National Public Radio (NPR) engineers are working on the 

Captioned Braille Radio Initiative for people who are deaf-blind. This project has been 

designed to incorporate new Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) technology, the 

implementation of the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) aggregator, 

and recent technology upgrades from the Public Radio Satellite System.

"Hear" the Warning: Accessibility Solutions

Personal warnings Bed shakers Vibrating pagers Rewritable braille 

machine

Mobility 

For people with mobility disabilities, effective emergency communication means 

communicating a pertinent message. Although people with mobility disabilities may not 

have an issue receiving and understanding emergency communication, they may have a 

problem if the communication is not pertinent and omits the needs of people with mobility 

disabilities. Kailes (2008) points out how common that omission may be: Emergency 

communications are generally aimed at “people who can walk, run, see, drive, read, 

hear, speak and quickly understand and respond to instructions and alerts” (p. 10). The 

evacuation needs of people with mobility issues may not be addressed or may be 

overlooked in the planning stages. If a stairway is the only means of evacuating a 

building, people with mobility disabilities may not be able to vacate the location, requiring

other evacuation means to be planned and properly communicated (NCD, 2009). 
46

Accessibility solutions: 

For people with mobility disabilities, it is important to ensure that emergency information, 

including alerts and warnings, is pertinent to their needs. One way to ensure this is to 

include people with mobility disabilities in emergency planning. Another is to note 

accessible evacuation routes in advance and provide wall notices or plaques. The 

information must be accessible to those with mobility disabilities; for example, wheelchair 

users might not see signage that is high on a wall, and a person with limited use of his or 

her arms might use computer and dictation software. It should be noted that people with 

other access or functional needs, such as someone on crutches or a person who is using 

a dual stroller, can face similar difficulties during an evacuation.

"Hear" the Warning: Accessibility Solutions

Pertinent information Proper planning

Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities 

NCD’s 2009 report Effective Emergency Management notes that people with intellectual 

or developmental disabilities “may have difficulty understanding or processing” 

emergency messages (p. 112). To alleviate this situation, communications must be clear, 

use plain language, and employ pictures when appropriate. Kailes (2011) suggests that 

written messages be offered at a third grade reading level for the sake of simplicity. This 

recommendation is also relevant for those with limited English proficiency. 

Accessibility solutions: 

People with intellectual or developmental disabilities will vary in their understanding of an 

alert or warning, and in some cases may rely on a caregiver during an emergency to 

receive or relay information. Communications must be clear, use plain language, repeat the 

directions at least three times, deliver instructions often at an elementary school reading 

comprehension level, and integrate pictures if possible. A new strategy being implemented 

in California is the Feeling Safe, Being Safe training, which is facilitated by people with 

intellectual and developmental disabilities to help their peers prepare for an emergency. 
47

"Hear" the Warning: Accessibility Solutions

Plain language/instructions Picture boards Instructions for caregivers

Psychiatric Disabilities 

NCD’s 2005 report The Needs of People with Disabilities with Psychiatric Disabilities 

During and After Hurricanes Katrina and Rita noted that at the time of Hurricane Katrina, 

“Some people with psychiatric disabilities had difficulty comprehending the evacuation 

messages and other essential communications and some were treated roughly because 

they could not follow the instructions” (p. 12). Once again, this indicates an imperative for 

clear, jargon-free, plain language and the use of pictures when appropriate. 

Accessibility solutions: 

The Independent Living Resource Center of San Francisco (ILRCSF) recommends that 

people with psychiatric, intellectual, and developmental disabilities prepare for 

emergencies by practicing how to communicate their needs and keeping instructions for 

treatment on hand; for example, “I have a panic disorder. If I panic, give me one green 

pill (name of medication) located in my (purse, wallet, pocket, etc.)” or “I forget easily. 

Please write down information for me” (ILRCSF, 2013).

"Hear" the Warning: Accessibility Solutions

Plain language/instructions Communications practice Instructions for treatment

Limited English Proficiency

When emergency alerts and warnings are communicated solely in English, people with 

limited English proficiency (LEP) are at a disadvantage. Emergency planners and 

managers are required by law (e.g., Title VI of the Civil Rights Act) to ensure that people 

with LEP are not at risk during an emergency due to a lack of communication. 
48

Accessibility solutions: 

Emergency management should try to determine what languages are spoken in the 

community, but it can be difficult to provide information in all target languages, especially 

during an emergency. The Limited English Proficiency Federal Interagency Group has 

provided information for emergency management stakeholders.

6 Solutions for 

communicating with people with LEP include ensuring alerts and warnings use simple 

language, with pictures when appropriate. In addition, when possible, ensure that 

language is translated (and culturally understood), either through onsite interpreters or 

by using previously translated information. Often during emergencies, organizations such 

as chambers of commerce and consulates will assist with translation and dissemination 

to their constituent communities. 

"Hear" the Warning: Accessibility Solutions

Simple language/

instructions Picture boards Interpreters for people 

with LEP Translated information

1.4.4. Understanding What the Warning Means and Acting On It 

With reference to how people behave in response to emergency communications (see 

Figure 3), Mileti (1995) makes two key points: (1) Preparedness is a key factor in an

individual’s response, and (2) alerts and warnings must be designed so that everyone

benefits from them. Mileti suggests that understanding depends on the person attaching

a personal meaning to the message (p. 2). Understanding depends on previous 

experience and knowledge of the hazard (Trainor & McNeil, 2008). Mileti illustrates this 

by the example of a warning of a potential flood that may impart mental images of “a high 

wall of inundating water” for some individuals and only “ankle-high runoff” for others 

(Mileti, 1995, p. 2). On the basis of personal understanding (which may be insufficient or 

inaccurate), individuals may opt not to closely follow instructions in an emergency 

message, leaving them open to greater risk. Effective preparedness efforts such as 

public education on specific hazards may help standardize people’s assessments of 

emergency messages. Mileti (2010) also notes that preparedness is related to a person’s 
49

previous disaster or emergency experience; he says that approximately two years 

following a disaster or emergency is the “window of opportunity” to promote survivor 

preparedness (p. 48).

Believing in the Warning 

An individual’s response to emergency communication depends in part on the level of 

trust he or she has in both the accuracy of the message and its source. Trust can 

depend on who issues the communication (e.g., local or federal authorities, experts, the 

media, trusted NGOs, cultural or other affinity groups); how the message is 

communicated; and social effects (e.g., whether other people seem to trust the 

message). People are more likely to take action if emergency communication is received 

from more than one source or if they are able to verify the original alert or warning 

(Hayes, 2009; Wimberly & Bristow, 2010; Wireless RERC, 2011).

All individuals, especially people with disabilities and others with access and functional 

needs, need to be able to trust the disseminator of the warning. However, NCD’s 2009

report Effective Emergency Management notes that “many authorities have little 

credibility in the disability community, owing in part to a history of circumventing the 

disability community in planning for disasters” (p. 93).

Personalizing the Risk and Verifying It 

Once people have received an alert or warning, they must believe that it was meant for 

them before they will respond to the emergency (Mileti, 1995; Wood et al., 2012). The 

process of personalizing the risk often includes verification of the alert or warning (Mileti, 

1999; NCD, 2009). Regardless of the initial form of notification, confirmation from at least 

one secondary source is needed before action is taken in an emergency situation (White 

& Fu, 2011; Wimberly & Baristow, 2010). White and Fu note that in the United States, 

“Distrust of government, in particular the federal, is at historic highs,” meaning that 

individuals will use other information channels to verify alerts and warnings. White and 

Fu also note that in an emergency situation, verification of alerts and warnings via face-
50

to-face interaction among individuals is important but not always feasible, especially for 

people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs, who may lack social 

capital or may need a specific disability-related accommodation, such as an ASL 

interpreter or caregiver. This raises communication priority issues—the need for some

way of making sure that people with disabilities have access to confirmation and 

explanations.

Interpreting Relevancy

People interpret emergency communication through a psychological process that 

considers their past experiences with a certain hazard or emergency and whether they 

believe this hazard or warning is pertinent to them. For example, if people with 

disabilities have experienced inaccessible shelters or mistreatment (for example, the 

inappropriate institutionalization people with psychiatric disabilities experienced during 

and after Katrina), they may be understandably reluctant to evacuate. 

Language Barriers

According to the Migration Policy Institute, approximately 25.2 million Americans—

9 percent of the U.S. population—have limited English proficiency (Pandya et al., 2011). 

This can have profound effects on emergency communications. In order for emergency 

communications to be fully understood, not only is translation often needed, but the 

translations must be culturally competent (Beckjord, 2008). People who are deaf or hard 

of hearing may also need ASL interpreters or other modes of communication—such as 

captioning, assistive listening devices, or amplification—to fully understand emergency 

communications. A 2011 study conducted by the Wireless RERC found that while ASL

interpretation proved useful in alerts and warnings, the signs used to portray each alert 

and warning must be culturally competent. For example, participants in the study said 

that phrases typically used in alerts, such as “take cover” or “low-lying area,” do not 

translate directly to ASL. 
51

Experiencing and Responding to Emergency Communications

Behavioral response is personal and based on experience. Mileti (1999) suggests that 

the effectiveness of previous emergency communication—whether related to 

preparedness, response, or recovery—will either facilitate or attenuate the response, and 

that a predictor of effective emergency communication is the level at which 

communication occurs during normal times. Specifically, according to Mileti, “People who 

know each other will work together in a crisis” (p. 183). Thus, a key recommendation of 

this report involves the importance of including people with disabilities and others with 

access and functional needs in the disaster planning process, at the level of the office 

building evacuation plan as well as the city emergency planning board. 

Mileti stresses that effective emergency communication will depend on the level of 

communication that occurs before an emergency. If communication is ongoing between 

emergency responders and people with disabilities and others with access and functional 

needs before disaster strikes, this could enhance the level of trust and thus response.

Unfortunately for people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs, 

who are historically left out of the emergency preparedness process, levels of trust in 

government are low (NCD, 2009). To maximize an individual’s trust in emergency 

communication, each community should include people with disabilities and others with 

access and functional needs as representatives to help formulate communication 

strategies overall and as stakeholders in planning groups, not only in emergency 

planning (Beckjord et al., 2008; NCD, 2005). This will help ensure that their needs are 

properly considered and met. 

Although not all emergency communications will reach everyone (Partnership for Public 

Warning, 2004; Waugh, 2008), there is evidence that when the needs of people with 

disabilities and others with access and functional needs are met, everyone benefits. For 

example, people who are in a noisy room benefit from scrolling captions relaying 

emergency information, and people who are not currently watching television but have 

the television on may benefit from auditory emergency alerts. Many people can benefit 

from large print or pictures on signs. One example that captured the public’s interest was 
52

that of Lydia Callis, the ASL interpreter for Mayor Michael Bloomberg during Hurricane 

Sandy. Her expressiveness and ability to pictorially convey what the mayor was saying 

were noteworthy and highlighted the importance of providing fully accessible 

communication before, during, and after an emergency (Peters, 2012).

Resources to Disseminate Communications 

Organizations that disseminate emergency communications need adequate resources to 

effectively reach people. This is a primary concern for people with disabilities and others 

with access and functional needs, especially with regard to accessibility. Examples 

include culturally competent translations of emergency communications for people with 

limited English proficiency, captions and ASL for people who are deaf or hard of hearing, 

verbal emergency communications for people who are blind or have low vision, and 

easily understood emergency communications for people with intellectual or 

developmental disabilities. Unfortunately, as the experience with Hurricane Sandy 

showed, even when the resources are supposedly present, the reality can be different 

(Young, 2012). 

1.5. Conclusion

Emergency communication is a social process that must be initiated long before an 

emergency begins. From the emergency management perspective, the main goal of 

emergency communication traditionally is to elicit a response from an individual, often to 

take shelter or evacuate. However, that response depends on complex variables, 

especially trust. Unfortunately, a sense of trust in authorities has been historically lacking 

among people with disabilities, due to the “history of circumventing the disability 

community in planning for disasters” (NCD, 2009, p. 93). If emergency management has 

never involved people with disabilities in planning or actively considered their needs, how 

can they feel sure that emergency management has their best interests in mind?
53

Again, the focus needs to be on the process. Emergency managers need to ensure that 

communication is accessible before, during, and after an emergency. As Mileti (1999) 

notes, the effectiveness of communication during the emergency will depend on how 

effective (and accessible) communication is the rest of the time. 

FEMA has encouraged emergency managers to consider a “whole community” 

approach. Emergency plans should involve the whole community in the planning 

process, so that everyone is included in the plan (FEMA, 2010a). In addition, FEMA 

administrator Craig Fugate has urged emergency managers to consider the fundamental 

role community organizations, including disability organizations, can play before, during, 

and after an emergency to engage their members (Fugate, 2011). If emergency 

managers engage disability organizations as stakeholders, it will not only help ensure 

that accessibility is considered in emergency planning but also may help overcome some 

of the feelings of mistrust people with disabilities have toward emergency management.
54
55

SECTION 2. The Emergency Management Landscape

2.1. Key Stakeholders

This section identifies all the players—major and minor, government and 

nongovernment—with an interest in the nexus of disability and emergency 

communications legislation and policy development, and a special focus on accessible 

emergency communications.

2.1.1. Government

Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Disability Rights Section

The Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice (DOJ) was established in 1957. 

The Division is responsible for enforcing federal statutes prohibiting discrimination on the 

basis of race, sex, disability, religion, and national origin. Among the many Acts the 

Division enforces are the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and Section 504 

of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended. The Division’s Disability Rights Section 

(DRS) carries out enforcement actions. 

In addition to enforcing federal statutes prohibiting discrimination, in 2007 DOJ released 

a technical assistance document entitled ADA Best Practices Toolkit for State and Local 

Government, Chapter 7, Emergency Management Under Title II of the ADA, designed to 

help local and state governments ensure the civil rights of people with disabilities in the 

design and implementation of emergency management programs, services, activities, 

and facilities. 
56

Civil Rights Division Guides

DOJ’s Civil Rights Division helps state and federal agencies identify and remove 

discriminatory provisions from their policies and programs, and has released several 

relevant guides. 

● An ADA Guide for Local Governments, Making Community Emergency 

Preparedness and Response Programs Accessible to People with Disabilities

(http://www.ada.gov/emergencyprepguide.htm). Making programs accessible is a 

requirement of the ADA, and this guide is meant to be used as a tool by local 

governments when planning and initiating such programs and the policies that 

accompany them. The guide identifies emergency notification as one of the most 

significant issues affecting people with disabilities in emergency planning. 

Recommendations are made for the inclusion of people with multiple types of 

disabilities in any planning efforts and the use of multiple types of alerting 

mechanisms (e.g., text messaging, email, auto-dialed TTY messages, and doorto-door notification (DOJ 2006).

● Chapter 3, General Effective Communication Requirements under Title II of the 

ADA (http://www.ada.gov/pcatoolkit/chap3toolkit.htm). Provides information on 

effective communication through auxiliary aids and services, and describes the

circumstances under which a state or local government is required to provide 

such services (DOJ, 2007a).

● Chapter 3, Addendum: Title II Checklist (http://www.ada.gov/pcatoolkit/

chap3chklist.htm). An assessment tool to measure a state or local government’s 

provision of effective general communications (DOJ, 2007a).

● Chapter 4, 911 and Emergency Communications Services (http://www.ada.gov/

pcatoolkit/chap4toolkit.htm). Focuses on the requirements established by the ADA 

for 911 and other emergency communication services that are operated by or for 

state or local governments. Also provides details on voice and hearing carryover, 

the suggested training necessary for emergency call takers, how technological 
57

changes are affecting the means by which individuals who are hard of hearing 

communicate, and the impact these changes have on emergency communication 

services (DOJ, 2007b). 

● Chapter 4, Addendum: Title II Checklist (http://www.ada.gov/pcatoolkit/

chap4chklist.htm). Helps identify common problems with the accessibility of a state 

or local government’s 911 and emergency communication services (DOJ, 2007b).

● Chapter 7, Emergency Management under Title II of the ADA

(http://www.ada.gov/pcatoolkit/chap7emergencymgmt.htm). Focuses on some of the 

common accessibility barriers people with disabilities encounter in accessing 

emergency and disaster-related services, programs, activities, and facilities, and 

proposes ways state and local governments can address these issues (DOJ, 2007c). 

● Chapter 7, Addendum 1: Title II Checklist (http://www.ada.gov/pcatoolkit/

chap7emergencymgmtadd1.htm). A preliminary assessment of emergency 

management programs, policies, procedures, and shelter facilities, to identify 

areas of noncompliance with ADA requirements (DOJ, 2007c).

● Chapter 7, Addendum 2: The ADA and Emergency Shelters: Access for All in 

Emergencies and Disasters http://www.ada.gov/pcatoolkit/chap7shelterprog.htm). 

Identifies fundamental issues facing emergency managers and shelter operators 

when they organize and provide shelter during emergencies and disasters in 

order to be compliant with the ADA (DOJ, 2007d).

● Chapter 7, Addendum 3: ADA Checklist for Emergency Shelters 

(http://www.ada.gov/pcatoolkit/chap7shelterchk.htm). An emergency shelter guide to 

ensure that they are accessible and functional for people with disabilities (DOJ, 2007d). 

● Effective Communication (http://www.ada.gov/effective-comm.htm). Provides 

guidance on the 2010 regulations provisions relating to communicating effectively 

with people who have vision, hearing, or speech disabilities. (DOJ, 2014)
58

Project Civic Access

DOJ’s Project Civic Access is an effort to ensure that local governments are in 

compliance with the ADA by ensuring the elimination of physical and communication 

barriers that prevent people with disabilities from participating fully in the community. 

Since 2000, DOJ has reached over 203 settlement agreements in 50 states, the District 

of Columbia, and Puerto Rico (DOJ, 2012b). The settlements often include provisions 

related to effective communication before, during, and after an emergency. A typical 

issue addressed in these compliance reviews is strengthening of 911 services by 

ensuring a 1:1 ratio of TTY and answering positions, training to recognize “silent calls,” 

and accountability through performance evaluations. DOJ also issues national reports on 

the state of compliance with the ADA and Rehabilitation Act Sections 504 and 508 that 

typically include recent settlement agreements and any recommendations for the future.

United States Access Board

The United States Access Board (Access Board) was created in 1973 to ensure the 

accessibility of federally funded facilities. The Access Board develops and maintains 

design criteria for the built environment, transit vehicles, telecommunications equipment, 

and electronic and information technology. It also provides technical assistance and 

training on these requirements and on accessible design, and enforces accessibility 

standards that cover federally funded facilities. Strategies for achieving accessibility to 

telecommunication equipment and electronic and information technology are prescribed 

in the Telecommunications Act Accessibility Guidelines and Electronic and Information 

Technology Accessibility Standards7 While they do not specifically address emergency 

communications, the guidelines require that manufacturers design and develop 

equipment that is accessible to people with disabilities. This equipment includes devices 

capable of receiving and sending emergency communications. The guidelines can be 

considered the minimum baseline for the enforceable standards. 

The Access Board is in the process of updating the standards and guidelines for 

accessible electronic information technology (EIT) procured by federal agencies under 

Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act and Section 255 of the Telecommunications Act. In 
59

2010, the Board issued the first Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM); 

from the 348 comments, it was determined that significant revisions needed to be made 

to the structure and content of the 2010 ANPRM. Modifications were made and the 

Board issued a second ANPRM in December 2011; comments were received until March 

7, 2012. The Board planned to review the comments and issue a proposed rule seeking 

additional public comment, followed by a final rulemaking (US Access Board, 2013b). As 

of the writing of this report, the final report has yet to be issued. 

The proliferation of mobile devices, their significant computing power, and the seemingly 

inevitable transition to an Internet protocol (IP)–based telephone system mean that the 

design of EIT will affect the accessibility of emergency communications. Today, 

emergency alerts and notifications can be received in myriad ways: outgoing notification 

systems, sometimes called “reverse 911” (landline); Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAs); 

mobile text messages; email; radio and television; and social media. It is imperative that 

these channels, the devices that connect to them, and the information shared over them 

be accessible to people with disabilities in order to ensure a robust emergency 

communication system. 

The Access Board has developed and released additional guides related to emergency 

communications. Examples include the following: 

● Technical Bulletin on Visual Alarms. The bulletin discusses why visual alarms 

(i.e., flashing lights) are required and important to ensure that all individuals, 

including those with a disability, can receive a warning signal and alarm. 

Information is provided on when and where visual alarms are required (U.S. 

Access Board, 2003). 

● Guide to Understanding Section 508 (http://www.access-board.gov/

sec508/guide/index.htm). The Board organized a resource that outlines the 

purpose of Section 508, who and what is covered in the provision, and the 

important dates associated with the implementation of the regulation (U.S. Access 

Board, 2001).
60

Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency 

The general purpose and mission of FEMA is to coordinate the federal government’s role 

in the preparation, prevention, and mitigation of the effects from natural and manmade 

disasters, including acts of terror, responding to individuals and areas in need, and 

assisting in the disaster recovery process (FEMA, 2012a). FEMA can trace its origins to

the Congressional Act of 1803, but emergency and disaster relief activities remained 

fragmented until 1979, when an Executive Order from President Jimmy Carter merged 

several separate disaster-related responsibilities into FEMA. In March 2003, 22 other 

federal agencies, programs, and offices joined FEMA to become the Department of 

Homeland Security. FEMA underwent a significant reorganization under the Post-Katrina 

Emergency Reform Act (PKEMRA) signed by President George W. Bush in response to 

Hurricane Katrina in August 2005. This provided FEMA with an increase in both 

responsibility and authority in disaster response and recovery activities. 

FEMA is not required to assist local, state, or tribal governments unless a state requests 

assistance. As authorized by the Stafford Act, once a disaster has occurred, a state can 

request FEMA’s assistance but must agree to a cost-share plan between FEMA and the 

state. The state then has to decide whether this is a cost-effective approach. 

Traditionally, FEMA could be characterized as a reactive agency, as it was not involved 

with disaster response until the president declared a state of emergency. However, it has 

become more proactive and now assists in disaster preparedness. 

An example of this active approach was the 2010 release of Version 2.0 of FEMA’s 

Comprehensive Preparedness Guide 101: Developing and Maintaining Emergency 

Operations Plans (CPG 101) (FEMA 2010a), which provides guidance to all levels of 

emergency management at the local, state, territorial, and tribal levels for developing 

standardized emergency operations plans. This includes guidance on ensuring that all 

aspects of emergency preparation, communication, and response are accessible to all 

individuals. This guidance created some debate among emergency managers, with the 

National Emergency Management Association (NEMA) requesting that FEMA clarify 

whether all shelters had to be compliant with the ADA or Functional Needs Support 
61

Services (FNSS) requirements and define when reasonable accommodations must be 

met before and after a disaster (DeMarsh, 2012). FEMA turned to DOJ to address these 

issues and DOJ responded, stating that local governments are required to comply with 

Title II of the ADA and that FEMA’s FNSS guidance is a useful tool for doing so. 

Office of Disability Integration and Coordination

FEMA, under the leadership of Administrator Craig Fugate, has made important strides 

toward promoting inclusive emergency management. FEMA’s Office of Disability 

Integration and Coordination (ODIC) was created in 2009 to integrate and coordinate 

access for people with disabilities in emergency management. ODIC is led by Marcie 

Roth and provides information, training, specialists, and other resources to regions and 

states. 

In 2010, ODIC hired 10 regional disability integration specialists (RDISs), who were 

placed in FEMA’s 10 regional offices in the United States. The position of RDIS was 

created as a belated result of the 2006 PKEMRA, to provide a regional presence and to 

work with state and local jurisdictions to integrate the needs of people with disabilities 

into all emergency management efforts. The specialists provide guidance, tools, and 

methods for integrating people with disabilities and others with access and functional 

needs into the region’s emergency management activities. 

During an emergency or disaster, RDISs are deployed to the site as disability integration 

advisors (DIAs). They are part of the command staff of the Incident Management 

Assistance Team, with the primary function of ensuring that disaster recovery centers 

are in compliance with the ADA. For example, the DIA might provide the center with 

disability accessibility kits, so that a person with a disability can effectively communicate 

with FEMA officials at the center. In addition, the DIA works with both state and local 

disability organizations to ensure that people with disabilities are included in long-term 

recovery planning. 

FEMA is now hiring reservists to act as DIAs; this will limit deployment time for the 

10 RDISs. DIAs will train local hires, who will take over for the long term. 
62

Interagency Coordinating Council on Emergency Preparedness and Individuals 

with Disabilities

The Interagency Coordinating Council on Emergency Preparedness and Individuals with 

Disabilities (ICC), which reports to the FEMA Office of Disability Integration and 

Coordination, was established by Executive Order (EO) 13347 (2004) to ensure that 

federal agencies appropriately support the safety and security of their employees with 

disabilities and others with access and functional needs in emergencies (DHS, 2012). 

Specifically, the ICC “facilitates the cooperation and the sharing of best practices and 

lessons learned among member agencies,” as noted by EO 13347, and provides 

additional coordination for “governmental and nongovernmental partners and 

stakeholders [to] maintain awareness with regard to an anticipated event” (D. Scott, 

personal communication, April 24, 2013). The lCC is required to submit an annual report 

to the President describing its achievements in implementing this policy; best practices 

among local, state, and federal governments; and recommendations going forward. 

Federal Communications Commission

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), established by the Communications 

Act of 1934, is a regulatory agency responsible for rules and regulations governing the 

provision of interstate and international communications and media by way of radio, 

television, wire, wireless, satellite, and cable systems. The FCC enforces various 

communications laws and regulations, including the 21st Century Communications and 

Video Accessibility Act of 2010 (CVAA), the Telecommunications Act, and Title IV of the 

ADA. The FCC also issues public notices and other guidance for industry and 

governmental entities. The FCC’s Disability Rights Office (DRO), located within the 

Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, initiates rulemakings, where appropriate, 

for the development of disability access policy. DRO coordinates with other bureaus in 

the FCC to develop recommendations and policies to ensure accessible communications 

for people with disabilities in accordance with disability laws and regulations. The 

Emergency Access Advisory Committee, created by the CVAA, publishes reports and 

makes recommendations to the FCC to ensure equal access to emergency 
63

communications by people with disabilities as part of the migration to Next Generation 

911. The CVAA established the Video Programming Accessibility Advisory Committee 

(VPAAC), which, among other things, is charged with developing technical, policy, 

procedural, and operational recommendations for the provision of accessible televised 

emergency information. 

Moreover, on January 30, 2014, the FCC adopted a policy statement setting forth goals 

for achieving text-to-911 and a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM) (FCC, 

2014). The policy statement highlighted the nation’s four largest wireless telephone 

providers’ commitment to make text-to-911 available to all their customers nationwide by 

May 15, 2014. The FCC encourages other text providers to offer text-to-911 as well and 

asks for comment on proposals to meet the goals of (1) making sure that people with 

disabilities have direct access to 911 services and (2) enabling people in situations from 

which it might be impossible or dangerous to make a voice call (e.g., hostage situation, 

domestic violence) to make text-to-911 calls. In his statement at the FCC’s Open 

Commission Meeting, Chairman Tom Wheeler said it is now up to the public safety 

answering points (PSAPs), to make themselves ready to accept these texts. 

2.1.2. NGOs 

Several NGOs have direct involvement with FEMA and the federal government in 

emergency communications; they are described below. For a partial list of NGOs with a 

general interest in the inclusion of people with disabilities and others with access and 

functional needs, see Appendix A. 

American Red Cross

As described in the National Response Framework (DHS, 2013b), the American Red 

Cross is chartered by Congress to provide relief to survivors of disasters and help people 

prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies. The Red Cross has a legal status of a 

“federal instrumentality” and maintains a special relationship with the federal 
64

government. In this capacity, it supports several Emergency Support Functions (ESFs) 

and the delivery of multiple core capabilities.

In 2004, in collaboration with FEMA, the Red Cross created and distributed a booklet 

entitled Preparing for Disaster for People with Disabilities and Other Special Needs. The 

booklet provides people with disabilities and caregivers with tips and guidance for

staying informed, developing a plan, assembling an emergency kit, and managing 

communications during emergencies. 

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the Red Cross was criticized by the disability 

community for refusing to admit people with disabilities to shelters or inappropriately 

referring them to special needs shelters. NCD’s 2006 report The Impact of Hurricanes 

Katrina and Rita on People with Disabilities: A Look Back and Remaining Challenges

found that “many evacuees with disabilities could not access shelter services, including 

medical care, communication, restrooms, food and shuttle services” (p. 11). In response 

to this gap in coverage and appropriate accommodation, some states (e.g., California 

and Washington) have established Functional Access Support Teams that work in 

shelter environments; they serve as a resource for people with disabilities and others 

with access and functional needs to help them obtain the accommodations they need, 

including communication aids.

National Council on Independent Living

The National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) is the oldest national grassroots

cross-disability organization run by and for people with disabilities. Founded in 1982, 

NCIL represents thousands of organizations and individuals, including Centers for 

Independent Living (CILs), Statewide Independent Living Councils (SILCs), people with 

disabilities, and other organizations that advocate for the human and civil rights of people 

with disabilities throughout the United States. 

NCIL has a long-standing commitment to emergency management; its ongoing 

subcommittee on emergency preparedness works to ensure that the needs of people 
65

with disabilities are met before, during, and after emergencies. In 2010, NCIL signed a

Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with FEMA. The MOA defined the commitment and 

coordinated efforts of NCIL and FEMA to provide guidance and support to people with 

disabilities in the preparation, response, and recovery stages of a disaster. The MOA 

allows NCIL access to disaster recovery centers for the purpose of offering disaster 

assistance services to individuals and households, and gives NCIL senior managers 

(through coordination with FEMA’s individual assistance branch director or designee)

access to the Joint Field Office for meetings related to issues covered in the agreement.

NCIL is currently negotiating a similar MOU with the American Red Cross with the 

intention of further cultivating the relationship between CILs and the Red Cross, and 

providing CILs with greater access to Red Cross–operated shelters (K. Buckland, 

personal communication, Sept. 18, 2013).

Centers for Independent Living

There are more than 400 CILs in the United States; they play an integral role in 

emergency management and are invaluable resources for people with disabilities as well 

as state and local emergency managers. CILs are community-based, cross-disability, 

nonprofit organizations designed and operated by people with disabilities. CILs provide 

peer support, information and referral, individual and systems advocacy, and training in 

independent living skills (National Council on Independent Living, 2013b).

As noted in NCD’s 2006 report The Impact of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita on People with 

Disabilities, CILs were instrumental during Hurricane Katrina. They quickly provided 

people with disabilities in shelters the resources that the shelters lacked, such as 

teletypewriters, wheelchairs, walkers, oxygen, and other essential supports. CILs were 

also instrumental in outreach to affected people and dissemination of targeted 

information to communities. Before Hurricane Katrina, CILs played an invaluable role 

following the 9/11 attacks (K. Buckland, personal communication, Sept. 18, 2013).
66

Today, many CILs are actively involved in emergency management. For instance, The 

Independent Living Center (TILC) in Joplin, Missouri, began its emergency management

work several years ago, after realizing that the needs of people with disabilities would be 

overlooked if they were not at the table. TILC began by having a dialogue with its 

consumers to identify needs before, during, and after an emergency, and to determine what 

services and resources TILC could provide. TILC worked with each consumer to develop 

an emergency plan. TILC also developed a database of consumers who are at risk during 

an emergency, such as those who are dependent on ventilators, those who live in rural 

areas, and those whose first language is not English. TILC began educating local 

emergency managers on the needs of people with disabilities and the role TILC could play.

Following the devastating tornado that hit Joplin in 2011, TILC played an invaluable role for 

many people with disabilities. Referencing its database of people who might be at risk, 

TILC sent teams to check on them. The center also worked closely with FEMA’s regional 

disability integration specialists (RDISs) to ensure that disaster recovery centers could 

provide sign language interpreters and information in alternative formats. TILC collaborated 

with city and state emergency managers to ensure that their Web sites were accessible to 

people with disabilities and that information was available in alternative formats.

TILC remains very active in emergency management and has received funding from the 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and FEMA. TILC staff members 

continue to help consumers develop emergency plans to meet their specific needs in a 

variety of potential emergency situations. TILC provides adaptive alerting devices and 

weather radios for people with disabilities, as well as Red Cross Go Kits and Vial of Life 

Kits provide important medical information to first responders in the event of an emergency. 

TILC staff members provide community education to help other agencies and the public 

make plans to assist people with disabilities. TILC staff members have trained first 

responders, family members, and other nonprofit organizations on the needs of people with 

disabilities in emergencies (S. Brady, personal communication, Sept. 16, 2013).

Likewise, since 2005, the Center for Independent Living of South Florida (CILSF) has 

been active in emergency management. CILSF has advocated for the availability of 
67

qualified sign language interpreters in Miami Dade County shelters, and for sign language 

interpreters during emergency news broadcasts, accessible cots in shelters, accessible 

transportation for people with disabilities during evacuations, and full compliance with the 

ADA by state and local emergency managers. CILSF actively seeks opportunities to 

engage with emergency managers on the needs of people with disabilities before, during, 

and after emergencies (M. Dubin, personal communication, Sept. 12, 2013).

Many CILs throughout the country are very engaged in emergency management. State 

and local emergency managers must actively collaborate with their local CILs to ensure 

that the needs of people with disabilities are being appropriately met before, during, and 

after emergencies. Moreover, all CILs must make emergency management a priority, 

and funding should be appropriated accordingly.

National Disabilities Rights Network

The National Disabilities Rights Network (NDRN) is the nonprofit membership 

organization for the federally mandated Protection and Advocacy (P&A) systems and 

Client Assistance Programs (CAPs). Collectively, the P&A/CAP network is the largest 

provider of legally based advocacy services to people with disabilities in the United 

States. NDRN maintains a Disaster Preparedness Checklist8

, which provides guidance 

to people with disabilities on how and what to prepare in the event of a hurricane. P&As 

play a critical role in emergency management, and in 2011, NDRN and FEMA entered 

into an MOA affirming their commitment to work together on emergency management 

response to provide for the short- and long-term recovery needs of people with 

disabilities in the event of a natural or manmade disaster, including acts of terror. The 

agreement ensures that advocates from NDRN’s 57 state and territory affiliates will have 

access to FEMA disaster response offices—including workspace and logistical support—

before, during, and after a disaster, and that they will be involved in policy decisions and 

coordinate directly with the entire emergency management team. This partnership will 

help FEMA leverage the resources of the whole community, including those NDRN and

its member organizations can offer, to better meet the needs of the entire population 

affected by a disaster. In addition, an MOU was established in 2010 between NDRN and 
68

the American National Red Cross, in which the organizations established a nonbinding 

understanding to cooperate before, during, and after disaster events in the United States

to provide services and assistance to people with disabilities. 

National Organization on Disability

The National Organization on Disability (NOD) focuses on the promotion and incorporation 

of people with disabilities in all aspects of life. In response to the attacks of September 11, 

2001, NOD organized the Emergency Preparedness Initiative to address the needs of 

people with disabilities in emergency planning, response, and recovery (NOD, 2013). 

Emergency preparedness materials developed and provided by NOD include the following: 

● Partners in Preparedness Brochure (2009)

● Guide for Emergency Planners, Managers and Responders (2009)

● Disaster Readiness Tips for People with Disabilities (2009)

● Preparing Makes Sense brochure series—developed with the U.S. Department of 

Homeland Security, the American Red Cross, and AARP

● Special Needs for Katrina Evacuees Project—NOD sent specialists to areas hit by 

Hurricane Katrina and, from their assessments, released two congressional 

briefings discussing the specific needs and living conditions of people with 

disabilities who survived Katrina. 

2.1.3. Private Sector

National Association of Broadcasters

The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) is the primary advocacy organization for 

radio and television broadcasters. The association lobbies the FCC, the Administration, 
69

and Congress on behalf of broadcasters. Currently, the NAB is promoting radio-enabled 

mobile phones to allow EAS alerts to be made available to mobile phone users via an 

embedded FM chip (NAB, 2013). In July 2012, the FCC hosted a roundtable event 

including radio broadcasters, wireless carriers, and mobile phone manufacturers to 

explore the possibility of using broadcast radio receivers in mobile devices. The use of 

FM chips for mobile EAS is a major point of contention between the broadcast industry 

and the wireless industry. The Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association (CTIA) 

is opposed to any regulatory mandates concerning the use of FM chips, and without the 

cooperation of the wireless industry, it will never happen on a large scale.

Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association

CTIA is the international association for the wireless telecommunications industry; it

advocates for wireless industry positions at all levels of government and regularly 

submits filings to the FCC regarding regulation of the wireless industry. CTIA recently 

created AccessWireless.org, a Web site designed to enable people with disabilities to 

search for accessible wireless devices and services. In 2011, the FCC recognized 

CTIA’s efforts with the Award for Advancement in Accessibility. Mobile devices are 

integral to the lives of U.S. citizens, and this is as true for people with disabilities as it is 

for their nondisabled peers. With the increased use of wireless devices by people with 

and without disabilities, it is important to ensure that a broad range of these devices is 

accessible by all users, especially in emergency situations.

Consumer Electronics Association

The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) is the industry authority on market 

research and forecasts, consumer surveys, legislative and regulatory news, engineering 

standards, and training resources. CEA produces the International Consumer Electronics 

Show (CES), the world’s largest annual innovation event, which unites more than 

150,000 retail buyers, distributors, manufacturers, market analysts, importers, and 

exporters, as well as press from 150 countries. CEA member companies receive 

discounted floor space and other benefits when they exhibit at the CES.
70

National Cable and Telecommunications Association

Today, cable provides video entertainment, Internet connectivity, and digital telephone 

service to more than 56 million consumers. What began more than a half century ago 

among a few visionary pioneers has led to the creation of approximately 

800 programming networks viewed by over 93 percent of Americans.

Telecommunications Industry Association

The Telecommunications Industry Association is the leading trade association 

representing the global information and communications technology industry through 

standards development, policy initiatives, business opportunities, market intelligence, 

and networking events.

2.2. The Current Legal Landscape

This section examines enforcement of relevant laws and regulations, with a focus on 

identifying regulatory gaps at the federal level. Numerous laws address the rights of 

people with disabilities in general and accessibility issues and requirements with regard

to emergency communications. Laws have become more focused in the past few years; 

for example, laws that include people with disabilities in the evolution and utilization of 

technology with regard to 911 services. 

2.2.1. Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. § 701 et seq.

The first federal civil rights law protecting people with disabilities was the Rehabilitation 

Act of 1973. The intent of the Rehabilitation Act is to “empower individuals with 

disabilities to maximize employment, economic self-sufficiency, independence and 

inclusion and integration into society through . . . the guarantee of equal opportunity.” 

The best-known provision of the Rehabilitation Act is Section 504, which states,
71

No otherwise qualified individual with a disability . . . shall, solely by reason 

of her or his disability, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the 

benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity 

receiving Federal financial assistance. 

Section 504 prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities by programs 

conducted by federal agencies or any program or activity that receives federal financial 

assistance. Section 504 requires any state or local government, private company, or 

NGO that receives federal funds to effectively communicate with people with disabilities. 

Section 508 requires electronic and information technology that is developed, 

maintained, procured, or used by the federal government to be accessible to people with 

disabilities, including employees and members of the public. 

Both Section 504 and Section 508 are self-enforced by the federal agencies 

implementing them; enforcing actions are reactive and punitive rather than proactive and 

incentivizing. Each federal agency is required to have its own policy and complaint 

process regarding Section 504/508 compliance. A person may file a civil action suit only 

after all administrative remedies are exhausted. The prevailing party in a civil action suit 

receives injunctive relief and attorney’s fees, but compensatory and punitive damages 

are not available. 

Stafford Act of 1988, 42 U.S.C. § 5121 et seq.

Section 616 of the Stafford Act requires the director of FEMA to ensure that information 

made available to people with disabilities is in accessible formats. Section 689, as 

amended by the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006, directs the 

administrator of FEMA to develop guidelines to accommodate people with disabilities, 

including the accessibility of and communications and programs in shelters, recovery 

centers, and other facilities.
72

Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, 42 U.S.C. § 12101 et seq.

On July 26, 1990, President George W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act

(ADA), which extends the protections and prohibitions of the Rehabilitation Act to private 

conduct with the goal of reducing the social discrimination and stigma experienced by 

people with disabilities. The ADA is divided into five Titles that cover the various 

protections afforded by the law. Titles II, III, and IV have emergency communications 

implications. 

Title II of the ADA prohibits discrimination by public entities run or funded by state or

local governments.9 Title II mandates that

no qualified individual with a disability shall, by reason of such disability, be 

excluded from participation in or be denied the benefits of the services, 

programs, or activities of a public entity, or be subjected to discrimination

by any such entity.

10

The ADA defines public entity to include “any department, agency, special purpose 

district, or other instrumentality of a State or States or local government.”

11

Pursuant to Title II and its regulations, state and local governments must ensure that 

their communications, including emergency communications, are fully accessible to 

people with disabilities. This requirement covers public television programs, videos 

produced by a public entity, shelters, and telephone communications, including direct 

access to 911 services. Specifically, public entities, including state and local 

governments, must provide accessible communications and appropriate auxiliary aids 

and services.12 In addition, Title II requires all public entities to “ensure that interested 

persons . . . can obtain information as to the existence and location of accessible 

services, activities, and facilities.”

13 

Title III of the ADA prohibits any public accommodation from discriminating against 

people with disabilities by denying them access to the full and equal enjoyment of goods, 

services, or facilities. Public accommodations include all areas open to the public, 
73

including restaurants, stores, banks, pharmacies, legal offices, doctors’ offices, and 

hospitals. Title III mandates that

No individual shall be discriminated against on the basis of disability in the 

full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities, privileges, 

advantages, or accommodations of any place of public accommodation by 

any person who owns, leases (or leases to), or operates a place of public 

accommodation.14

Title III has effective communication requirements similar to those in Title II. Specifically, 

Title III requires places of public accommodation and commercial facilities to provide 

auxiliary aids and services where necessary to ensure effective communication with 

people with disabilities (DOJ, 2012a). 

Title IV requires a national telecommunications relay service (TRS) that operates in 

every state 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. TTY-based TRS providers must use a 

system for incoming emergency calls that, at a minimum, automatically and immediately 

transfers the caller to an appropriate public safety answering point (PSAP). An 

appropriate PSAP is one that the caller would have reached if he or she had dialed 911 

directly or one that is capable of enabling the dispatch of emergency services to the 

caller in an expeditious manner.15 Additional emergency calling requirements are 

applicable to Internet-based TRS providers. As of December 31, 2008, each provider of 

Internet-based TRS must accept and handle emergency calls and must access, either 

directly or via a third party, a commercially available database that will allow the provider 

to determine an appropriate PSAP, designated statewide default answering point, or 

appropriate local emergency authority that corresponds to the caller’s location and to 

relay the call to that entity.16 Title IV also requires closed captioning of federally funded 

public service announcements. 

As technology has evolved and the prominence and use of the Internet has increased, 

there has been increased focus on accessibility. The Internet has changed the way 

government interacts with and serves the public, including the way it conveys emergency 

communications to the public (DOJ, 2003). In 2007, DOJ published Chapter 5 of the 
74

ADA Tool Kit, which provides technical assistance for public entities to make their Web

sites more accessible (DOJ 2007f). In 2010, DOJ released an Advance Notice of 

Proposed Rulemaking (28 CFR Parts 35 and 36), in which it considered promulgating 

specific regulations for public and private entities under Title II and Title III of the ADA 

concerning Web site accessibility17.DOJ has announced its intention to amend Title II 

ADA regulations to address the obligations of state and local governments to make their 

Web sites accessible to and usable by people with disabilities and, separately, to 

address the obligation of public accommodations (entities that do business with the 

public) to provide accessible Web sites and the technical standards that they must 

follow.18

No single agency is responsible for enforcing the ADA. Enforcement is typically split 

among four agencies: the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), 

DOJ, the Department of Transportation, and the FCC. Title I relates to employment and 

is enforced by the EEOC. Titles II and III are generally enforced by DOJ and the federal 

courts, through lawsuits and both formal and informal settlement agreements. The 

Department of Transportation enforces regulations governing transit. The FCC enforces 

Title IV of the ADA through administrative complaints and civil action suits. All 

administrative complaints must be filed with the agency in question, and anyone who 

wishes to take civil action must first exhaust all administrative remedies. 

Telecommunications Act of 1996, 47 U.S.C. § 609 et seq.

Section 255 and Section 251(a)(2) of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 require 

telecommunications products and services to be accessible to people with disabilities, if 

readily achievable. If accessible products are not readily achievable, manufacturers must 

make their products compatible with existing adaptive devices used by people with 

disabilities, where readily achievable. “Readily achievable” is defined as easily 

accomplished and able to be carried out without much difficulty or expense. 

The Telecommunications Act of 1996 also requires closed captioning. Closed captioning 

allows people who are deaf or hard of hearing to have access to television programming; 
75

it displays the audio portion of a television program as text on the television screen. In 

1996, Congress required video programming distributors (VPDs) (cable operators, 

broadcasters, satellite distributors, and other multichannel video programming 

distributors) to close caption their television programs. Closed captioning provides a 

critical link to news, entertainment, and information for people who are deaf or hard of

hearing. For people whose native language is not English, English language captions 

improve comprehension and fluency. Captions also help improve literacy skills. Closed 

captions can be turned on through the television remote control or onscreen menu. The 

FCC does not regulate captioning of home videos, DVDs, or video games.19

As a natural progression from the requirement for closed captioning, the FCC 

established rules that require broadcasters and cable operators to make local 

emergency information accessible to persons who are deaf or hard of hearing and those

who are blind or have visual disabilities. This rule means that emergency information 

must be provided both aurally and in a visual format.20 

For people who are deaf or hard of hearing, emergency information that is provided in the 

audio portion of programming must be provided using either closed captioning or other 

methods of visual presentation, such as open captioning or crawls or scrolls that appear 

on the screen. Emergency information provided by means other than closed captioning 

should not block any closed captioning, and closed captioning should not block any 

emergency information provided by other means. Closed captions are visual text displays 

that are hidden in the video signal. Open captions are an integral part of the television 

picture, like subtitles in a movie. In other words, open captions cannot be turned off. Text 

that advances very slowly across the bottom of the screen is referred to as a crawl; 

displayed text or graphics that move up and down the screen are said to scroll. 

For people who are blind or have low vision, emergency information provided in the 

video portion of a regularly scheduled newscast or a newscast that interrupts regular 

programming must be accessible. This requires the aural description of emergency 

information in the main audio. If the emergency information is being provided in the video 

portion of programming that is not a regularly scheduled newscast or a newscast that 
76

interrupts regular programming (e.g., the programmer provides the emergency 

information through crawls or scrolls during regular programming), this information must 

be accompanied by an aural tone. The tone is meant to alert people who are blind or 

have low vision that the broadcaster is providing emergency information and they should

tune to another source, such as a radio, for more information. While the auditory tone is 

important, it must be followed by verbal information on the emergency.

The FCC enforces the Telecommunications Act.

Executive Order 13347 

Executive Order 13347 (2004), which established the Interagency Coordinating Council 

on Emergency Preparedness and Individuals with Disabilities (ICC), directs federal

agencies to (a) consider people with disabilities in their own emergency preparedness 

planning; (b) encourage local, state, and tribal governments and private organizations 

and individuals to consider people with disabilities in their emergency preparedness 

planning; and (c) facilitate cooperation among all levels of government as well as private 

organizations and individuals in implementing these plans as related to people with 

disabilities. Although the ADA and the Rehabilitation Act have the same requirements, 

the Executive Order specifically emphasizes nondiscrimination in emergency planning. 

However, because the Executive Order has not been codified into law, there are no legal 

consequences for noncompliance. FEMA’s Office of Disability Integration and 

Coordination oversees the ICC as well as administration of and compliance with 

Executive Order 13347.

Executive Order 13407

Executive Order 13407 (2006) established a policy to create FEMA’s Integrated Public 

Alerts and Warning System (IPAWS) and for that system to include the capability to alert 

and warn all Americans, including those with disabilities and those with limited English 

proficiency. The system is meant to aggregate and disseminate emergency alerts that 

are location-specific through the Emergency Alert System (EAS), the Commercial Mobile 
77

Alert System (CMAS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

weather radios, and other dissemination modes. 

Warning, Alert, and Response Network Act of 2006, 47 U.S.C. §§ 151, 332

The Warning, Alert, and Response Network (WARN) Act enables commercial mobile 

service (CMS) providers to transmit emergency alerts to their subscribers if they choose to 

do so. To ensure that people with disabilities have access to alerts, CMS providers must 

provide a unique audio attention signal and vibration cadence on CMAS-compatible 

handsets. These Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAs) are short, geographically targeted 

text messages to cell phones when both the wireless service provider and the subscriber 

have opted into the system. WEAs are required to have distinctive, accessible attentiongetting mechanisms (i.e., a distinctive vibration alert for people who are deaf or hard of 

hearing and a distinctive auditory or ring cadence for people who are blind or have low 

vision). 

The FCC is responsible for regulating the WARN Act. Participating wireless service 

providers were required to deploy the CMAS by April 7, 2012. Most of the major wireless 

service providers (AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile) originally stated that they would

participate “in part,” meaning that only certain devices in specified areas of the country 

would have access to CMAS alerts. Currently, the vast majority of newly released 

phones are CMAS-enabled. Sprint claims that CMAS will be standard in all its releases; 

other companies may follow suit if they have not done so already. Any wireless service

provider who chooses not to participate is required to notify its customers. 

Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006, 6 U.S.C. §§ 311-21m, 701

The Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act (PKEMRA) amends the Stafford 

Act by directing the administrator of FEMA to develop guidelines for accommodating 

people with disabilities, including “the accessibility of, and communications and programs 

in, shelters, recovery centers, and other facilities.” FEMA issued its Guidance on 

Planning for Integration of Functional Needs Support Services in General Population 
78

Shelters in November 2010; it provides guidance to emergency managers and shelter 

planners on the requirements associated with sheltering people with functional support 

needs in general population shelters. The guidance advises states to identify providers of 

accessible communications technologies and services, including sign language 

interpreters, computers, captioned telephones, Computer-Assisted Real-Time 

Translation (CART) operators and equipment, captioned televisions, and notetakers. 

Pursuant to PKEMRA, NCD has several responsibilities, including interaction and 

coordination with FEMA. Congress provided $300,000 in the FY 2007 appropriations bill 

to enable NCD to fulfill its assigned duties under PKEMRA. That funding has enabled 

NCD to complete this report.

New and Emerging Technologies 911 Improvement Act of 2008, Pub. L. No. 110-283

The purpose of the New and Emerging Technologies 911 Improvement (NET) Act is to 

improve public safety through the deployment of Internet protocol (IP)–enabled 911 and 

enhanced 911 (E911) services, to promote a national transition to an IP-enabled 

emergency network, and to upgrade access to 911 and E911 by people with disabilities. 

IP-enabled voice service providers must provide E911 service to their subscribers. 

Violations are enforced by the FCC under the jurisdiction of the Communications Act of 

1934. Provisions in Public Law 110-283 amend the Wireless Communications and Public 

Safety Act of 1999, the Communications Act of 1934, and the National 

Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Organization Act of 1992. In 

the latter amendment, NTIA was required to develop a national migration plan to an “IPenabled emergency network capable of responding to all citizen-activated emergency 

communications and improving information sharing among all emergency response 

entities.” (NTIA 2009 1-1). The migration plan identified solutions for the provision of 911 

and E911 to people with disabilities and an implementation plan for the solutions. The 

plan included the benefits of migration and mechanisms for ensuring national availability 

across all communities, identified location technology for itinerant devices, analyzed 

public safety answering point (PSAP) best and worst practices in their deployment of IPenabled emergency networks, recommended legislative language or changes that would 
79

unencumber entities involved in efforts to migrate, and analyzed efforts and provided 

legislative language that would facilitate the provision of automatic location for E911 

services. NTIA’s plan was required to be developed in consultation with the disability 

community, public safety community, providers of technology, telecommunications relay 

services, telecommunications, and IP-enabled voice services. Public Law 110-283 also 

required the FCC to develop technology-neutral standards for the implementation of 

E911, such as PSAP certification, testing requirements, and validation procedures for 

location information. 

21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010, 

Pub. L. No. 111-260

The 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA) updates existing 

communication laws, including the Communications Act of 1934 and the Rehabilitation 

Act of 1973. Title I requires communications products and services using broadband to 

be fully accessible to people with disabilities. Title II requires video programming on both 

television and the Internet to be accessible by those with disabilities. Both titles include 

provisions to ensure that people with disabilities have access to emergency information 

and services such as Next Generation 911 (NG911) and televised emergency 

information (FCC, 2011 a and b).The CVAA is enforced through complaints filed with the 

FCC and civil action suits against companies the FCC has found to be in violation. If a 

company is found to have violated the CVAA and the complaint is not resolved, the 

company may be liable for financial penalties (to be paid to the United States Treasury 

Department) and/or required to alter its practices to ensure accessibility in the future. In 

October 2012, the FCC granted waivers to three industry trade associations: the 

Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), the National Cable Television Association 

(NCTA), and the Entertainment Software Association (ESA). The waivers were granted 

until October 8, 2015, and confined to devices or services that might provide advanced 

communications features but whose primary purpose was something other than 

advanced communications (e.g., gaming devices and IP-enabled television sets).
80

FCC enforcement actions can be in response to written complaints from entities or 

individuals that point to infractions of the rules and regulations or to industry reports to 

the FCC as required by certain rules and regulations (such as the case with hearing aid 

compatibility). This causes enforcement to be primarily reactive, which can be an issue in 

emergency communications, as messages often contain information relevant to people’s 

immediate safety. 

Table 4 summarizes legislation that addresses the rights and accessibility issues of 

people with disabilities generally and regarding emergency communications specifically. 

Table 4. Relevant Laws That Address Rights and Accessibility of People

with Disabilities and Others with Access and Functional Needs

Enforcing 

Agency*

Enforcement Tools 

Available Primary Purpose

Rehabilitation Act

Sec. 504, 508

Self-enforced 

by all federal 

agencies

• Internal complaint 

process

• Civil action suits, 

injunctive relief, and 

attorney’s fees

General Disability 

Regulation

• All federally funded 

programs and activities 

(Sec. 504)

• All electronic and 

information technology 

developed and maintained 

by the federal government 

must be accessible to 

people with disabilities 

(Sec. 508)

Stafford Act

Sec. 616

FEMA (selfenforced)

None Communication and 

Access to Information

• Information provided by 

FEMA is accessible to 

people with disabilities. 
81

Enforcing 

Agency*

Enforcement Tools 

Available Primary Purpose

ADA Title II, III DOJ, EEOC, 

and federal 

courts

• Lawsuits in federal court

• Compensatory damages 

and back pay 

• Title III allows DOJ to 

obtain civil penalties 

• Investigations and 

compliance reviews by 

Attorney General 

Communication and 

Access to Information

• State and local 

governments, and private 

entities must effectively 

communicate with people 

with disabilities (Title II)

Title IV FCC • Not specified; FCC is 

required to resolve 

complaints within 

180 days if not resolved 

by state in question

• Requirement of national 

telecommunications relay 

service in every state and 

closed captioning of 

federally funded public 

service announcements 

(Title IV)

Communications 

Act of 1934, as 

amended** 

Sec. 251 (a)(2), 

255

FCC • Administrative complaint 

process

• Civil action suits

• Financial penalties paid 

to the U.S. and/or 

required to alter their 

practices

Communication and 

Access to Information

• Accessibility of telecom 

products and services, and 

advanced communications 

services; 

• Requires fully accessible 

communications products 

and services using 

broadband and video 

programming on television 

and Internet 

• Requires an Emergency 

Access Advisory 

Committee to ensure that 

Next Generation 911 

(NG911) is fully accessible 

E.O. 13347 (2004) DHS/FEMA None Emergency Preparedness 

and Alerts

• Include people with 

disabilities in state, local, 

and tribal government 

emergency preparedness 

plans
82

Enforcing 

Agency*

Enforcement Tools 

Available Primary Purpose

E.O. 13407 (2006) DHS/FEMA None Emergency Preparedness 

and Alerts

• Created IPAWS

• System has capability of 

alerting and warning

people with disabilities

WARN Act 

(Warning, Alert, 

and Response 

Network Act)

FCC N/A Emergency Preparedness 

and Alerts

• CMS providers transmit 

emergency alerts that are 

accessible to people with 

disabilities through CMAScompatible handsets 

(WEA)

PKEMRA

(Post-Katrina 

Emergency 

Management 

Reform Act)

Sec. 212

FEMA and 

POTUS (selfenforced)

None Emergency Preparedness 

and Alerts

• FEMA disaster assistance 

does not discriminate 

against people with 

disabilities 

• Information and 

communication provided in 

emergency shelters and 

recovery centers are fully 

accessible

Net 911 Act (New 

and Emerging 

Technologies 911 

Improvement Act)

Sec. 102

FCC National migration plan to 

IP-enabled emergency 

network

Emergency Preparedness 

and Alerts

• Deploy IP-enabled 911 and 

E911 and make them fully 

accessible 

* Only includes enforcing agencies for the laws and regulations pertaining to emergency 

communications.

** Includes as amended by 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 

2010
83

2.3. Relevant Lawsuits

2.3.1. Brooklyn Ctr. for Independence of the Disabled v. Bloomberg, 

2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 159532 (S.D.N.Y. Nov. 7, 2013)

In September 2011, the Brooklyn Center for Independence of the Disabled (BCID) and 

the Center for Independence of the Disabled, New York (CIDNY) brought suit against the 

City of New York for discriminating against people with disabilities by failing to include 

their needs in emergency planning. During Hurricane Irene, televised emergency 

announcements by city officials did not include American Sign Language (ASL) 

interpreters and evacuation maps were inaccessible to people who are blind or have low 

vision (DRA, 2012b). The plaintiffs cited noncompliance with the ADA and Section 504 of 

the Rehabilitation Act. In November 2012, Federal District Court Judge Jesse Furman 

granted the plaintiffs’ class action status, citing Hurricane Sandy’s detrimental impact on 

people with disabilities in New York City (Weiser, 2012). The federal court trial began in 

New York on March 11, 2013. On May 10, 2013, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern 

District of New York, on behalf of the United States Department of Justice, filed a 

statement of interest that supported the plaintiffs’ position in the federal class action.

On November 7, 2013, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York ruled 

that New York City discriminated against people with disabilities in its failure to plan for 

their needs in large-scale disasters, such as Hurricane Sandy. The ruling came in the 

first case of its kind to go to trial and followed Hurricane Sandy when many of the city’s 

residents with disabilities were left stranded. This ruling is expected to have national 

implications. 

2.3.2. Giacopini v. City of Richmond

In 2008, Disability Rights Advocates (DRA) wrote a letter to the City of Richmond on 

behalf of Doris Giacopini, a person with a mobility disability, concerning the need to 

include people with disabilities in its emergency planning. The city used as a model the 
84

approach adopted by the City of Oakland and designed by an expert in the field, June 

Kailes (DRA, 2011). The city also hired Sally Swanson Architects, a firm that specializes 

in meeting the needs of people with disabilities, to assist in preparing a plan. Using those 

two resources, Richmond created and adopted a new emergency plan in 2011 that 

addresses cross-disability needs. The effective communication components of the plan 

include qualified sign language interpreters and/or real-time captions on one of 

Richmond’s local channels, fully accessible emergency information on the city’s Web

sites, and training and communication aids (such as pictograms and loudspeakers) for 

first responders.

2.3.3. Communities Actively Living Independent & Free v. City of Los 

Angeles, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 118364 (C.D. Cal. Feb. 10, 2011)

In February 2011, a federal judge found that the City of Los Angeles violated the ADA by 

failing to include the needs of residents with disabilities in emergency planning. The 

Justice Department filed a Statement of Interest brief supporting the plaintiffs’ position 

that the city’s emergency plans failed to adequately include people with disabilities. With

regard to communication, the plaintiffs noted that the city failed to ensure that emergency 

notification plans included accessibility. An independent living center found that during 

one of the city’s disaster drills, their deaf and hard of hearing constituents could not 

understand the announcements. The judge ordered Los Angeles to hire independent 

experts to review and revise its plan to address the needs of people with disabilities. The 

city has three years to complete the process. At the end of the three years, the expert 

will present the new plan to the court. 

2.3.4. California Foundation for Independent Living Centers v. City of 

Oakland, C07-04608 EDL

In 2007, the California Foundation for Independent Living Centers (CFILC), Californians 

for Disability Rights, Inc., and Marian Gray (an Oakland taxpayer) filed suit against the 

City of Oakland for failing to include the needs of people with disabilities in its emergency 
85

planning. Soon after the lawsuit was filed, the city entered cooperative negotiations with 

Disability Rights Advocates (DRA), the legal center representing the plaintiffs. A 

consultant was hired to evaluate and make recommendations to address the needs of 

people with disabilities and other access and functional needs in Oakland’s emergency 

planning. These recommendations became the basis for the new plan the city adopted in 

January 2010, known as the Functional Needs Annex for Mass Care and Shelter (DRA, 

2012a). The plan states that the city’s emergency notification system, which currently 

contacts people to alert them about an emergency in their area via standard telephones, 

will interface with various electronic and wireless devices used by people with 

disabilities. Additionally, the city will provide specific information during an emergency on 

locations of open shelters and which of these shelters are accessible to those with 

mobility disabilities. People will be able to access this information by calling 211 on a 

voice telephone or TTY.

2.3.5. Disability Policy Consortium v. Commonwealth of 

Massachusetts

In 2010, the Disability Policy Consortium, Inc. (DPC) filed a complaint with DOJ’s Civil 

Rights Division against the State of Massachusetts for failing to include the unique needs 

of people with disabilities in its planning and response to a water crisis experienced by 

the state that year.21 DPC noted that the state did not provide ASL interpreters in 

televised press conferences by government officials and that video clips of the press 

conferences were posted on the state’s Web site without closed captioning, making them 

inaccessible to people who are deaf or hard of hearing. DPC cited noncompliance with 

Title II of the ADA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.

2.4. Conclusion

Emergencies can occur with little or no notice. It is critical that everyone involved in 

emergency planning and management comply with applicable laws and regulations at all 

times. In an essentially reactive response to issues, DOJ and other government 
86

agencies enforce the laws and regulations outlined above primarily through complaints, 

compliance reviews, lawsuits, and settlement agreements. NCD recommends 

(1) increased outreach to people with disabilities and other access and functional needs 

in the community, and (2) increased enforcement of federal laws and regulations. 
87

SECTION 3. Emergency-related Communications: The 

Individual Perspective 

3.1. Planning Is Key 

According to Comfort (1994), information flow can make the difference between order 

and chaos before, during, and after a disaster situation. An effective flow allows 

individuals and groups to choose among alternatives according to the environment at the 

time. When people with disabilities are part of a good information flow, they can make 

those choices and, to an extent, self-organize in disaster situations or during recovery. 

Such self-organization is a continuous process that occurs in a social context through 

communicative acts, whether written, verbal, signed, or electronic.

Disaster researchers have found that citizen-to-citizen communication activity often helps 

ameliorate tragic situations and is a necessary component in disaster response and 

recovery (Vieweg et al., 2008). When people are deprived of information, the level of 

threat that the disaster represents may increase because of delays caused by the search 

for necessary information (Mileti, 1999). Groups that are excluded to some extent from 

the community self-organizing process are vulnerable and at risk.22 As a result of 

inadequate levels (or even complete lack) of information provided to people with 

disabilities, they may not be able to participate in the social interactions that take place 

during an emergency or disaster.

In addition, effective communications in a disaster situation can only exist with good 

planning. At the local level, where disasters are usually experienced most keenly, 

disaster planning and preparedness may be a low priority because they are infrequent. 

Mileti (1999) suggests that local governments tend to use generalized plans that do not 

accurately reflect the needs of their communities. Some emergency plans are developed 
88

by nonspecialists, who can underestimate the magnitude of emergency situations, 

especially when they spiral up to the level of a disaster.

3.1.1. Disaster Planning

Disaster planning is complex. A disaster is a “sudden, calamitous event that seriously 

disrupts the functioning of a community or society and causes human, material, and 

economic or environmental losses that exceed the community’s or society’s ability to 

cope using its own resources” (International Federation of the Red Cross, 2013). A 

disaster (D) occurs when a triggering agent (T) interacts with vulnerability (V): T + V = D. 

(McEntire, 2004). For this equation, McEntire uses the definition of disaster taken from 

Foster (1984): consequences of extreme events. The triggering agent is an extreme 

event that may have natural or human causes. The triggering agent (T) usually cannot 

be controlled, but reducing vulnerability (V) can significantly change the outcome of an 

incident. 

Local communities may not be aware of this equation for many reasons, mainly because 

disasters are infrequent for most of them (Foster, 1984). The lack of experience with 

disasters and the low priority given to disaster planning are clear barriers to adoption of 

good preparedness practices. Local communities with public agencies that have 

experience handling disasters have better preparedness practices, and higher priority is 

given to disaster planning (Kartez & Lindell, 1987). 

A vital part of effective disaster planning is an understanding of the diverse populations 

that make up the community, including their strengths and their weaknesses, as a basis 

for developing policies, programs, and practices to protect them (Heinz Center, 2002) An 

understanding of differences in social vulnerability and of disaster emergency 

management protocols before a disaster occurs can significantly reduce its impact. 

Reducing loss of life and property damage and encouraging recovery requires a 

proactive rather than a reactive approach (Kartez & Lindell, 1987). Local communities 

that customize planning and preparedness rather than following a one-size-fits-all 
89

strategy can reduce vulnerabilities (Cutter & Emrich, 2006; Mileti, 1999). This is 

especially true when the needs of people with disabilities are part of the picture. In fact, 

as June Kailes emphasizes, when people with disabilities participate in emergency 

communication planning, the whole community benefits (Kailes, 2005, 2008; Kailes and 

Enders, 2007). Including people with access and functional needs in the disaster 

lifecycle introduces a vital perspective: that all disasters are personal, and all plans need 

to be adaptable. Disaster planning cannot capture only one perspective; all diverse 

groups should be involved. At the very least, local communities should have an 

understanding of community communications needs and capabilities. That 

understanding can be achieved quite simply, by involving representatives of the 

community in planning (Kailes and Enders 2007). 

Local communities tend to be reactive and to base their emergency plans on lessons 

learned; thus, communities that do not experience disasters tend to have general plans. 

There is a relationship between the experience of recent disasters or emergencies and 

effective preparedness and planning. Communities that include advocacy groups and 

people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs in the planning 

process tend to have emergency plans that reflect diverse input.

In addition to these general observations, the following are specific barriers to local 

adoption of customized emergency communications. 

Barrier 1. Coordinating Across Boundaries 

Emergencies do not follow jurisdictional lines. Neighboring jurisdictions need to ensure 

that they are communicating before an emergency so that things run smoothly during the 

emergency. Smaller jurisdictions often have fewer capabilities to communicate over 

jurisdictional boundaries, making the response to an emergency or disaster 

uncoordinated. This subject is covered in detail in Section 4. 
90

Barrier 2. Technological Challenges

Depending on the location, technological challenges may include a mix or lack of 

communications infrastructure, challenges of equipment interoperability, and the need for 

redundancy in systems and equipment. Examples abound, including such diverse 

challenges as the need to ensure communications with paratransit drivers and the 

potential that NG911 offers for redundancy and reliability.

Barrier 3. Competing Pressures on Local Budgets 

Local governments such as cities and counties operate from a tax base provided by the 

residents, which supports local services such as sanitation, education, transportation, 

and public safety (Pagano, 2012). In a sense, the need for inclusive emergency 

communication must be balanced with the need for better roads and better schools. In 

recent years, many cities and counties have had to cut programs as a result of state 

funding cuts and a reduced local tax base, and local government officials and managers 

have had to make tough decisions about which programs will benefit citizens the most 

(Ammons, Smith, & Stenberg, 2012). Emergency communications do not necessarily do 

well in this competition for resources, as revealed through personal communications for 

Section 4. 

Barrier 4. Sociological and Organizational Challenges

Sharing and dissemination of information is at once critical and problematic, beginning 

with questions of whom to trust in unfamiliar settings and confusing situations (Mileti & 

O’Brien, 1992). Even after trust and security have been established, fear and stress can 

be aggravated by inadequate information flows (White and Fu, 2012). Such emotions in 

turn may trigger panic and confusion. Often, panic can be reduced or eliminated if local 

communities adopt simple communication strategies. For example, during an 

emergency, information must be complete, allowing people to have control and make 

personal decisions concerning the level of risk they face. Incomplete or insufficient 

information will also reduce trust in the information source (CDC, 2012). To best deliver 
91

information, communications strategies must be redundant, multimodal, and accessible 

to the largest possible number of people, embracing, for example, the use of iPad apps.

The level of affordability, availability, and applicability of solutions determines their 

impact on emergency communications and the likelihood that they will be used during a 

crisis (Manoj & Baker, 2007). Increasingly, communication tools and processes have to 

be flexible enough to meld traditional emergency communication hierarchies with the 

horizontal communication potential of new technologies such as social networks and 

social media (p. 52). 

Barrier 5. The Problem of Registries

Registries are a controversial mechanism for identifying people with disabilities in 

emergency situations. Many cities and counties encourage the elderly and citizens with 

disabilities—especially those in need of transportation assistance—to give their 

information to one or more registries maintained by the local government. In this limited 

sense, local governments may have some record of the locations of such citizens, but 

these are passive records with limited utility. The majority of people with disabilities, like 

the general public, take part in day-to-day activities such as going to school, working, 

traveling, exercising, and volunteering (Kailes, 2008). Local governments cannot depend 

on registries alone, nor place the responsibility on individuals to register themselves as a 

means of planning. Also, many of these registries are not maintained properly or even 

made available for emergency management (Kailes, 2008). Thus, registries tend to be 

ineffective and should not be relied on.

The Global Public Inclusive Infrastructure (GPII) suggests a more imaginative approach: 

Instead of a single-purpose registry for emergencies, GPII has the potential to enable

people with disabilities to identify their across-the-board preferences for information and 

communication functions, including all the context-of-use information now being built into 

the infrastructure.23 
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Barrier 6. The Need for Comprehensive Integration

With budget cuts and even the elimination of some programs, the focus of local 

government should shift from developing plans based on registries (i.e., the possibility of 

knowing where individuals are) to integrating disability service providers, both 

community-based organizations and government agencies, in planning and assisting 

during disasters and recovery (Matherly and Mobley 2011). Advocacy groups and the 

local community can work together to maintain constant communication. For example, 

Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, has the Arc, an advocacy group for people with 

intellectual and developmental disabilities. The Arc is a partner and committee 

representative at the emergency management agency, which means that the county

understands the needs and concerns of people with developmental and intellectual 

disabilities. Of course, local governments must go a step further and include people with 

disabilities in the process. 

3.2. Federal, State, and Local Emergency Communications

3.2.1. How the System Works

Alerts and warnings are often first disseminated by national government organizations 

such as the National Weather Service or FEMA. Communication infrastructure is 

typically provided at the state and national levels, often by private sector organizations 

(DHS, 2008b). The federal government provided a blueprint for emergency 

communications by developing a National Communication Plan and the structure for 

emergency response plans at the state and local levels. The federal government also 

institutes laws and regulations by which emergency communications, and 

communications in general, are to be accessible for people with disabilities and others 

with access and functional needs (see Section 2). Beyond these roles, state and federal 

governments provide a supporting role for local governments during an emergency, as 

described in the National Response Framework (DHS 2013b). Specifically, state 

governments “supplement local efforts before, during and after incidents by supplying in-
93

state resources,” and “assistance from other states or the Federal government can also 

be requested if needed” (p. 13). State and federal officials can communicate with local 

officials through the Incident Command System (ICS). (See Appendix B for a detailed 

discussion of the ICS.) 

The ICS is complex and, at the point where it interacts with the public, often problematic. 

Problems with interoperability or communications terminology may directly affect the flow 

of information to the public, which in turn may have an impact on people with disabilities 

and others with access and functional needs.

As is the case with all parts of the ICS, the process to disseminate information to the 

public during an emergency is scalable. When an incident is small, the incident 

commander may be the chief information source for the public. However as an incident 

grows in size and severity, public information officers (PIOs) might be included in the 

Incident Command Team. If an area is experiencing multiple incidents or one incident 

crosses jurisdictions, a Joint Information Center (JIC) might be formed. Within the JIC, 

PIOs consolidate information from all incident command posts and present the 

information to the public. If an Emergency Operations Center (EOC) has been formed, 

the JIC will receive all information from the EOC. (See Figure 4.)

Figure 4. Dissemination of Information through the 

Incident Command System

Terminology

Within the ICS, communication is critical. Various agencies may not be accustomed to 

communicating with one another, so the ICS requires everyone to use common 
94

terminology or plain language. For example, “EMT” could mean emergency medical 

treatment, emergency medical technician, electron microscope tomography, or Eastern 

Mediterranean Time, depending on who is using the term (FEMA, 2010b). 

Interoperability 

Of equal importance is interoperability of communications among agencies and

jurisdictions. The National Emergency Communications Plan states, “More than 

50,000 independent agencies across the Nation routinely use emergency 

communications. Each of these agencies is governed by the laws of its respective 

jurisdiction or area of responsibility. No single entity is, or can be, in charge of the 

Nation’s entire emergency communications infrastructure. In such an environment, 

collaborative planning among all levels of government is critical for ensuring effective 

and fully coordinated preparedness and response” (DHS, 2008a, p. 11). 

While the technology exists for interoperable communications among agencies and 

jurisdictions, the ability to easily use this technology (especially during an emergency) is 

often absent. Mendonca, Jefferson, and Harrald (2007) note that “despite improvements 

in information and communication technology (ICT), the role of improvisation, adhocracy 

and other emergent phenomena in emergency response has not diminished” (p. 44).

Several themes emerged from interviews with emergency preparedness administrators

for this report:

● There appears to be a stigma attached when one agency uses another’s radio 

channels. 

● It takes a lot of training for first responders and emergency managers to figure out 

how to change to the correct channel to communicate with other agencies. 

● If a first responder or emergency manager changes radio frequencies to 

communicate with another agency, there is a risk of missing important information 

being disseminated on the original frequency. 
95

● It is extremely difficult to figure out what channel another agency is using on its

radio. One emergency management professional gave the example that if a 

firefighter saw a police officer sitting in his patrol car a couple hundred yards away 

and wanted to communicate with him, it would be easier for the firefighter to just 

walk over to the patrol car, because the firefighter would likely have no idea what 

radio channel the police officer was using. 

Accessibility Issues and Communications Involving Individuals

Emergency communications disseminated from government authorities will concern 

preparedness, response, and recovery. This includes alerts and warnings issued by 

local, state, or federal governments, private sector organizations, or NGOs, and direct 

verbal and nonverbal communications between local authorities and individuals. One of 

the major concerns for people with disabilities and others with access and functional 

needs is the level of accessibility of those communications. The public is not a 

“homogenous entity” (Partnership for Public Warning, 2004, p. 9). Therefore, multiple 

forms of emergency communication may be needed to properly disseminate a 

comprehensive message. For diverse populations, emergency communications are more 

likely to succeed when messages and their presentation are tailored to be locally and 

personally (including linguistically) relevant, and when there is community involvement 

(Beckjord et al., 2008). 

Before, during, and after an emergency, people often look to officials for guidance. This 

can include calling 911, 311, or 211; talking to an official on the phone or in person at a 

shelter or disaster recovery center; contacting an official via email or Web site; and even 

calling out to an official during search and rescue. People will want to verify the 

emergency communication information, often by checking with partners, friends, 

neighbors, or others in their social contact circle. They may confirm alerts; let others 

know they are safe; or provide information to others about shelters, transportation, 

supplies, or general response and recovery. Communications redundancy is a necessity; 

its importance is increasingly being recognized. 
96

To better understand how people with disabilities and others with access and functional 

needs receive and process public emergency alerts, the NCD research team accessed 

recent survey research work by the Wireless RERC (see Section 3.3. below). What 

follows is a brief discussion of some contemporary public alert systems and tools. 

Some Communication Systems and Tools

WebEOC 

WebEOC is a tool used by more than 35 states and U.S. territories, and by emergency 

managers working at the county or city level in 43 states. (EOC stands for Emergency 

Operations Center under the Incident Command System.) WebEOC is a secure online 

tool that enables those who are authorized to use the system to log in and either enter or 

view information regarding an incident. WebEOC works by creating “boards” where 

users can track tasks that need to be completed; manage resources; track the status of 

critical infrastructure such as roads, waterways, pipelines, and bridges; create incident 

action plans; and track first responders. Boards are originally confined to the local level 

(city/county), but they can be made accessible at the state, FEMA regional, or federal 

level. When boards are made available for other levels, any information that is entered at 

the local level will automatically be uploaded to those who have access (similar to a 

Twitter feed).

IPAWS

The Integrated Alert and Warning System program (IPAWS) was established by 

Presidential Executive Order 13047 to “modernize and enhance alert and warning 

delivery to the American Public” (FEMA, 2012c, p. 2). The overarching goal of IPAWS is 

to create an “effective, reliable, flexible, and comprehensive system to alert and warn the 

American people,” including people with disabilities and others with access and 

functional needs (p. 17). Ideally, IPAWS will help save time when alerting and warning 

the public during an emergency by allowing authorities to deliver their messages from a 

single portal to multiple communication pathways, including the Emergency Alert System 

(EAS), Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAs), and the National Weather Service 

Dissemination Systems (FEMA, 2013). In addition, the use of multimodal alerts and 
97

warnings has the potential to enhance accessibility. The IPAWS Program Management 

Office is working with industry partners and researchers to ensure accessibility and 

interoperability, “specifically for devices and services for people with disabilities” (FEMA, 

2012c, p. 12).

Common Alerting Protocol

IPAWS uses Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) alerts to disseminate emergency 

information. FEMA notes that the CAP “is a digital format for exchanging emergency 

alerts that allows a consistent alert message to be disseminated simultaneously over 

many different communications systems” (FEMA, 2012d). CAP allows for messages to 

include a variety of content such as “photographs, maps, and streaming video” which “is 

limited only by the capacity of the delivery system used” (FEMA, 2012d). CAP also 

ensures accessibility through its ability to provide information in both text and audio 

formats, and in multiple languages.

Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAs)

WEA is a system that allows geographically targeted alerts and warnings in the form of 

text-like messages that are distributed to wireless phones and other mobile devices 

(FCC, 2013a). WEAs are broadcast “only from cell towers in the zone of an emergency” 

and are “accompanied by a unique attention signal and vibration, which is particularly 

helpful to people with hearing or vision-related disabilities” (p. 2). 

Social Media

A relatively new avenue that has opened up in emergency communications is the use of 

social media. Social media are somewhat controversial, in part because they tend to 

challenge the traditional top-down method of emergency communications and allow 

individuals to take a more active role in alerting others of emergencies, including 

providing information directly, uploading photos and videos, and communicating in real 

time during an emergency. 

Examples of the use of social media during an emergency abound; they include the 2011 

Japan earthquake and tsunami, the Haiti earthquake in 2010, the 2007 San Diego 
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wildfires, and the 2007 Virginia Tech shootings (Acar & Muraki, 2011; Frank, 2010; Palen 

& Hughes, 2009; Sutton & Palen, 2008). More recently, social media played a significant 

role when Hurricane Sandy hit the East Coast in 2012. In the 24 hours after the storm 

made landfall, there were 3.5 million tweets with the hashtag #sandy; Facebook reported 

that the top 10 words used in that period were all Sandy-related; and about 10 pictures 

per second were being uploaded to Instagram with the #sandy hashtag. FEMA tweeted 

directions for finding shelters using short messaging service (SMS messages). The Fire 

Department of New York tweeted incidents of major fires throughout the night via Twitter

and had a dedicated person monitoring its Twitter account to respond to people tweeting 

emergencies (Ngak, 2012).

Social media not only potentially provide an additional means of contacting emergency 

management but also provide a means for crowd sourcing information among 

individuals, as was the case during the Southern California wildfires of 2007.

24 Surveys 

by the Red Cross indicate that between 2010 and 2011, people not only increased their 

use of social media but also increasingly expected emergency management to use 

social media. Twenty-two percent of respondents to a 2011 Red Cross survey stated that 

if they were unable to contact local emergency management by phone, they would try to 

contact emergency management services via an online channel; 35 percent of 

respondents expected that if they posted a request for help on a social media site, help 

would arrive within an hour. 

However, the use of social media can pose potential problems for people with disabilities 

and others with access and functional needs as well as emergency managers. One 

challenge is that social media are poorly defined, leading to confusion over what the term 

exactly refers to (White, Fu, & Benson, 2013). Social media represent more of an 

emerging issue than a current reality; 2012 survey results from the Wireless RERC 

indicate that overall use levels of social media by people with disabilities during 

emergency situations are low, although they are higher among the younger generation 

(see Section 3.3 below). 
99

A primary issue for people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs 

is that not all social media are accessible (Borrino, Furini, & Roccetti, 2009; Coltham 

2012). For example, for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, 

“accessibility” has to include a simple design with few options, simple text, and pictures 

to convey meaning. Social media sites may be too busy and cluttered.

People with decreased motor skills may require that the site be keyboard accessible. In 

the case of Twitter, “The keyboard cannot access Favorite, Reply and Delete links” 

(Lembree, 2010).25 Videos (for example, in YouTube) must include captions and ASL 

interpretation for accessibility for people who are deaf or hard of hearing, as well as

audio description of relevant visuals for people who are blind or have low vision (Henry, 

2008).

If online information cannot be accessed via screen readers, people who are blind or 

have low vision will not be able to receive the information appropriately. In addition, any 

image on a Web site that lacks ALT text26 to describe the image and the semantic 

meaning of the image will also be inaccessible to people who are blind or have low vision 

(Pennick, 2005).27

Other potential problems are more directly related to emergency managers. Currently 

there are no laws specifying potential liability if people provide misinformation about

emergencies via social media. In addition, if the government were to use social media to 

gather information, would that violate privacy laws, as many people have personally 

identifiable information on their social media sites? The Department of Homeland 

Security currently has privacy impact assessments (PIAs) relating to this idea, but the 

problem is compounded by the lack of a definitive definition of social media. In the DHS

assessments, social media are defined as either unidirectional or bidirectional, although 

they do not always fit into one category or the other.

The Role of the Media

Emergency communications are often disseminated through media channels. The 

literature indicates that media channels have the ability to help instill trust in emergency 
100

communication (i.e., people are likely to trust emergency communications from local 

news sources), but they also can insert bias, which can affect the way people process 

emergency communications (White & Fu, 2012). This relates to Mileti’s (1995) socialpsychological process for processing emergency communications. The media must be 

sure to relay all emergency communications in an accessible manner for people with 

disabilities and must comply with federal disability laws, which often does not happen. 

3.3. How Individuals Handle Alerts

Throughout this report, the NCD research team has tried to focus on the person with a 

disability as an individual, to better understand the situation such a person faces when 

disaster strikes. In 2012, the Wireless RERC’s user research team launched a survey of 

people with diverse disabilities. This work built on previous survey research conducted 

by the Wireless RERC in December 2010/January 2011 on emergency communications 

and people with disability.

28 The NCD research team referenced findings from that 

research that are relevant to communications.

The survey was conducted from November 2012 through March 31, 2013. One focus 

was on how people with disabilities receive public alerts, whether and how they verify the 

information in public alerts, and whether they pass on those alerts or related information 

to others. Because the survey sample included a substantial number of people who 

reported having no disability, the two groups were compared.

3.3.1. Methodology

Convenience sampling was used to recruit participants to the survey. Respondents were 

contacted either directly through the Wireless RERC’s Consumer Advisory Network 

(CAN) or indirectly through numerous national, state, and local organizations working in 

the area of disability, accessibility, communications, and public safety.
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A total of 1,772 individuals completed the survey, of whom 1,179 reported having at least 

one disability; 429 reported having no disability; and the remainder did not indicate 

whether they did or did not have a disability. Among the respondents, 387 reported being 

a caregiver for a person with a disability.

Data Analysis 1. Receiving, Verifying, and Passing on Information

For the three key behaviors related to emergency communications (receiving, verifying, 

and passing on emergency alert information) there was little difference between the 

disability and nondisability groups. 

While a substantially higher percentage of respondents with no disability reported having 

received a public alert (regardless of medium), the difference was not great (Table 5). 

There was no statistically significant difference in the percentages of respondents with 

and without disabilities who verified public alert information or passed it on to others.

Table 5. Have you ever received, verified, and/or 

passed on emergency alert information?

 Has a Disability No Disability

Received Public Alert 78% 85%

Verified Alert Info 63% 65%

Passed on Alert Info to Others 62% 62%

Television remains by far the most common communications medium for people with 

disabilities, as it does for those without disabilities, both for receiving alerts and for 

verifying the emergency information (Table 6). 
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Table 6. How were you alerted, and how did you 

verify the emergency information?

 

Alerted Verified

Has 

Disability

No 

Disability

Has 

Disability

No 

Disability

Television 55% 52% 57% 52%

Text Message 32% 38% 13% 10%

Email 32% 31% 16% 14%

Phone Call (landline, mobile phone) 23% 29% 16% 17%

Sirens or Other Alarms 23% 23% 20% 13%

Radio (regular radio) 21% 26% 21% 27%

Direct Observation of Your Surroundings 20% 17% 38% 38%

Internet News 19% 16% 33% 31%

Direct Contact with Someone Nearby 12% 10% 26% 19%

NOAA Weather Radio 14% 18% 15% 15%

Social Media Posting from Federal, 

State, or Local Emergency Management 

Agency

13% 12% 14% 11%

Social Media Posting from Friends and 

Family 11% 12% 10% 9%

Emergency App Installed on Smartphone 10% 13% 8% 10%

Instant Messaging/Chat 2% 3% 5% 2%

Personal Alerting Device 2% 3% 1% 2%

TTY <1% 1% 1% <1%

Similarly, there was no statistically significant difference between those with a disability 

and those without in terms of using social media to receive or verify public alerts 

(Table 7). This was the case for use of official federal, state, or local social media outlets, 

as well as for personal social media networks. There was a statistically significant, 
103

though small, difference in the use of social media to pass on public alert information—

respondents with disabilities use social media for this purpose more than respondents 

with no disability (Table 8). Still, levels of use were low for both groups. 

Table 7. Have you ever received, verified, and/or 

passed on emergency alert information via social media?

 

Has a 

Disability

No 

Disability

Received Public Alert via Social Media (official channels) 11% 11%

Received Public Alert via Social Media (personal network) 10% 10%

Verified Alert Info via Social Media (official channels) 9% 7%

Verified Alert Info via Social Media (personal network) 6% 5%

Passed On Alert Info To Others via Social Media

(personal network) 12% 8%

Table 8. How did you pass on or forward the 

emergency alert information?

 

Forwarded (yes)

Has 

Disability

No 

Disability

In Person to Someone Nearby 52% 53%

Phone Call (landline, mobile phone) 45% 54%

Text Message (on mobile phone) 38% 42%

Email 33% 30%

Shared on Social Media 22% 13%

Instant Messaging/Chat 8% 7%

Telephone Relay Service 3% <1%

TTY 1% 0%
104

This is the second survey of the alerting methods used to receive emergency alerts run 

by the Wireless RERC. In a survey conducted in 2010–11, traditional broadcast media in 

the form of television and radio were the most frequently used media by which 

respondents with disabilities received emergency alerts (41% and 25% of respondents, 

respectively). Email (20%), direct observation (18%), and phone calls (18%) rounded out 

the top five (see Table 9). Text messaging ranked sixth, with 13 percent of respondents 

reporting having received alerts via this medium. At that time, “social media” was not 

listed as a choice in the general alerting methods question because of its very limited 

use for emergency communications. 

In the 2012–13 survey,

29 television remained the most common medium for receiving 

alerts (55%), but text messages, which previously ranked sixth (13%), ranked second at 

32 percent, tying with email and followed by phone calls (landline or mobile) and sirens 

and alarms (23%), radio (21%), and direct observation (20%). This indicated a decline in 

the popularity of some traditional means of communication (notably radio). Social media 

ranked sixth for receiving and seventh for verifying, implying that they still rank relatively 

low as emergency communication tools. 

Table 9. Methods of Receiving and Verifying Alerts

Ranking

Received Alert

(2010–11)

Received Alert

(2012–13)

Verified alert

(2010–11)

Verified Alert

(2012–13)

1st Television Television Television Television

2nd Radio

Text message 

and email 

(equally)

Direct observation Direct observation

3rd Email Phone calls and 

sirens (equally)

Radio and 

Internet news 

(equally)

Internet news

4th

Direct observation 

and phone calls 

(equally)

Radio Phone calls A person nearby

5th Sirens Direct observation Email Radio
105

Ranking

Received Alert

(2010–11)

Received Alert

(2012–13)

Verified alert

(2010–11)

Verified Alert

(2012–13)

6th Text message 

Social media and 

Internet news 

(equally)

Other Sirens

7th Internet news A person nearby Text message Social media

Data Analysis 2. Impact of Age on the Use of Various Media to Receive and Share

Public Alert Information

Two questions in the Emergency Communications Survey shed particular light on 

patterns of technology use by people with disabilities during public disasters and 

emergencies across age cohorts:

1. For the most recent instance when you received a public emergency alert, how 

were you alerted? 

2. If you shared the alert information for the most recent public alert you received, 

how did you share it?

The questionnaire focused on the most recent instance of receiving public alert 

information so that respondents would not have to consider every time they had ever 

received public alert information. Also, the questions focus attention on recent 

experience rather than experience years earlier.

Receiving Alerts

Table 10 shows data on the percentages of respondents who used any of a list of 

possible means and media for the most recent public alert they received. Respondents 

could choose all that applied.
106

Table 10. For the most recent instance when you received a public 

emergency alert, how were you alerted? 

Respondents with a Disability 

by Age Group 18–35 36–45 46–55 56–65 66+

Sirens or Other Alarms 25% 24% 21% 27% 21%

Direct Observation of Your 

Surroundings

24% 21% 17% 21% 15%

Direct Contact with Someone Nearby 19% 12% 12% 12% 8%

Phone Call (Landline, Mobile Phone) 21% 17% 23% 27% 22%

Television 55% 54% 53% 57% 51%

Radio (regular radio) 19% 22% 21% 24% 22%

NOAA Weather Radio 15% 12% 15% 13% 21%

Text Message 48% 44% 34% 19% 23%

Email 40% 30% 32% 27% 32%

Internet News 27% 25% 15% 20% 9%

Social Media Posting from Federal, 

State, or Local Emergency 

Management Agency

20% 22% 12% 9% 8%

Social Media Posting from Friends 

and Family 24% 17% 12% 5% 2%

Emergency App Installed on 

Smartphone 16% 17% 8% 8% 7%

Instant Messaging/Chat 1% 6% <0% 1% 1%

TTY 0% 2% 0% 0% 1%

Average for All Items 24% 22% 20% 18% 16%

Average for Communications Media 

(everything but the first three items at 

the top)

24% 22% 20% 18% 17%
107

Television remained by far the most commonly used medium for the most recent 

instance in which respondents received emergency alert information. Roughly the same 

percentage (low to mid-50% range) received alert information via television. Regular 

broadcast radio was used at less than half the rate of television (low to mid-20% range), 

but, like television, at roughly equal rates across the five age groups shown.

Among the three nontechnology-based means of receiving alert information shown 

(sirens and alarms, direct observation, and direct contact with someone nearby), the last 

stands out because of the substantial variation at both ends of the age range. The 

youngest and oldest age cohorts reported receiving alert information at substantially 

higher and lower rates, respectively, than the middle three age cohorts. This suggests 

that the youngest group is much more socially connected than the rest of the 

respondents. It also suggests that the oldest age cohort (66 and older) is more socially 

isolated than the rest. 

In general, younger age groups are more likely than older groups to use social media. In 

particular, there is a big gap in the use of social media by the two younger cohorts (i.e., 

from 18 to 45), whether official or involving friends or family, compared with the older age 

groups. Media used primarily (or increasingly) on mobile platforms show substantial and 

progressive age effects, with younger respondents showing greater rates of use than 

older respondents. The use includes text messaging, emergency apps, Internet news, 

and social media from either official emergency organizations or personal networks. 

While Internet news and social media can be and often are used on nonmobile platforms 

such as desktops and laptops, they are increasingly used on mobile platforms. 

Sharing Alert Information

With regard to sharing emergency alert information, some interesting aspects of the 

impact of age on the use of communications means and media are evident (see 

Table 11). First, there was no pattern of age effects on sharing emergency information in 

person with someone nearby. Such sharing was most commonly reported, and ranged 

from a low of 42 percent of respondents age 66 and older to a high of 55 percent for the 

next two younger age groups. The same lack of a distinct age pattern applies to email 
108

sharing of alert information, which was used by approximately 30 percent of the 

respondents during their most recent public emergency experience.

Voice calling shows a strong positive relationship with age: As age increases, voice 

calling increased, from 35 percent of respondents 18–35 years old to 55 percent of 

respondents age 66 and older. The opposite pattern held true for sharing on a social 

media site, which was a common activity for the youngest cohort (42% for the 18–

35 years old), but rare for those over 66. 

Three media—text messaging, social media, and instant messaging/chat—all showed 

substantial inverse age effects; their use increased as age decreased. This effect is 

strongest for sharing on social media and somewhat less so for text messaging and 

instant messaging. Respondents in the two youngest age groups used text messaging 

Table 11. If you shared the alert information for the most recent public 

alert you received, how did you share it? 

Respondents with a Disability 

by Age Group 18–35 36–45 46–55 56–65 66+

In Person to Someone Nearby 49% 46% 55% 55% 42%

Phone Call (landline, mobile phone) 35% 39% 48% 47% 55%

Text Message 54% 53% 37% 33% 14%

Email 28% 38% 28% 34% 30%

Shared on Social Media Site 42% 36% 24% 9% 2%

Instant Messaging/chat 11% 18% 7% 5% 2%

TTY 0% 4% 1% 1% 2%

Telephone Relay Service 1% 6% 2% 4% 3%

Average for All Items 37% 38% 33% 31% 24%

Average for Communications Media 

(everything but the first item at the top) 34% 37% 29% 26% 21%
109

and social media for sharing emergency information at relatively high rates, while the 

oldest age group (66 years and older) used them at low rates.

Analysis

Results from the Wireless RERC’s emergency communications survey show pronounced 

age effects on the use of some communications media during emergencies but no agerelated pattern for others. Three general observations can be made from these results:

1. Television still rules—TV was the most commonly used medium for receiving alert 

information across all age groups. Slightly more than half of respondents in all age 

groups reported receiving alert information via television.

2. There is no age effect on the use of traditional broadcast media—TV and regular 

radio (non-NOAA) are used by similar percentages of respondents across all age 

groups for receiving alert information.

3. Use of mobile communications other than voice calling is inversely related to 

age—for both receiving alerts and sharing alert information, younger age groups 

use text messaging and social media at substantially higher rates than older age 

groups. Use of mobile apps to receive alerts is also inversely associated with age, 

with younger age groups using mobile apps for these purposes at much higher 

rates than older groups.

3.4. Conclusion

Perhaps the strongest finding to emerge from the survey results was that there is little or 

no difference between the disability and nondisability groups for the three key behaviors 

related to emergency communications (receiving, verifying, and passing on emergency 

alert information). This is perhaps the best argument for the view that the emergency 

management community should stop regarding people with disabilities or access and 

functional needs as in any way separate from other members of the communities with 

which they communicate. 
110

Comparing the results of the surveys carried out in 2010–11 and 2012–13, there is a 

decline in the popularity of some traditional communications means, notably radio. 

Television remains the most common means for both receiving and verifying alerts, 

regardless of age cohort. However age is a factor in mobile communications. For both 

receiving alerts and sharing alert information, younger age groups use text messaging 

and social media at substantially higher rates than older age groups. Use of mobile apps 

to receive alerts is also inversely associated with age, with younger age groups using 

mobile apps for these purposes at much higher rates than older groups. 
111

SECTION 4. Emergency-related Communications: 

The Local Emergency Management 

Perspective 

The United States has sophisticated, professional emergency management and 

communications in place throughout the nation. At the same time, every new disaster 

seems to produce fresh incidents in which the communications needs of people with 

disabilities are not met. To better understand this disconnect, the NCD research team 

investigated the realities of what happens in emergency situations at the county level

and separately sought out examples of promising practices that have the potential to aid 

in the provision of effective emergency communications for people with disabilities and 

others with access and functional needs. This was accomplished through a series of 

interviews in a two-step process: 

1. Interviews with local emergency management officials in 10 locations across the 

nation, chosen for diversity of geography and of potential disaster. 

2. A series of in-depth interviews designed to identify stages in the disaster 

management development and planning process at which effective 

communications could be achieved or improved, including some specific 

examples of communities that are working to achieve integration of people with 

disabilities in the emergency management process. 

4.1. Planning Is Key: Interviews with County-level Emergency 

Management

A major focus of this report was to understand the realities of what happens at the city or 

county level. This was accomplished through a series of phone interviews with local 

emergency management officials. 
112

Initially, population reports from the American Community Survey were used to identify

the disabled populations in each of the FEMA regions by county. This information was 

cross-referenced with FEMA regional maps and NOAA state and territory Web sites to 

understand the unique characteristics of emergencies and disasters in the 10 regions at 

the county or equivalent administrative subdivision level. NCD’s 2005 report Saving 

Lives and FEMA’s Developing and Maintaining Emergency Operations Plans (2010a)

were used to develop interview questions for emergency managers, public affairs 

officers, and those responsible for emergency communication planning in the selected 

counties. 

The selection of counties in each region was based on an effort to capture the unique 

differences of potential disasters and emergency situations. For example, a county near 

a port on the Atlantic Coast faces a different range of potential emergencies than 

communities located near an earthquake fault or in a region prone to tornadoes. 

Table 12 is the list of locations.

Table 12. Counties by Characterization and Region

Urban Suburban Coastal/Riverine Rural

Providence, RI (I)

Berkeley, WV (III)

St. Louis, MN (V)

Maricopa, AZ (IX)

Clark, NV (IX)

Broome, NY (II)

Brevard, FL (IV)

Chippewa, MI (V)

Laramie, WY (VIII)

Pierce, WA (X)

Portsmouth, VA (III)

Harrison, MS (IV)

Scott, IA (VII)

San Luis Obispo, CA (IX) 

Ketchikan, AK (X)

Luzerne, PA (III)

Sauk, WI (V)

Limestone, TX (VI)

Union, SD (VIII)

Bonner, ID (X)

Note: FEMA region designated in parentheses. 
113

Figure 5. Map of Counties Interviewed

4.1.1. Results of Analysis and Findings by Research Question 

The researchers chose two major categories of questions—“Barriers” and 

“Involvement”—with which to evaluate local emergency-related communications.

Question 1. Barriers

Given the opportunities for all citizens, including those with disabilities, to have 

real-time access to information during a disaster or emergency, what are the 

barriers at the local community level to inclusive emergency communications?

Funding and staff

According to the interviewees, the primary barrier to providing effective emergency 

communications for people with disabilities is limited funding and staff. Although a lack of 

funding was mentioned in all geographic locations (Coastal/Riverine: Scott, IA, Harrison, 

MS, Portsmouth, VA; Urban: Union, SD, and Pierce, WA; Rural: Limestone, TX, and 

Sauk, WI; Suburban: Chippewa, MI), smaller and more rural areas stressed that staffing 
114

was an additional issue. For example, Chippewa, MI, and Union, SD, noted that they are 

either a one-person office or that they rely on volunteers. 

Need for involvement

Another primary barrier mentioned was the lack of involvement in emergency 

management by people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs. 

Interviewees said, “It’s a two-way street,” and people with disabilities need to take an 

active role in letting emergency management know their needs so those needs can be 

met. 

It should be noted here that, while the need for people with disabilities to take an active 

role in emergency management is a legitimate concern, people with disabilities (like the 

general population) might place a higher priority on other concerns, such as medical care 

or transportation. Emergency managers and advocacy groups can help people with 

disabilities understand that emergency preparedness and response are important, and 

encourage them to take a more active role in emergency planning.

Reverse or outgoing notification systems

Another potential barrier is the use of outgoing notification systems, sometimes called 

“reverse 911.” These systems are used by many of the counties and cities interviewed 

(13 out of 20). They enable emergency managers, law enforcement, and the fire 

department to alert individuals, typically through landline phones or TTYs associated with 

addresses in a specified geographic area. This system is meant to target individuals and 

ensure that they get the message, alert, or warning. Most reverse notification systems 

use calls to landline telephone numbers; however, some commercial products are 

designed for wireless cell phones, for which a person must register his or her cell phone 

number and create a profile to be included in the system. 

Some areas, such as Portsmouth, VA, mentioned this as a barrier—as of June 2011, 

there were 130,000 landlines in its system and only 6,000 cell phones (Foden-Vencil, 

2011). While the capability to reach cell phones seems to offer a solution to personal 

notification, in that people with disabilities often have cell phones, barriers remain for the 
115

deaf or hard of hearing. Recently the FCC has become aware that some outgoing 

notification systems are not designed to successfully reach deaf and hard of hearing 

people who rely solely on video relay services (VRSs) for their telephonic 

communication. Not all systems offer text capabilities, and for those that do it is 

important that messages be in plain language and easily understandable. Some 

outgoing notification systems must be specifically calibrated to revert to text-based 

messages when a Baudot (TTY) signal is received from the called telephone number or 

to wait for a VRS provider to answer the call. 

One additional drawback to outgoing notification systems is that these systems may be 

too expensive for some locations. 

Inaccessible Web sites

Although not mentioned as a barrier, interviews indicated that emergency management 

departments tend to rely on the county government to ensure that their Web sites are 

accessible. This is significant, as many people look to these Web sites for information in 

a time of emergency. Inadequate Web accessibility results in people with disabilities and 

others with access and functional needs not being able to get the information they need. 

In addition, local and state governments that have inaccessible Web sites are violating 

federal disability laws. Only Maricopa, AZ, Clark, NV, and Sauk, WI, mentioned that their 

Web sites were accessible.

General communications may be a problem

The ability to communicate with everyone in the city/county or between counties was 

also mentioned as a potential barrier. Each county or local jurisdiction is different 

(demographics, population density, geographic location, and potential hazards), so they 

will have different challenges when they try to communicate with the community in 

general or people with disabilities specifically. For example, Clark County, NV, includes 

Las Vegas, a major urban center, as well as rural and federal lands. The main challenge 

for Clark is communicating with people who live in rural areas. On the other hand, 

Ketchikan, AK, located on an island north of Vancouver, is isolated and especially 

vulnerable in an emergency or disaster situation. The area has limited access to radio 
116

towers, and if they were to go down, Ketchikan would be cut off. In some states, there is 

a trust issue that must be overcome when communicating with local tribes. Union, SD, 

borders two other states and faces challenges in communicating interjurisdictionally 

because of the different systems used.

Potential and existing barriers to effective emergency communications for people with 

disabilities and others with access and functional needs vary. While some areas seem to 

lack necessary staff, others seem to face greater risks because of their location and 

potential hazards. Some areas mentioned a lack of engagement on the part of people 

with disabilities and others with access and functional needs. Nonetheless, some 

counties interviewed stood out for their proactive approach to effective emergency 

communications for people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs, 

which can be seen below.

Examples

Maricopa County, Arizona: Maricopa is probably the most prepared and proactive 

county of those interviewed in terms of emergency planning for people with disabilities. 

The Emergency Management Department works closely with the statewide independent 

living council (AZSILC) to ensure that people with disabilities are included in emergency 

planning, particularly with regard to accessibility of emergency communications. AZSILC 

is prepared to serve as a functional assessment service team (FAST) during an 

emergency, to provide initial triage and support at shelters, as well as ASL interpretation. 

In addition, the Emergency Management Department has conducted a review of every 

shelter in its database to ensure accessibility of the facilities. 

The department works proactively to ensure that people are prepared. For example, the 

department recently administered a survey in the community to identify individual 

preparedness efforts and determine where outreach efforts needed to be targeted. In 

order to include people with disabilities in the planning process, the department hosted 

emergency preparedness events at the Arizona Disability Empowerment Center. 

Emergency management planners seek guidance from the disability community on what 
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types of technology and equipment to purchase, such as wheelchairs and adaptive 

equipment in shelters. 

The department reports conducting outreach to people with disabilities by going to 

advocacy group meetings, such as those for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. 

They receive direct feedback from those communities; for example, that the county is 

perceived as helpful, but too many types of technology can be confusing and hard to 

keep up with.

Clark County, Nevada: Although the county’s emergency plan focuses primarily on

“traditional” disabilities (such as people who are blind, deaf, hard of hearing or have 

speech or mobility disabilities), it also includes people with intellectual and 

developmental disabilities as well as those with chemical sensitivities. The Department of 

Emergency Management provides ASL interpreters for meetings and upon request, and 

the emergency management coordinator mentioned that many news stations in the area 

also provide ASL interpreters with emergency alerting programming. One of the biggest

communication challenges in the county is the diversity of the large geographic area, 

which contains the city of Las Vegas and a substantial portion of both “empty” and 

federal land. The Department of Emergency Management reports paying close attention 

to after action reports to ensure that it is always improving with regard to emergency 

communication. 

In putting together a planning team, the department includes representatives from 

advocacy groups for people with disabilities who can make recommendations throughout 

the planning process. One concern raised by the department was that although these 

advocacy groups do well at the organizational level, there are questions about their 

effectiveness at the individual level. Currently, they strive to reach a broader audience of 

people with disabilities, especially those with invisible disabilities such as autism, 

because it is harder to identify them and understand their needs.

San Luis Obispo County, California: San Luis Obispo County contains a nuclear 

power plant, which poses special risks for the area and is the main focus of the county’s 
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emergency response plan. The Office of Emergency Services maintains a list of selfidentified people with disabilities who may need assistance with evacuation and to 

ensure that the needs of people with disabilities are represented in the Emergency 

Operations Center in cooperation with the Public Health Center. The office recently 

completed a 400-page resources guide to help ensure that resources, including ASL 

interpreters, can be contacted during an emergency. The office also provides training 

courses and workshops for people with disabilities. 

Question 2: Involvement

How are local communities working to ensure effective emergency communication 

for people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs during 

emergency planning?

The primary way that the locations report working to ensure effective emergency 

communications for people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs 

was to include them in the planning process. Typically, this involvement was through a 

planning committee or advisory group. There did not appear to be one common method 

of including people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs or 

advocacy groups in emergency planning. In some counties—such as Ketchikan, AK, and 

Providence, RI—a member of the emergency planning team has a disability. Some 

areas—such as Berkeley, WV, and Luzerne, PA—rely on input from local agencies such 

as the board of education or human service agencies during planning, while other areas 

have formed advisory committees, as seen in Portsmouth, VA, Clark, NV, and Saint 

Louis, MN. 

4.1.2. Result of Analysis and Findings by Research Theme

The following is the analysis of the interviews with the emergency managers, grouped 

according to themes. 
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Emergency Plan

What specific populations are reflected in the emergency plan?

Although many interviewees mentioned that people with disabilities and others with 

access and functional needs were included in planning, when they were asked whether

people with disabilities were covered in the plan, the answer was much more vague. If 

advocacy groups were involved, they often mentioned those groups specifically. Almost 

all responses to the interviews indicated that specific populations, (e.g., seniors, children, 

people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs, people with limited 

English proficiency, tourists, isolated/rural populations) were reflected in the emergency 

planning process. 

However when a follow-up question was asked about specific populations, the answer 

often lacked concrete examples. Only after the question was reworded or elaborated did 

some of the respondents provide details or describe specific services and planning 

procedures designed for people with disabilities. The most commonly addressed 

populations were seniors and people with mobility disabilities, and medical services and 

sheltering facilities relevant to those populations were the most widely available.

What large-scale hazards are reflected in the emergency plan?

Most of the hazards listed (e.g., severe weather, fires, earthquakes, landslides or 

mudslides, terrorist or other manmade events, crime alerts, health threats) were 

addressed in the counties, with a few exceptions. Geography and environment were 

important factors; for example, coastal areas tend to emphasize planning for hurricanes, 

while a county that has a nuclear power plant focuses on that. The responses also 

demonstrate that many counties tend to be reactive rather than proactive, basing their 

planning on hazards that have already been experienced. 

Analysis

Even if the respondents claimed to have addressed the needs of people with disabilities 

and others with access and functional needs in the plan, there was generally a lack of 

detail. For example, most mentioned medical services for seniors and for wheelchair 
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users, but they could not specify requirements for other types of disability. Clark County, 

NV, was the only county that included multiple types of disabilities, including intellectual 

and developmental. 

Communications Plan

Does the jurisdiction have an emergency plan, and how often is it updated?

All counties interviewed stated that they had a specific emergency communications plan. 

The majority of the counties go through a four- or five-year emergency plan review cycle, 

and many also make minor updates when needed. 

What are the long-term goals for emergency communications?

Every county reported that it is constantly improving, although very few could provide 

details on how this was being achieved. Examples of those that did were Luzerne, PA, 

which is working to improve interjurisdictional communications with the surrounding 

counties, and San Luis Obispo, CA, which is working to improve the capabilities of its

new outgoing notification system. 

Analysis

The five-year update cycle seems to be the norm. Only a few counties described 

initiatives to develop ongoing updates. Some shorter-term plans included developing 

partnerships with other counties or agencies, and technology transition or upgrades. 

Interestingly, while most counties described transitions to a higher level of technology, 

the Maricopa, AZ, respondent described a policy of “getting back to the basics.” The 

justification was that technology often fails during emergency situations, while a focus on

the basics can really work. One example given was of power outages, during which 

emergency workers use flashlights to notify and alert people. Because the population 

knows this, when people see these flashlights coming to their houses, they consider it to 

be a personal and nonthreatening approach. However, this would not be accessible for 

people who are blind or have low vision. 
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Emergency Information

What system is used to disseminate alerts and warnings?

Directly or indirectly, most counties use an outgoing notification system. These systems 

usually tie cell phones, text messages, and emails together to send out alerts during 

emergencies. Among the interviewees, TTY seems to be rarely used. This is 

problematic, as there are still TTY users, especially in rural areas, and TTY can be useful 

during power outages. The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) explicitly advises 

users to keep TTY as an important redundancy device: 

TTYs, however, are still used by many people who are deaf or hard of 

hearing; particularly by people who do not have access to available, 

affordable broadband and Internet access. TTYs also continue to play an 

important role by providing direct access to 911 emergency services.30

Sirens are also not so common, especially to cover a large geographic area. Most 

counties do not favor the use of social media, owing to the need to have specialized staff 

on standby who can manage them. One county representative mentioned “special 

services” for people with disabilities at nursing facilities: the beds can vibrate and there 

are flashing lights during emergencies.

Are American Sign Language interpreters provided for emergency information?

The majority of the counties report having the ability and resources to provide ASL

interpreters; however, they are used only when requested or in special circumstances, 

such as press conferences. Notably, Maricopa County in Arizona works with the State 

Independent Living Council’s functional assessment service teams (FAST) to provide 

ASL interpreters during initial triage and at shelter reception areas. 

Is emergency information provided in any additional languages?

Many counties can provide emergency communication in other languages when 

requested and during emergency situations. Depending on the local population, Spanish 

is the most common language provided. Based on the interviews, language translation 

appears to be a more common service than ASL interpretation. 
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How do first responders communicate with one another?

The communication usually starts as a relay through 911 centers to a dispatch through 

radio systems. Law enforcement and medical services are often included in the system. 

Social Media

Are social media used to communicate emergency information?

For the majority of counties, Facebook and Twitter are the most commonly used social 

media. Several counties also use Nixle, a notification service designed for law 

enforcement and government agencies. Of course, the accessibility of social media 

remains an issue for many people with disabilities.

Outreach

Are people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs included 

in emergency planning?

Most counties reported involving people with disabilities and others with access and 

functional needs in some capacity. Often, involvement is through a planning committee 

or advisory group with which people with disabilities are involved. However, there does 

not seem to be one common method of including advocacy groups or people with 

disabilities and others with access and functional needs in emergency planning. Some 

counties—such as Ketchikan, AK, and Providence, RI—have a person with a disability 

as a member of the planning team. Some areas—such as Berkeley, WV, and Luzerne, 

PA—use input from local agencies such as the board of education or human service 

agencies during planning, while others—such as Portsmouth, VA, Clark, NV, and Saint 

Louis, MN—have formed an access and functional needs advisory committee.

Are advocacy groups or people with disabilities and others with access and

functional needs asked for guidance in developing emergency communications 

methods?

The involvement of people with disabilities is usually through certain committees or 

groups.
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Has emergency management reached out to advocacy groups for people with 

disabilities and others with access and functional needs?

A little over half the respondents mentioned that the emergency management 

department has solicited input from advocacy groups and people with disabilities and 

others with access and functional needs. (Although this question is related to the 

previous question, not all of the areas that said they had received input from people with 

disabilities and others with access and functional needs had reached out to advocacy 

groups) . 

Do advocacy groups or people with disabilities and others with access and 

functional needs offer advice on Web site accessibility?

A common response was that the county manages the Web site and it is not sure 

whether people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs are 

involved. Only Maricopa, AZ, Clark, NV, and Sauk, WI, mentioned that their Web sites 

were accessible.

Analysis

The counties that include people with disabilities in the planning process usually do so 

through an advocacy group or an external agency that has representatives of people 

with disabilities. Clark and Maricopa Counties are the best examples. Clark County 

includes advocacy groups representing various types of disabilities and access and 

functional needs, including people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. 

Maricopa includes people with disabilities in the process of selecting and purchasing 

equipment for shelters and emergency communication in general, to ensure that the 

equipment is practical and useful for people with disabilities.

Federal Laws and Regulations

What guidance is provided in emergency planning? What laws and regulations are 

considered in emergency planning?

Every county reported receiving some form of guidance from the state and federal 

government, including FEMA; funding and grants from government agencies are usually 
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accompanied by mandatory guidance. Many counties also have partnerships with 

nonprofit organizations (schools, the Red Cross, the Coast Guard) and the private sector 

(hospitals, utility companies, banks).

All counties reported that they comply with all federal and state laws and regulations. 

Many counties mentioned that this is a requirement for federal or state funding. The 

Stafford Act and the ADA were the two laws most commonly mentioned.

Barriers

What challenges have been experienced with emergency communication?

The interesting pattern here was that if the respondent had a very positive response, it 

usually was not supported with much content or evidence. However, if the answer was 

more neutral, with an admission that there was room for improvement, the subsequent 

conversation usually showed a more comprehensive understanding of the local 

emergency communication as it related to people with disabilities and others with access 

and functional needs. 

Almost all counties use after action reports (AARs), mandated under funding 

requirements. While many counties mentioned that they use AARs to identify problems, 

only two (Clark, NV, and Ketchikan, AK) mentioned specifically that emergency 

communications were addressed in these reports. The only area that specifically 

mentioned not using AARs was Brevard, FL, with the justification that they have never 

had an incident that required an AAR.

What are the obstacles for including emergency communications for people with 

disabilities and others with access and functional needs?

The answers were diverse. Some mentioned that it is a “two-way street” and people with 

disabilities and others with access and functional needs must take an active role by 

informing emergency management officials of their needs to ensure that they are met. A 

common response was to mention the shortage of funding and staff.
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4.2. Promising Practices

Part of the research for this report involved identifying promising practices in the 

provision of effective emergency communications for people with disabilities and others 

with access and functional needs before, during, and after an emergency. Through a 

series of interviews with emergency managers and other stakeholders, the researchers 

identified stages in the development and planning process at which effective 

communications could be achieved or improved. The key concept to emerge from the 

interviews and analysis was the importance of the emergency planning stage at both the 

agency level (including emergency management and other stakeholders) and the 

individual level (including people with disabilities themselves). At the agency level, the 

emphasis is on ensuring that the needs of people with disabilities are fully integrated into 

the emergency plan and emergency preparedness activities (i.e., thinking about people 

with disabilities and others with access and functional needs not as separate or special 

groups but as an integral part of the community). At the individual level, this means 

encouraging people with disabilities to recognize their communication needs and prepare 

accordingly. A secondary theme that emerged from the interviews was the importance of 

engaging community partners, disability organizations, and people with disabilities to 

help emergency management understand the need for accessible emergency 

communications and how to implement them. Subsidiary themes to help build effective 

emergency communication for people with disabilities included training and tools for first 

responders, the use of technology and social media, and ensuring sustainable practices.

The following section discusses these five themes: 

● emergency planning at the agency level; 

● emergency planning at the individual level; 

● technology and social media;
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● training and tools; and 

● sustainability.

4.2.1. Emergency Planning at the Agency Level

When people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs are included 

and accommodated in planning and services, a much larger portion of the population 

typically benefits. Assessing the needs of people with disabilities and others with access 

and functional needs must be an essential part of the emergency planning stages. When 

creating or updating an emergency plan—specifically, an emergency communications 

plan—emergency managers, planners, and other stakeholders must actively consider 

and incorporate such needs into the plan before an emergency or disaster situation. 

Additionally, when the needs of people with disabilities and others with access and 

Figure 6. Five Themes for Promising Practices
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functional needs are included during planning, those needs can be addressed in 

emergency drills, allowing emergency managers and first responders to strengthen skills 

and identify issues that may require additional planning or training. 

While all emergencies are essentially local, two caveats are pertinent: (1) emergencies 

do not follow jurisdictional lines, and (2) the agencies and institutions with stakes in 

emergency management are diverse and many. This means that getting emergency 

information to the individual depends on coordination among emergency managers and 

other stakeholders both within the community and across jurisdictional lines. In addition 

to the first responders (i.e., emergency management, fire department, police, and 

emergency medical services), private organizations, NGOs, community groups, and 

advocacy groups also have an important role to play in emergency management and 

must be considered during the planning stages. Coordination among all stakeholders 

before an emergency is crucial for the emergency response to run smoothly and 

effectively. If the first time these agencies communicate is at the time of an emergency, 

confusion is most likely to occur, which could result in a lack of communication and 

information at the individual level, particularly for people with disabilities and others with 

access and functional needs. 

Interviews for this report revealed that planning is the most essential step in ensuring 

effective emergency communications for people with disabilities and others with access 

and functional needs. Interviewees focused on two themes: (1) the need for coordination 

at the agency and jurisdictional level, and (2) the need for coordination with the 

community. The following promising practices reveal strategies emergency managers 

and other stakeholders use to ensure that communication flows at all levels.

Interagency/Interjurisdictional/Intercommunity Communications 

Emergency management is interdisciplinary, involving emergency management 

professionals, the fire department, law enforcement, and public health officials. Many of 

these groups work closely with NGOs, community and advocacy groups, private sector 

businesses, and hospitals. To ensure that information and communications are 
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accessible for people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs, all 

agencies need to work together and draw on resources such as disability groups to help 

provide information. This level of communication among agencies and between

jurisdictions is often lacking, which has negative consequences for emergency 

communications for people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs

before, during, and after an emergency. 

The Need for Coordination

Emergencies do not follow jurisdictional lines. Neighboring jurisdictions need to ensure 

that they are communicating before an emergency so that things run smoothly during the 

emergency. One interview revealed that when members of incident management teams 

were deployed to fight major fires around the country, the teams quickly become aware 

of interjurisdictional problems when no formal communications strategy was in place (T. 

Fike, personal communication, Jan. 24, 2013). This is a recurring issue: NCD pointed out 

in The Impact of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita on People with Disabilities (2006) that the 

lack of coordination and communication was not only between levels of government or 

between agencies at the same level of government, but also between people at different 

levels in the same agency. Smaller jurisdictions often have fewer capabilities to 

communicate over jurisdictional boundaries, which makes the response to an emergency 

or disaster uncoordinated and negatively affects communicating with and responding to 

people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs. In one example, 

this lack of coordination among jurisdictions affected people during evacuation, when 

one jurisdiction lacked dialysis equipment and the neighboring jurisdiction, unaware of 

the need, was unable to provide the equipment in a timely manner. Norwood, Gerber, 

and Zakour (2011, p. 6) suggest that “areas need to think regionally,” especially when 

considering people with disabilities. Ideally, local jurisdictions should be ready to share 

communications strategies and resources, and all agencies in a jurisdiction with a stake 

in emergency response should be coordinated.

An example of how this can be achieved is offered by the Texas Disability Task Force, a 

high-level group of representatives from 16 agencies—including the Texas Division of 
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Emergency Management, Department of Aging and Disability Services, American Red 

Cross, Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services, Emergency Management 

Association of Texas, Salvation Army of Texas, Texas Association of the Deaf, 

Department of State Health Services, and Governor’s Committee on People with 

Disabilities—as well as disability advocates. Subcommittee activities include “effective 

communication, preparedness and outreach, and training related to the Texas 

community with disabilities (Texas Governor’s Committee on People with Disabilities 

2013, p.10).

Promising Practice: Coordination

Seattle, WA, takes an integrated approach to emergency planning and 

management. For example, the emergency management planning and 

development specialist in the Seattle Human Services Department coordinates 

with the Office of Emergency Management on disability issues relevant to 

emergency planning in general and specifically regarding Emergency Support 

Function (ESF) 6: mass care and housing.31 The Office of Emergency 

Management holds twice-monthly meetings for all ESF groups, which may involve 

representatives from all first responder agencies as well as emergency managers

and other stakeholders (both traditional and nontraditional), including fire, police, 

information technology, public utilities, public health, facility services, electricity, 

human services, and the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs. Each area has 

an assigned ESF focus. Because of the number of agencies that are included in 

the meetings, response can be coordinated among all agencies, and when the 

needs of people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs are 

discussed, all agencies become aware of them. 
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In Nevada County, CA, there is a monthly emergency services meeting with fire 

and law enforcement chiefs, and a quarterly emergency services council meeting 

that includes representatives from the Red Cross, utility departments, the cities 

within the county, county transportation, and local community organizations, 

including disability advocacy organizations. All fire chiefs and Office of Emergency 

Services coordinators meet regionally each year to ensure cooperation in 

response within the region (for Nevada County, the regional meeting includes 

12 counties). As a result, counties are aware of the response plans for 

neighboring jurisdictions and are better able to communicate and coordinate 

during an emergency. 

Community partnerships

The phrase “engage the whole community” is often used in emergency management and 

planning, but many interviewees noted that it is not well understood or realized. In 

addition, as Norwood et al. (2011) point out, “The problem remains that too often 

emergency management and disability organizations and providers do not know one 

another. They can be in the same town, housed on the same road . . . but have not yet 

connected” (p. 8). FEMA’s Comprehensive Preparedness Guide 101 Version 2.0 (2010a)

states that emergency plans that represent the whole community must also involve the 

whole community in the planning process. Craig Fugate, the administrator of FEMA, 

further notes how fundamental the whole community can be during and after a disaster:

A government-centric approach to disaster management will not be enough 

to meet the challenges posed by a catastrophic incident. That is why we 

must fully engage our entire societal capacity, leveraging trade 

associations, non-governmental organizations—including those that 

represent different linguistic and ethnic minority groups—faith-based 

organizations, private industry, and social and fraternal organizations. 

These are the organizations that provide the bulk of services to 

communities every day, and to the extent that they are able, they should 

continue to be the primary provider of such services in a disaster. The 

quicker these entities are able to get back on their feet, the faster 

communities as a whole will be able to recover. (Fugate, 2011, p. 7)
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A clear theme that emerged from the interviews was the importance of engaging 

community partners to help emergency management understand the need for accessible 

communications and how to implement accessible emergency communications. Local 

jurisdictions have developed a variety of ways to include the “whole community” in the 

planning process for effective emergency communications. Jurisdictions use partnerships 

to understand what the communications needs are and how best to address them.

Promising Practice: Community Partnerships 1

In order to include people with disabilities and others with access and functional 

needs in emergency plan development, the planners for Stearns County, MN, 

used C-MIST as a guide. C-MIST stands for Communication, Medical, 

Independence, Supervision, and Transportation, and is based on a functional 

needs framework (Kailes and Enders, 2007). It identifies people’s actual needs 

during an emergency, including people with temporary needs and those who do 

not identify themselves as having a disability. The planners organized a series of 

meetings for people from the community who represented each letter of C-MIST 

to identify what was missing from the emergency annex plan in each category. 

From these meetings, the emergency management team was able to create a 

more comprehensive plan that reflects the needs of the entire community,

integrating the needs of people with disabilities and others with access and 

functional needs, and establishing community partnerships to disseminate 

information in the ways that are most accessible. Chatham County, GA, holds 

roundtable meetings with emergency managers and other stakeholders, such as 

the local American Red Cross and the health department, in addition to citizens 

with disabilities. Stakeholders are made aware of communication barriers that 

exist for their citizens with disabilities and what is needed to overcome those 

barriers. For example, one meeting brought to light the need for ASL interpretation 
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and closed captioning in emergency messages directed at people who are deaf or 

hard of hearing. For individual citizens, the process is one of personal 

preparedness and creating an emergency plan.

The County of San Diego Office of Emergency Services (OES) partners with local 

deaf community groups (in addition to many other disability organizations) to 

ensure that people who are deaf or hard of hearing are receiving effective 

emergency communications. Following the 2007 wildfires, the OES worked 

extensively with Deaf Link and the county’s Public Health Services and Aging and 

Independence Services to create an integrated mass notification system, 

Accessible Alert San Diego, which provides individuals who have signed up for 

the service the option of receiving alerts via text, voice, video, ASL, and braille. 

Promising Practice: Community Partnerships 2

Functional assessment service teams (FASTs) were created in California 

following Hurricane Katrina to support people with access and functional needs in

general population shelters. FASTs have two key functions: (1) to perform a 

functional assessment of people with disabilities and others with access and 

functional needs as they arrive at shelters, “to distinguish between people who 

need assistance in maintaining their health, safety and independence, from those 

who need acute medical help,” and (2) to determine and acquire materials and 

resources needed for people with access and functional needs so they are able to 

remain at the shelter, including resources for accessible communication 

(California Department of Social Services, 2007; Kailes, 2012b).
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FASTs are created through partnerships between emergency management and 

other stakeholders, such as the American Red Cross, and community and 

disability organizations. The strength of a FAST is the diversity of skills and 

experience among team members. FAST members must have at least two years 

of experience working with people with intellectual, developmental, or psychiatric 

disabilities, or hearing, vision, physical, or mobility disabilities. They receive 

16 hours of DHS-approved training in addition to their “knowledge of the cultures 

and service networks of the people they serve” (Kailes, 2012b, p. 30). FAST 

members must be able to deploy quickly so they can begin assessments as soon 

as shelters open after a disaster. As Kailes noted, this model not only helps 

ensure that “people maintain health, mobility and [are able to] successfully 

manage in shelters and other locations” but also helps “reduce use of scarce, 

expensive and intensive medical services and institutionalization” (p.44).

Other states that use the FAST concept include Oregon, Texas, Minnesota, 

Michigan, Hawaii, and Maryland. Additionally, some areas implement the concept 

under different names, including San Diego with rapid assessment teams (RATs) 

and Los Angeles with disaster assistance response teams (DARTs).

The Need for Integration

Interviews revealed that a key element to ensure effective emergency communication for 

people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs is the integration of 

their needs into the emergency plan. In the past, people with disabilities and others with 

access and functional needs have often been relegated to a separate “special needs” 

annex of the emergency plan. However, by the time such an annex is pulled off the shelf, 

people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs have already been 

overlooked. Both San Diego County, CA, and Stearns County, MN, have integrated the 

communication needs of people with disabilities and others with access and functional 

needs into the general emergency plan. The result is that these needs are considered an 
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integral part of overall planning and not after the fact (S. Place, personal communication, 

Feb. 4, 2013). 

4.2.2. Emergency Planning at the Individual Level

Challenges

Many interviewees stressed that emergency preparedness must begin with the 

individual. A common mantra in considering emergency preparations is “You’re On Your 

Own” (YOYO) for 72 hours. Some interviewees suggested that people with disabilities 

and others with access and functional needs have low levels of interest in emergency 

preparedness, but in fact such apathy is reflected in the general population. The FEMA 

Citizen Corps National Survey (2009) revealed that while 57 percent of people had 

disaster supplies set aside in their homes, only 44 percent had a household disaster 

plan. In addition, for those who did have disaster supplies, preparations were 

inadequate, mostly including prepackaged foods and bottled water, and with lower 

percentages for such essentials as a flashlight (42%), first aid kit (39%), batteries (27%), 

battery-powered radio (20%), and medications (11%) (FEMA, 2009). 

Levels of preparation also decrease with income (FEMA, 2009). This is a relevant factor 

to consider, in light of the fact that the poverty rate for people with a disability is 

27 percent, compared with 11.9 percent for people without a disability (Erickson, von 

Schrader, & Lee, 2012). A significant proportion of people with disabilities and others 

with access and functional needs are at the low end of the socioeconomic scale and do 

not have disposable income to stockpile emergency-related supplies. Additionally, 

according to Kailes (2012a), for these people, emergency preparedness falls below 

many other items in their hierarchy of day-to-day survival needs. Thus, while it is 

important to emphasize personal preparedness for people with disabilities, specific 

challenges must be acknowledged.
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Making Preparation Inclusive

All preparedness material should include content that directly addresses the concerns of 

people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs, as well as relevant 

links and referrals to more specific information. As stated by Kailes (2012a), 

General emergency preparedness information is critical for everyone. 

However, sometimes these resources have to be supplemented with more 

specific information for people with hearing, vision, mobility, speech, 

emotional and cognition limitations. Advice for the general population is not 

always equally applicable for some people with disabilities and others with 

access and functional needs. For example, many wheelchair users cannot 

take cover under tables and desks, advice that is commonly given 

regarding how to respond immediately to an earthquake. (p. 107)

Preparedness information should be comprehensive and proactive, and as much as 

possible, suggest measures that have little or no cost, such as these:

● Establish support teams. Kailes (2009) says that support teams should include 

a variety of people (not just a buddy system). Teams should be established where 

the person spends most of his or her day, which might include work, home, 

school, or a volunteer site. 

● Learn how to use communication tools and identify the tools that will be 

available during an emergency. During an emergency, power outages may 

cause some communication tools to fail, making redundancy important. Being 

prepared with a variety of tools will ensure that one is able to receive information 

and communicate with one’s family and support team. Preparedness information 

should emphasize that cell phones should be kept charged, extra batteries should 

be on hand for radios, and people should be able to use all the emergency

capabilities on their cell phones.

● Be able to quickly communicate lifesaving information. In an emergency, 

Kailes says (2009, p. 5), “In spite of [the] best planning, sometimes [people] have 
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to build a support team on the spot.” It is imperative that people with disabilities 

are able to communicate information about their needs to others who may be 

trying to help. For example, “Connect the battery by the window to my vent by 

following the instructions attached to the battery.” If the person is unable to 

communicate verbally, information may be prewritten: “I cannot speak, but I do 

hear and understand. I use a communication device, and I can point to simple 

pictures or key words. You will find a communication sheet in my wallet.” 

● Create an emergency plan. Preparedness information should emphasize that 

everyone needs to create an emergency plan. For a person with a disability, this 

plan might include information about ensuring a supply of electricity for life-support 

devices such as home dialysis or breathing machines, or information about 

accessible evacuation plans. In addition, preparedness information should 

emphasize the importance of keeping copies of prescriptions and insurance cards 

on hand, as well as the model name and serial number of any essential equipment.

Promising Practice: Inclusive Personal Preparedness Trainings 

The FEMA Getting Real II Conference (2011) highlighted the benefits of inclusive 

preparedness training such as that offered through community emergency 

response team (CERT) classes, which can give people with disabilities and others 

with access and functional needs a boost toward emergency preparedness and a 

stake in emergency management (Carter, 2011). Conference presentations noted 

that there is potentially a job for everyone in emergency response (Boyce, 2011; 

Carter, 2011). Recommended measures to ensure accessibility included using local 

interpreters, especially for ASL, arranging for caregivers to be included in training, 

and ensuring that all materials are accessible; for example, captions, large print, and 

information that can be read via screen readers. In addition, the need to teach 
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everyone involved in emergency situations how to respond to the needs of people 

with disabilities and others with access and functional needs was emphasized; for 

example, teaching rescue activities for service animals (Carter, 2011).

Promising Practice: Feeling Safe, Being Safe Training

Feeling Safe, Being Safe is a train-the-trainer approach for sharing personal 

preparedness information. All the trainers are people with disabilities. The trainers 

must first be prepared themselves and then learn how to share preparedness 

materials with others. Originating in California with the California Department of 

Developmental Services, and with assistance from the Department of Homeland 

Security, Feeling Safe, Being Safe training aims to activate participants to take 

charge in their own safety planning. The training employs a simple learning 

strategy to work toward “enhancing personal emergency preparedness” and 

“creating opportunities for persons with disabilities to be viewed not merely as 

potential victims but as community assets who may assist others in their 

advanced preparations” (Board Resource Center, 2009, p. 4). The training 

strategy is described as “Think-Plan-Do” and is meant to help people think about 

what they want to accomplish, identity specific steps to accomplish their goals, 

and then carry out the plan (Board Resource Center, 2009). During the training, 

which is often given by people with disabilities, individuals can learn about 

creating a personal safety plan, and how to “use their community resources and 

agencies” and “reach out for assistance from neighbors” (p. 14). Finally, the 

training allows individuals to complete graphically illustrated worksheets, “which 

become the emergency plan and lists personal items that should be included in 

the emergency kit” (p. 15). 
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4.3. Technology and Social Media

New tools are always emerging for effective emergency communications for people with 

disabilities and others with access and functional needs. A number of interviewees 

referred to the role of technology in modern communications. The following are a few 

examples.

4.3.1. Smart911 and SmartPrepare

Smart911 is a commercial service that local jurisdictions can install at their public safety 

answering points (PSAPs).32 When people fill out a Smart911 profile online, the 

information is connected to their phone number, so that when they call 911, the 

information will appear on the screen at the PSAP. People can create a free and secure 

Smart911 profile online, divulging as little or as much information as they want, including

the following:

● Additional telephone numbers

● Personal information, including age, gender, and a physical description

● A personal photo 

● Addresses (e.g., home, work)

● Medical conditions, disabilities, or access and functional needs, including

language and needs

● Medications, allergies, or any additional rescue notes

● Information about pets or service animals

● Emergency contacts

● Vehicle information
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● Location of “safe places” for hiding or sheltering in place

● Information concerning the best way to access the house

● Make, serial, and model numbers of durable medical equipment or assistive 

technology, including the vendor who supplied it and the funding source—this will 

be very valuable for people who have to leave equipment behind or whose 

equipment is damaged during a disaster

When a person calls PSAPs that have Smart911, the 911 operator is able to access 

within seconds the information linked to that particular phone number, which is stored 

securely in the cloud. People can visit www.smart911.com to see whether Smart911 is 

available in their area and to create a Smart911 profile. Even if it is not currently 

available their area, profiles travel with the designated phone number, which means that 

the profile is available to dispatchers in any area with Smart911 capabilities. 

The concept behind Smart911 is to better prepare first responders before they arrive on 

the scene, giving them more situational awareness and answering questions such as: 

Who are they trying to help? What does that person look like? What additional needs 

does the person have? Is he or she a wheelchair user? Does the person need an ASL 

interpreter or text to communicate with the first responder? Do the first responders have 

the correct equipment or personnel for the situation? 

The following additional uses for the system are specifically related to people with 

disabilities and others with access and functional needs:

● Attaching photographs of people who may wander, such as children with autism

or adults with dementia.

● Indicating possible hiding places of children or adults with disabilities.

● Indicating a place for a hidden key (e.g., for people who are elderly and may have 

fallen but do not want their door broken in). 
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● Identifying existing medical conditions so that first responders can bring essential 

medical equipment. 

● Identifying people who are deaf or hard of hearing and may need to use texting as 

a form of communication with the dispatcher. 

● Including the microchip number for companion animals or service animals.

SmartPrepare is a similar system, although information is gathered specifically for 

emergency managers, allowing them to properly prepare for the needs of their 

community. SmartPrepare can be used to target the needs of residents or even 

commuters, which may be beneficial in large urban centers such as Atlanta, where the 

population increases by over 60 percent during the workday (Christie, 2005).

A key feature of both Smart911 and SmartPrepare is that they are not registries

specifically for people with disabilities. Instead, these programs aim to provide for the 

entire community, in accordance with the principles of universal design and universal 

inclusion. This can be important for a person with a disability or access and functional 

needs who may not identify as having a disability. For example, when the person is filling 

out a profile, he or she might check the box “has a pacemaker.” While this condition is 

important to be aware of, especially during an emergency, this person might not have 

self-identified as having a disability on a traditional registry.

Interviews with emergency managers and public safety officials revealed that they would 

prefer to have no information rather than out-of-date information, as old information can 

create dangerous situations or inappropriate responses, which is a constant criticism of 

registries. Smart911 requires that people log in to their profiles once every six months to 

ensure that information is up to date. If, after receiving a reminder phone call or text 

message, the person does not log in, the information is no longer accessible. 

Interviewees mentioned a number of methods employed by local jurisdictions to fund 

implementation of Smart911. Smart911 is generally fundable through the Access 
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Recovery Charge (ARC) because it plays a critical role in the 911 call-taking process by 

providing additional information. (The ARC is a surcharge applied to landline and mobile 

phone bills and used to fund the 911 system.) In addition, some jurisdictions have used 

RICO (Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organizations) funds or seized asset funds to offset 

the startup costs for Smart911, as these funds typically must be used for one-time 

expenses. Some jurisdictions have applied for grants to cover the costs.

SmartPrepare is based on population size and usually is not ARC-fundable, as it is more 

of an emergency management tool. SmartPrepare is normally funded from emergency 

management budgets, city or county budgets, or one-time grants. 

4.3.2. Next Generation 911

In 2012, legislation was passed to create the Next Generation 9-1-1 Advancement Act 

(Wireless RERC, 2012c). The Act allows for the creation of a new 911 system that will 

use Internet Protocol (IP)–based technology to deliver and process 911 traffic; this will 

allow for the potential to support nonvoice emergency messages such as text, image, 

and video messages. This is especially beneficial for people who are deaf or hard of 

hearing, who may traditionally have relied on TTY or other people to contact emergency 

services. Frederick County, Maryland, the home of the main campus of the Maryland 

School for the Deaf, has begun to implement text-to-911 (DeMetrick, 2013).

The potential for NG911 was highlighted by the FCC during its review of the failure of the 

911 system in areas hit by the June 2012 derecho, a fast-moving windstorm that left 

many people without power in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. The loss of power 

disrupted 911 communications, causing 77 PSAPs to lose at least some connectivity.

For example, some PSAPs were unable to reroute calls, while others were unable to 

gather accurate location information (FCC, 2013b). The new system would allow for 

redundancy and more reliability, and would enable more people to contact emergency 

services in such a situation. In its follow-up report assessing communications during the 

derecho, the FCC noted that NG911 systems will be able to reroute calls automatically to
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other PSAPs, including those that are out of the area, and will be able to draw from more 

sources to obtain automatic location information (FCC, 2013b).

4.3.3. Video Remote Interpreting and Video Relay Services 

Video remote interpreting (VRI) and video relay services (VRS) provide two important but 

different functions for emergency communication and are funded by two entirely different 

sources. Both services provide ASL interpretation for people who are deaf or hard of 

hearing; however, they do so in different ways. VRS is a form of telecommunication relay 

service (TRS) that was created by Title IV of the ADA and is regulated by the FCC. 

Someone who wants to make a telephone call to a person who is deaf or hard of hearing 

connects with a VRS provider via an Internet-based video camera that then provides 

ASL interpretation of the call to the person on the other end. 

VRI is a remote commercial interpretation service. If two or more individuals in the same 

room need an ASL interpreter and a live interpreter is not immediately available, they 

can use VRI via Internet-based video conferencing equipment. VRI is not considered a 

phone call and is thus not regulated by the FCC. It can be a form of accommodation 

required under Title II and Title III of the ADA. 

Promising Practice: New VRS Technology

The state of Texas is currently piloting the use of VRS to communicate 

emergency information for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. Under the 

system, emergency management can send an emergency message to the VRS 

provider, who interprets it and sends it back to the emergency management office, 

which can then upload the video to YouTube, where it can be captioned. The 

original emergency message will include a link to the video.
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Promising Practice: New DeafLink Technology

DeafLink is an all-hazards alert system that can create emergency messages in 

ASL format for dissemination to people who have signed up for this service. 

DeafLink is currently used in San Diego as the Accessible Alert San Diego 

System. The system sends accessible alerts and information to Internet- and 

video-capable devices such as computers, cell phones, smart phones, tablet 

computers, and wireless braille readers (Ready San Diego, 2013). Alerts also 

include ASL interpretation (K. Chiodo, personal communication, Jan. 21, 2013). 

4.3.4. Apps

The application industry is booming, and because it is an area of such rapid 

development, this report can offer only a partial list. The Institute on Disabilities at 

Temple University in Pennsylvania and an affiliate of the Pass It On Center provided 

information on apps to aid in emergency communication. Additional tips concerning apps 

include making sure the individuals or first responders are familiar with the app before an 

emergency and preparing additional chargers, such as solar-powered or car chargers, 

for emergency situations. 

● Apps for people who are blind or have low vision: Braille Touch, Zoomreader, 

Text Enlarger, Eyeglasses, Dragon Dictation, Access Note, Speakit, Ideal Group 

Reader

● Apps for people with speech disabilities or low English proficiency: EC4ALL, 

Proloquo2Go, TaptoTalk, Picture Card Maker, Free Translator, Google Translate

● Sign language: Let’s Sign, Sign4me, iSignLite, ASL Translate
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● VRS and VRI: Sorenson Video Center, IP-Relay, Hamilton Mobile Captel

● Personal preparedness: iMPrepared, FEMA app, American Red Cross apps, 

Red Cross Shelter View

● Additional apps: ViA by Braille Institute, SoundAMP, Sprint ID Accessibility 

Packs, Braille Touch

4.3.5. Social Media

The professionals interviewed for this section considered social media to be additional 

informational tools. For example, the Stearns County emergency management team in 

Minnesota said social media were good tools for both information dissemination and 

feedback for emergency communication, although their effectiveness depends on local 

demographics; for example, an area with a large population of college students might

derive greater benefit from social media than an area with an older population. 

Interviewees stressed that social media are not “one-way”; for example, in addition to 

being used as an information dissemination resource, they can be used effectively to 

determine when needs are not being met in the community, especially during an 

emergency. During Hurricane Sandy, people with disabilities used social media to ask for 

help. For example, Daniel Florio, who uses a ventilator to breathe, used Facebook to find

additional fuel for the generator to power his ventilator, and Crystal Evans-Pradhan used 

Facebook to ask for donations to buy another Sandy survivor, Nick Dupree, more 

sustainable batteries for his ventilator (Boatman, 2013). 

Even though social media seem to offer additional tools for emergency communications, 

problems with accessibility can prevent the information from reaching people with 

disabilities. Coltham (2012) and Hollier (2012) identified the following accessibility 

issues:

● Color contrast
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● Font size

● Keyboard navigation

● Use of CAPTCHA (Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers 

and Humans Apart) 

● Dynamic pages and rich Internet applications

● Missing text alternatives

● Lack of captions (or of meaningful captions)

● Lack of ASL interpreters

● Screen reader inoperability 

The Emergency 2.0 Wiki Accessibility Toolkit offers resources to overcome accessibility 

barriers in social media and to help emergency managers and other stakeholders ensure 

that messages are accessible when they are disseminated through social media. 

HowTo.gov provides tips for “Improving the Accessibility of Social Media in Government.” 

4.3.6. Digitization of Medical Records

Jan and Lurie (2012) noted that “the first strategy for building community resilience for 

people with functional needs is to continue to support the development of health 

information systems” (p. 2272). Emergencies and disasters can result in records being 

destroyed, lost, or displaced. When records are digitized, they remain accessible and 

easily transferrable (NCD, 2009). When a devastating tornado hit St. John’s Regional 

Medical Center in Joplin, MO, in May 2011, records were scattered 75 miles away, but 

backup copies were available thanks to a switch to electronic patient records just weeks 

before the traumatic event (Zagier, 2011). Following such an event, it is often difficult for 

patients to reconstruct and communicate their medical history and prescription regime. 

This may be especially true for people with intellectual, developmental, or psychiatric 
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disabilities: After Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, “Some people did not know what 

medications they were taking nor did they remember the dosage level” if they even had 

been able to bring their medications at all (NCD, 2006, p. 18). In addition, “Some doctors 

and health professionals reportedly declined to serve people with psychiatric disabilities 

because they were unfamiliar with the evacuees’ mental health and medical histories” (p. 

18). Jan and Lurie further note that “supporting the development of interoperable 

electronic records for use among agencies will not only allow them to obtain critical 

information in the event of a power outage, but also enhance routine coordination of care 

for people with functional needs” (p. 18).

4.3.7. Replacing Durable Medical Equipment and Assistive Technology 

Durable medical equipment (DME) and assistive technology (AT), including 

communications devices, may be lost or damaged during an emergency. Emergency 

management will need to help provide or replace this equipment, so AT and DME 

providers need to be part of the emergency planning process. One of the key challenges

is how people in need of assistive equipment can communicate that need to emergency 

managers and other stakeholders who may already be working to get the assistive 

equipment to the people with disabilities. The challenge is multifaceted:

● People with disabilities and others with access and functional needs must know 

exactly what AT or DME they need. 

● People with disabilities and others with access and functional needs need a 

systematic way to request and receive AT or DME following an emergency or 

disaster.

● Emergency managers and other stakeholders must be able to identify consumer 

needs. After an emergency or disaster, it might not be possible to meet all 

customized needs immediately. 
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● Emergency managers and other stakeholders must be able to coordinate and 

communicate with each other in order to provide people with disabilities and 

others with access and functional needs with the assistive equipment they need.

4.3.8. Multimodal Alerts and Warnings

The Wireless RERC (2005) describes a multimodal approach to increase accessibility of 

alerts and warnings by providing emergency information in many different formats. For 

example, the Rochester (NY) Institute of Technology provides students and faculty with 

an opt-out alert and warning system that can send emergency messages via instant 

message, text message, voice message, email, and Alertus beacons and desktop 

notifications. The multimodal approach to alerting allows for redundancy, which helps 

meet the needs of people with various disabilities. In addition, the Alertus beacons 

(which are also used by Gallaudet University) provide in-building emergency notification 

through strobe lights and audio signals. The device also has an LCD display to convey 

the emergency message via text and has the ability to connect with text-to-speech 

speakers and video switches. 

The implementation of the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) is a 

promising practice for delivering multimodal alerts and warnings. The system aggregates 

alerts and warnings from local, state, tribal, and federal authorities, and disseminates 

alerts via the Emergency Alert System, Wireless Emergency Alerts, NOAA’s HazCollect, 

Internet services, and state and local alert systems. The Government Accounting Office 

(GAO) notes that IPAWS will use the Common Alerting Protocol to disseminate alerts 

and warnings to a larger portion of the population via many formats, including radio, 

television, mobile alerts, and “messages to specialized alerting devices for individuals 

with disabilities” (GAO, 2013, p. 21).
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Emerging Practice: Captioned Radio 

NPR Labs has partnered with Towson University, the Helen Keller National 

Center, and the National Federation of the Blind to develop captioned radio, 

including a prototype that converts radio data into braille (Sheffield & Starling, 

2011). The projects allow for public radio broadcasts, which reach over 95 percent

of Americans, to relay important emergency information to people who are deaf, 

hard of hearing, or deaf-blind through the use of digital radio. Captioned radio, 

specifically, allows for live speech-to-text transcriptions to provide a way to read 

the broadcast. The Captioned Braille Radio Initiative builds on this technology to 

convert the text-data into braille, which can be read through a refreshable braille 

display developed by Towson University and NPR Labs. The refreshable braille 

prototype also supports bed shakers to alert individuals during an emergency.

4.4. Training and Guides

Training is necessary to ensure that first responders are effectively communicating with 

people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs. As noted by DOJ 

(2014), “A critical and often overlooked component of ensuring success is 

comprehensive and ongoing staff training. Covered entities may have established good 

policies, but if front line staff are not aware of them or do not know how to implement 

them, problems can arise. Covered entities should teach staff about the ADA’s 

requirements for communicating effectively with people who have communication 

disabilities.” 

4.4.1. Guidebooks

Some interviewees—such as those from Decatur, GA, and Stearns County, MN—

provide their first responders with a pocket-sized guidebook. In Stearns, the guidebook 
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contains tips on communicating with people with disabilities; in Decatur, it is a picture 

manual that first responders can give to a person who is not able to communicate 

verbally. The person can then search the manual for a picture that corresponds to his or 

her current problem (Springer & E. Hausauer, personal communication, Dec. 17, 2013; 

T. Washington, personal communication, Feb. 20, 2013). The New York State Office for 

People with Developmental Disabilities has created a guidebook titled On the Scene and 

Informed: First Response and Autism (2102), which provides first responders with 

information on how to identify, communicate with, and interact with people with autism 

during an emergency situation. 

4.4.2. Classes

First responders receive extensive annual training, and NCD’s 2009 report Effective 

Emergency Management recommended incorporating training in effective emergency 

communications for and recognizing the needs of people with disabilities and others with 

access and functional needs. As an incentive, the report suggested that courses such as 

effective emergency communications for people with disabilities could be certificate 

courses. 

In New Jersey, the Rutgers University Office of Continuing Education has created an 

online course to provide first responders with a baseline understanding about 

developmental disabilities and best practices for interactions (McHugh, 2010). The 

training uses real-world scenarios and walks first responders through modules to provide 

education on developmental disabilities and how to anticipate and proactively deal with 

the potential challenges of these encounters, including using simple, direct language and 

avoiding jargon and expressions that can have more than one meaning. New York’s 

Niagara University has developed a training curriculum that provides first responders 

with the knowledge necessary to serve and respond to people with disabilities (Niagara 

University, 2013). The training has been developed for all stakeholders in emergency 

management, including law enforcement, fire, EMS, 911 operators and dispatchers, and 

emergency management. The curriculum discusses types of disabilities, as well as 
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etiquette and interaction skills, how specific disabilities present, first-person language, 

and overcoming communication barriers. 

4.5. Sustainability

For any practice to be described as truly promising, it must also be sustainable. 

Interviewees were asked what is required to ensure that effective emergency 

communications for people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs 

are developed as sustainable practices. 

4.5.1. Making Accessibility a Priority

Many interviewees noted that sustaining effective emergency communications for people 

with disabilities and others with access and functional needs requires that this issue be

brought to the forefront and made a priority. In San Diego County, this is done by 

integrating the needs of people with disabilities and others with access and functional 

needs into the overall emergency plan instead of addressing them in a separate annex. 

When the needs of people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs 

are integrated into the plan, communication needs will be considered collectively and not 

after the fact (S. Place, personal communication, Feb. 4, 2013). 

Sustainability of effective and accessible emergency communications also relies on 

agency head buy-in, meaning leadership behind these practices. Support from the 

governor, city council, or mayor can affect the sustainability of accessible 

communications. For example, the Texas Governor’s Committee on People with 

Disabilities offers policy recommendations; one policy area addresses emergency 

management. Realizing the impact emergencies and disasters can have on people with 

disabilities and others with access and functional needs, the committee created a 

taskforce to develop a functional needs support services toolkit. The toolkit is specifically 

designed to “provide first responders and emergency manager professionals [with]

information about interacting with Texans with disabilities during a disaster and to identify 
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disability leaders in local communities” (State of Texas, 2013, p. 2). Specific to

communications, the toolkit offers tips for interacting and communicating with people with 

disabilities during a disaster and provides talkboards, pictograms, and basic emergency 

sign language. The task force and the Office of the Governor realize that accessibility 

before, during, and after an emergency is not only extremely important but also a legal

requirement. Because these issues are important at the state level, local jurisdictions 

now have a resource when they are trying to implement accessible emergency 

communications at the local level (W. O’Neill, personal communication, Feb. 25, 2013). 

Continual Reevaluation of Plans

Many interviewees suggested that in order to make effective emergency communications 

for people with disabilities a priority, emergency managers and other stakeholders need 

to meet periodically to discuss the issue. One sentiment that was echoed in many of the 

interviews was “If you don’t talk about it, you forget about it.” For example, the Nevada 

County Consolidated Fire District in Northern California meets every spring, right before 

fire season, to refresh preparedness efforts, including emergency communications plans. 

Interviews revealed that many areas review emergency plans at least every four years 

and especially after a disaster. In Stearns County, MN, emergency management ensures 

that the needs of people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs are 

a priority by continuing to include these people in emergency planning. Since 2008, the 

county has held meetings with individuals and disability organizations to ensure that their 

needs are met in the emergency plan.
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SECTION 5. Findings and Recommendations

The research and anecdotal evidence for this report clearly demonstrate that people with 

disabilities and others with access and functional needs must be an integral part of 

emergency communication activities before, during, and after an emergency or disaster, 

small or large, natural or manmade. This is so for multiple reasons, whether the 

justification is legal (the laws are explicit in this regard); social (communication is a social 

process that must be inclusive to be effective); pragmatic (there is no effective difference 

in the mechanisms of engagement and response between those with and without 

disabilities); or demographic (the definition of people with disabilities and others with 

access and functional needs covers a large population who can benefit from attention to 

access, including accessible communication). 

The focus of this report is on how to make that integration happen, especially through 

planning activities at the local level. The following findings and recommendations 

underpin that emphasis. 

FINDING 1. The communication needs of people with disabilities are not 

being fully integrated by emergency managers in planning efforts. 

Emergency communication is a social process that must be initiated long before an 

emergency begins; it continues during the emergency and after it ends. From the 

emergency management perspective, the main goal of emergency communication 

traditionally is to elicit a response from an individual, often to take shelter or evacuate. 

However that response depends on complex variables; in particular, it relies on 

achieving a basic level of trust. 

It is essential for emergency management to involve people with disabilities and others 

with access and functional needs in local planning and to consider their needs in actual 

plans, including them in training exercises and incorporating their needs in final 
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emergency planning documents. This is emphasized in the National Mitigation 

Framework, which states, “Local governments that integrate the rights of individuals with 

disabilities and others with access and functional needs into mitigation planning reduce 

adverse consequences and barriers that create risk for them and those associated with 

them and increase independence” (DHS, 2013a, p. 18).

Recommendations 

• Emergency managers must ensure that the communications needs of people 

with disabilities and others with access and functional needs are integrated 

into all parts of emergency planning at the local, state, tribal, and federal levels.

NCD recommends that accessible communications be considered as part of a basic 

emergency plan, not as an annex. While Version 2.0 of FEMA’s Comprehensive 

Preparedness Guide 101 (2010a) makes numerous references to the imperative to 

incorporate the needs of people with disabilities and others with access and 

functional needs into all parts of emergency planning, communications needs are 

not explicitly mentioned. Communications are listed as one of 9 core functions 

“critical to successful emergency response” and one of 15 emergency support 

functions (ESFs), which appear as part of a model Functional Annex Structure. A 

table showing possible relationships among the core functions, departments and 

agencies, and ESFs indicates that ESF #2, Communications is one of the few ESFs 

to appear alongside all the core functions, with the surprising exception of the 

resource management function (FEMA, 2010a, Sections 3-17, 3-18). NCD 

recommends that the importance of communications be recognized as part of 

“agency roles and responsibilities” as described in the Basic Plan in Version 2.0, 

and expanded upon to explicitly acknowledge the communications needs of people 

with disabilities and others with access and functional needs.

• FEMA must urge emergency managers to include the communications 

needs of people with disabilities and others with access and functional 

needs as an integral part of planning activities and training exercises, and 

ensure that they are integrated into local-level emergency planning.
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NCD recommends that FEMA explicitly recommend that the communications 

needs of people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs be 

an integral, core part of planning activities and training exercises, and be 

integrated into local-level emergency planning.

FINDING 2. There is a lack of consolidated, consistent, and coordinated 

guidance available to emergency managers on the communication needs of 

people with disabilities. 

Historically, local emergency managers have had to draw from an array of different 

sources in creating their emergency operations plans and integrating communication 

needs. With the publication of the new National Planning Frameworks in May 2013 and 

FEMA’s Comprehensive Preparedness Guide 101 Version 2.0, the process of integrating 

the needs of people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs has 

begun, and emergency managers do not have to find separate guidance for people with 

disabilities or access and functional needs. The need now is to further emphasize and 

develop integrated comprehensive guidance at the local level, which consolidates 

existing critical elements of emergency operations planning, specifically including people 

with disabilities and others with access and functional needs.

Recommendations

• FEMA, in collaboration with states as appropriate, should provide 

consolidated, consistent, and coordinated guidance to local emergency 

managers on the communication needs of people with disabilities.

NCD recommends that FEMA, in collaboration with states as appropriate, provide 

more integrated, hands-on guidance to local officials who are activated during 

emergencies. This should be coordinated with the FEMA regional offices’ public 

information cadres, with special training by the FEMA regional disability 

integration specialist, state-level disability workgroups, and state ADA 

coordinators. The guidance that is currently provided tends to be vague or 
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generalized and is not necessarily reaching the right people: local first responders 

and emergency personnel. 

• FEMA, DOJ, and the FCC should collaborate to create specific guidance for 

local officials regarding effective communication before, during, and after 

emergencies. 

NCD recommends that FEMA, DOJ, and the FCC collaborate to create specific 

guidance for local officials regarding effective communication before, during, and 

after emergencies, which should be provided during their training and repeated 

regularly.

• There must be increased collaboration among local, state, tribal, and federal 

governments to ensure effective communications for people with 

disabilities before, during, and after emergencies.

NCD recommends increased coordination among local, state, tribal, and federal

governments. A coordinating mechanism between FEMA and the local authorities 

should be created to increase coordination between the two entities and make

local entities more comfortable receiving assistance from FEMA. The aim should 

be for all local agencies to have the ability to provide consolidated, consistent, and 

coordinated guidance concerning inclusion of accessible and effective emergency 

communications for people with disabilities and others with access and functional 

needs at all stages of an emergency. 

FINDING 3. There is an ongoing need for increased outreach to the disability 

community by emergency managers.

It is essential to help people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs 

take the proper steps to mitigate and prepare for disasters. As Mileti (1999) notes, the 

effectiveness of communication during the emergency will depend on how effective (and 

in this case accessible) communication is during times of nonemergency. FEMA has 

encouraged emergency management to consider a “whole community” approach to 
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emergency management. Emergency plans should involve the entire community in the 

planning process, so that the needs of all constituents are reflected in the plan (FEMA, 

2011a). In addition, FEMA administrator Craig Fugate has urged emergency 

management to consider the fundamental role community organizations, including 

disability organizations, can play before, during, and after an emergency to engage their 

members (Fugate, 2011). There is an ongoing need for outreach to people with 

disabilities and other access and functional needs; this would aid in the dissemination of 

emergency preparedness information. The National Mitigation Framework states that 

“leadership should foster inclusion of the whole community, including members with 

disabilities and others with access and functional needs, limited English proficiency, and 

ethnically and racially diverse groups” (DHS, 2013a, p. 20). This will not only ensure that 

accessibility is considered in emergency planning but may help overcome some of the 

feelings of mistrust people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs 

experience when interacting with emergency personnel and services.

Recommendations

• Emergency managers must increase outreach efforts to the disability 

community. 

NCD recommends increased outreach by emergency management to people with 

disabilities and other access and functional needs in the community, along the 

lines indicated in the National Mitigation Framework (DHS, 2013a).33 Emergency 

management and disability advocacy groups must educate people with disabilities 

and other access and functional needs on the importance of emergency 

preparedness and response, so they are able to become stakeholders and take 

an active role in emergency planning, in particular to acknowledge and plan for 

the fact that they might be on their own for the first 72 hours after the 

emergency—commonly referred to as the YOYO (You’re On Your Own) effect. As 

far as possible, this should be a two-way activity; interviews for this report 

indicated that in many cases emergency management professionals still have a 

way to go to raise their awareness of the challenges faced by people with 

disabilities. 
158

• FEMA must assist in increasing outreach efforts to the disability community 

by local emergency managers.

NCD recommends that FEMA develop a guide, both print and online, for local 

emergency management that explains the benefits of a proactive approach to the 

local community of people with disabilities and other access and functional needs. 

This guide should be based on many of the research elements contained in this 

report, including incorporating the advice contained in “Making Preparation 

Inclusive” (see Section 4.2.2) that directly addresses the concerns of people with 

disabilities and others with access and functional needs. This advice includes the 

importance of redundancy in the selection of communication and tools for people 

with disabilities, as power outages during an emergency may cause some 

communication tools to fail; the importance of being able to quickly communicate 

potential life-saving information; and the need to create a personal emergency 

plan that takes into account the individual situation of the person with disabilities 

or access or functional needs. 

FINDING 4. There is a lack of state guidance for local emergency managers 

on effective communications for people with disabilities. 

Interviews revealed that state guidance is also needed to implement effective emergency 

communications at the local level. Some states have a state-level group—for example,

the Texas Disability Task Force on Emergency Management, the Virginia Statewide 

Emergency Planning Working Group, and the Georgia Emergency Preparedness 

Coalition—that tries to provide local jurisdictions with a guide for including people with 

disabilities and others with access and functional needs in the local-level emergency 

operations plan. Appropriate state guidance is needed to implement effective emergency 

communications at the local level to ensure the inclusion of people with disabilities and 

others with access and functional needs in the development of a local emergency 

operations plan. 
159

Recommendation

• States, in collaboration with FEMA as appropriate, should provide guidance 

and training to local emergency managers on effective communications for 

people with disabilities, and funding should be appropriated accordingly.

NCD recommends that state-level groups provide guidance for local jurisdictions 

to ensure accessible emergency communications. Working with FEMA external 

affairs experts, regional disability integration specialists should help coordinate 

field efforts to train local entities on how best to ensure accessible emergency 

communications. Creating a model template for training might include a 

partnership with the state department of emergency management and other 

organizations. Extensive training of local practitioners should be conducted. State 

ADA coordinators, in collaboration with FEMA’s regional disability integration 

specialists, should conduct this training for local practitioners, and funding should 

be allocated for this purpose. It is important that the training occur several times 

during the year, as personnel turnover can have an impact on the effectiveness of 

the training, especially during deployment to emergency sites. 

FINDING 5. Technology plays an increasingly vital role in emergency 

communications yet remains largely inaccessible for many people with 

disabilities. 

Technology is having an ongoing impact on emergency communications (such as Next 

Generation 911 systems) and the general surge in the use of alternative technologies for 

alerting (such as email and text messages). There are also a number of migratory 

trends; for example, the rate at which people with disabilities rely on television as their 

primary source is shifting. In 2009, research on emergency alerting methods revealed 

that 95 percent of participants with disabilities received alerts via television; in 2013, that 

percentage had dropped to 55 percent. Text messages, which once placed fifth, now 

place second at 31 percent. 
160

Age is a factor in mobile communications. For both receiving alerts and sharing alert 

information, younger people with disabilities use text messaging and social media at 

substantially higher rates than older age groups. The use of mobile apps to receive alerts 

is also inversely associated with age, with younger age groups using mobile apps for 

these purposes at much higher rates than older groups. Another notable difference is in 

the use of social media to pass along public alert information: Respondents with 

disabilities use social media for this purpose more than respondents with no disability. 

This accords with previous research that indicated that the younger cohort of people with 

disabilities (ages 18–29) socializes with close friends, relatives, or neighbors more than 

the equivalent group without disabilities (Kessler Foundation/NOD, 2010).

However, despite the decline in the popularity of some traditional communications 

means, notably radio, television remains the most common means for both receiving and 

verifying alerts, regardless of age cohort.

Further, social media remain largely inaccessible for many people with disabilities. For 

example, for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, social media Web 

sites may be too busy and cluttered. Many people with decreased motor skills require

that the Web site be keyboard-accessible. Videos—for example, in YouTube—often lack 

captions or ASL interpretation for people who are deaf or hard of hearing, and audio 

descriptions of relevant visuals for people who are blind or have low vision.

If online information cannot be accessed via screen readers, people who are blind or 

have low vision will not be able to receive it appropriately on the site. Any image on a 

Web site that lacks ALT text34 to describe the image and the semantic meaning of the 

image will also be inaccessible to people who are blind or have low vision. 

Recommendations

• FEMA’s Office of Disability Integration and Coordination should develop a 

social media campaign directed at younger people with disabilities. 

NCD recommends the development of a social media campaign directed at the 

younger generation in the disability community, specifically people with disabilities 
161

between the ages of 15 and 30. Initially this could be run as a pilot program, 

focusing on one or two local communities in areas prone to or under likely threat 

of a natural disaster, such as an area prone to tornadoes or major storm systems. 

The intention would be to work with local emergency management to develop a 

model of how to achieve the proactive involvement of people with disabilities and 

other access and functional needs in an emergency communications program, 

with a focus on the use of electronic and social media–based communications. 

The model should be offered through FEMA’s Office of Disability Integration and 

Coordination as a disaster resource for local government. NCD recommends that 

FEMA explore the possibility of creating a nationwide competition, possibly with 

commercial sponsorship, intended to develop working models or examples of 

social media being used to involve people with disabilities and other access and 

functional needs in an emergency communications program. 

• DOJ, in collaboration with the FCC as appropriate, should closely monitor 

the inaccessibility of social media and strongly consider issuing regulations 

to ensure accessibility.

NCD recommends that DOJ, in collaboration with the FCC as appropriate, closely 

monitor the inaccessibility of social media and strongly consider issuing 

regulations to ensure accessibility.

FINDING 6. People with disabilities are often not engaged in emergency 

preparedness activities. 

Low levels of personal preparedness are common among people with and without 

disabilities or access and functional needs. However, the percentage of prepared 

individuals decreases with income, a pertinent issue for many people with disabilities and 

others with access and functional needs. A significant proportion of people with 

disabilities and others with access and functional needs are at the low end of the 

socioeconomic scale and do not have disposable income for emergency-related 

supplies. This is compounded by the reality that for some people with disabilities and 
162

others with access and functional needs, emergency preparedness falls below many 

other items in the hierarchy of day-to-day survival needs. 

Emergency managers and other stakeholders need to focus not only on integrating the 

needs of people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs into 

preparedness information but also on highlighting free and low-cost preparedness 

measures, such as building a support team.

Recommendation

• FEMA and other relevant federal agencies should jointly develop a model 

for working with local emergency management to achieve the proactive 

involvement of people with disabilities and other access and functional 

needs in an emergency communications program.

NCD recommends that FEMA and other relevant federal agencies, working with 

local emergency management, explore the development of a model for achieving

the proactive involvement of people with disabilities and other access and 

functional needs in an emergency communications program, offering support to 

the local community of people with disabilities and others with access and 

functional needs, with a specific focus on outreach to those at the low end of the 

socioeconomic scale, who may be isolated in terms of communications for a 

variety of reasons. This outreach should be coordinated with local NGOs, faithbased organizations, and other interest groups, and could be run as part of the 

social media campaign recommended under Finding 5. Again, the model should 

be offered through FEMA’s Office of Disability Integration and Coordination as a 

disaster resource for local government. 
163

FINDING 7. Despite legal mandates to provide effective communication to 

people with disabilities before, during, and after emergencies, emergency 

communications remain largely inaccessible. 

Although several federal laws, such as the ADA and the Rehabilitation Act, require that 

emergency communications be fully accessible to people with disabilities, significant 

barriers remain. This is due to a lack of oversight by federal agencies and to 

noncompliance and limited understanding of mandates by states and localities.

Recommendations

• DOJ, in collaboration with other agencies as appropriate, must increase its 

monitoring and enforcement of federal laws such as the ADA and the 

Rehabilitation Act, which require that emergency communications be fully 

accessible to people with disabilities, and funding should be appropriated 

accordingly. 

NCD recommends increased investigation and enforcement of federal laws and 

regulations related to accessible emergency communications. DOJ, in 

collaboration with other federal agencies where appropriate, should conduct 

regular evaluations of compliance with disability laws and regulations as they 

pertain to effective communication before, during, and after emergencies. They 

should specifically monitor compliance by local, state, and tribal emergency 

managers and planners, as well as television broadcasters. Funds should be 

appropriated to DOJ, and other federal agencies as appropriate, for this 

enforcement. 

• The FCC must increase its monitoring and enforcement of federal laws and 

regulations that require that emergency communications be fully accessible 

to people with disabilities, and funding should be appropriated accordingly.

NCD recommends that the FCC increase its enforcement of requirements for 

captioning and access to critical emergency information on TV, and should 

regulations to require sign language interpreters during emergency broadcasts. 
164

The FCC should also consider requiring video description during all emergency 

broadcasts. Further, the FCC should actively enforce the 21st Century 

Communications and Video Accessibility Act as it relates to emergency-related 

communications. In addition, the FCC Consumer and Governmental Affairs 

Bureau, Office of Disability, must continue to send out reminders on rules and 

regulations to ensure compliance. 

• DOJ, in collaboration with the FCC, must address Web site accessibility, 

particularly Section 508 compliance.

NCD recommends that DOJ, in collaboration with the FCC, address Web site 

accessibility, particularly Section 508 compliance. All emergency communications 

Web sites should be fully accessible, including adjustable font size and an option 

to use screen-reading technology to read the information out loud.

• DOJ, the FCC, and FEMA should collectively issue guidance to local 

emergency managers on accessible Web sites and legal mandates.

NCD recommends that DOJ, the FCC, and FEMA collectively issue guidance to 

local emergency managers on accessible Web sites and legal mandates. 

Although some jurisdictions use these types of media aggressively and others do 

not, it is imperative that the legal obligation to use media in the most accessible 

format possible be acknowledged and accepted. 

FINDING 8. Alerts and warnings that are multimodal are better able to reach 

people with disabilities. 

When alerts and warnings are multimodal, they will reach more people. The Wireless 

RERC (2005) highlights the use of a multimodal approach to increase accessibility of 

alerts and warnings by providing emergency information in many different formats. 

Traditionally, the public has been primarily alerted through the Emergency Alert System 

(EAS); however, in 2004, “FEMA initiated [the Integrated Public Alert and Warning 

System] IPAWS to integrate EAS and other public-alerting systems into a larger, more 
165

comprehensive public alerting system” (GAO, 2013, p. 6). According to the GAO, the 

effectiveness of the national-level EAS is lost when alerts and warnings are 

disseminated through limited channels. For example, if alerts and warnings are 

disseminated only via television and radio, the GAO says that “large portions of the 

population would likely not be reached by a national-level alert—specifically all those 

who are not watching television or listening to the radio” (p. 20). As noted in Section 3, 

people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs tend to receive 

alerts and warnings through the same channels as people without such disabilities or 

needs, so multimodal alerts and warnings would benefit all; however, ensuring 

accessibility of alerts and warnings for people with disabilities is still necessary. The 

GAO notes that IPAWS will help disseminate consistent (due to Common Alerting 

Protocol) alerts and warnings to a larger proportion of the population via radio, television, 

mobile alerts, and “messages to specialized alerting devices for individuals with 

disabilities” (p. 21).

However, although IPAWS has the ability to disseminate consistent multimodal alerts 

and warnings, potentially enhancing accessibility for people with disabilities and others 

with access and functional needs, barriers to its implementation remain. The GAO noted 

that challenges include a lack of guidance for state and local public-alerting authorities, 

inability to test the IPAWS system, insufficient public outreach, and limited resources to 

implement IPAWS (GAO, 2013). Outreach activities should be scaled up to better inform 

individuals of IPAWS capabilities and to provide information so that public-alerting 

authorities can begin providing IPAWS alerts.

Recommendation

• The FCC and FEMA must continue to work toward ensuring that alerts and 

warnings are fully accessible to people with disabilities.

NCD recommends that FEMA and the FCC establish guidance so that publicalerting authorities are able to “fully implement and test IPAWS components and 

ensure integration and interoperability” (GAO, 2013, p. 29). In addition, NCD 

recommends that FEMA and the FCC begin to regularly test the capabilities of the 
166

EAS and IPAWS to ensure the accessibility of alerts and warnings for people with 

disabilities. Finally, NCD recommends that FEMA create a campaign to better 

educate the public on the capabilities of IPAWS, ensuring that all outreach is 

accessible to people with disabilities. Elements of such a campaign are already in 

place, but NCD believes that such outreach can be improved; for example, by 

making FEMA funding available to disability advocacy organizations to engage in 

the campaign. 
167

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183

APPENDIX A. Partial List of NGOs and Disabilityspecific Organizations Interested in the 

Social Inclusion of People with 

Disabilities and Others with Access and 

Functional Needs

Non-governmental Organizations

American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) 

AAPD is the nation’s largest disability rights organization. It promotes equal opportunity, 

economic power, independent living, and political participation for people with disabilities. 

AAPD’s members—including people with disabilities and their families, friends, and 

supporters—are a powerful force for change.

Coalition of Organizations for Accessible Technology (COAT)

The primary mission of the coalition is to ensure accessible technology for people with 

disabilities. Although emergency communications is just one of the aspects of accessible 

technology COAT addresses, the coalition is proactive in providing and sharing timely 

information on the subject. It disseminates all FEMA notices, FCC actions, insightful 

state and NGO updates, and partner items of interest. 

Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD)

The CCD is a coalition of approximately 100 national consumer, advocacy, provider, and 

professional disability organizations. Since 1973, the consortium has advocated for 

national public policy that ensures the self-determination, independence, empowerment, 

integration, and inclusion of children and adults with disabilities in all aspects of society. 

National Emergency Number Association (NENA)

NENA is the primary organization focused on 911 policy, technology, and operations 

(NENA, 2012). NENA creates standards, files comments on rulemakings, and conducts 

outreach and training related to 911. The association has been involved in all aspects of 

Next Generation 911 and is pushing for state and regional implementation of interim textto-911. Text-to-911 would improve access for deaf and hard of hearing individuals, and 

would enable text communication for people for whom voice communication is not an 

option. NENA’s Accessibility Committee offers assistance in all accessibility-related 

issues and provides subject matter experts on NENA’s committees and workgroups.
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Wireless RERC

The Wireless RERC (Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center) focuses on identifying 

issues and providing solutions related to accessibility and usability of mobile wireless 

products and services by people with disabilities. Currently, the center is working on 

three prototype “lifelines” on wireless platforms, each of which will undergo trials for 

people with disabilities. The prototypes are an augmentative and alternative 

communication (AAC) app for emergency communications; a Commercial Mobile Alert 

System (CMAS) video platform; and TTY-like access to NG 911 via a wireless interface 

(Wireless RERC, 2012). The Wireless RERC’s policy center provides substantive input 

into policymaking to help reduce barriers and accelerate adoption of accessible wireless 

products, services (including emergency alerts), and software applications. Of particular 

interest is parity of access to emergency information and ensuring that people with 

disabilities who require nonvoice communication (e.g., deaf, speech-disabled ) have 

equivalent access to emergency services as analog-based communications are phased 

out in favor of fourth generation/Internet Protocol (4G/IP) technology.

Disability-Specific Organizations

The American Council of the Blind (ACB)

ACB strives to increase the independence, security, equality of opportunity, and quality 

of life for all blind and visually impaired people. Since its inception, ACB and its affiliates 

have been instrumental in the creation of policies that have shaped the opportunities 

available to people with disabilities in our country. 

American Foundation for the Blind (AFB)

As a national nonprofit with offices in five U.S. cities, the AFB is a leader in expanding 

possibilities for the more than 20 million Americans living with vision loss.

The Arc

The Arc is the largest national community-based organization advocating for and serving 

people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. It encompasses

all ages and all spectrums: autism, Down syndrome, Fragile X, and various other 

developmental disabilities.

Association of Late-Deafened Adults (ALDA)

ALDA is about communication and acceptance of every deafened individual. What is 

most important about ALDA is that there are no membership restrictions and no ties to a 

specific mode of communication. ALDA reaches out to deafened individuals regardless 

of age of onset who are seeking their place as a deafened person.
185

Autistic Self-Advocacy Network (ASAN)

ASAN was created to provide support and services to people on the autism spectrum 

while working to educate communities and improve public perceptions of autism. ASAN 

activities include public policy advocacy, community engagement to encourage inclusion 

and respect for neurodiversity, quality of life oriented research, and the development of 

Autistic cultural activities.

Easter Seals

Easter Seals provides services, education, outreach, and advocacy so that people living 

with autism and other disabilities can live, learn, work, and play in the community. From 

child development centers to physical rehabilitation and job training for people with 

disabilities, Easter Seals offers a variety of services to help people with disabilities 

address life’s challenges and achieve personal goals.

Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA)

HLAA has an impact on communication access, public policy, research, public 

awareness, and service delivery related to hearing loss. Its national support network 

includes an office in the Washington, DC, area; 14 state organizations; and HLAA 

chapters and organizations across the country. 

National Association of the Deaf (NAD)

NAD is a civil rights organization of, by, and for deaf and hard of hearing people in the 

United States. NAD’s advocacy scope is broad, covering the human lifetime and 

affecting future generations in the areas of early intervention, education, employment, 

health care, technology, telecommunications, youth leadership, and more.

National Federation of the Blind (NFB)

NFB is the oldest and largest nationwide membership organization of blind people in the 

United States. It advocates for the civil rights and equality of blind Americans, and 

develops innovative education, technology, and training programs to provide the blind 

and those who are losing vision with the tools they need to be independent and 

successful.

Telecommunications for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Inc. (TDI)

TDI provides leadership in achieving equal access to telecommunications, media, and 

information technologies for deaf and hard of hearing people. It focuses its energies and 

resources to address equal access issues in telecommunications and media for four 

constituencies in deafness and hearing loss: people who are deaf, hard-of-hearing, latedeafened, or deaf-blind. 
186

United Cerebral Palsy (UCP)

UCP educates, advocates, and provides support services to ensure a life without limits 

for people with a spectrum of disabilities 

References

National Emergency Number Association. 2012. “About NENA.” Accessed October 16, 

2012. http://www.nena.org/?page=AboutNENA

Wireless RERC. 2012. October 18, 2012. “Emergency Communications (D2).” Accessed 

March 10, 2014. http://www.wirelessrerc.org/content/emergency-communications-d2 
187

APPENDIX B. Communication Among Emergency 

Management and First Responders 

Incident Command System

All emergency information and communications that are disseminated to the public are

preceded by communication among emergency officials. Response efforts are mandated 

through the National Response Framework (NRF) and the National Incident 

Management System (NIMS) as mandated by the Incident Command System (ICS), 

which is a “standardized, on-scene, all-hazards incident management concept” that

allows emergency managers and first responders to respond to incidents of any scale in 

a consistent manner (FEMA, 2009). Although the ICS was first created in the 1970s, the 

institution of a unified incident response system followed Homeland Security Presidential 

Directives 5 (Management of Domestic Incidents) and 8 (National Preparedness) 

(FEMA, 2009). All incidents are to be handled locally, unless local resources are 

exhausted, meaning that the incident command begins, and often remains, at the local 

level, with state and federal agencies offering supporting roles when required.

Organization under the ICS begins by using unique ICS position titles and organizational 

structures; thus, a person’s job title (as assigned by his or her agency) might be modified 

under the ICS to avoid confusion over different position titles and organizational 

structures that may occur between agencies or jurisdictions (FEMA 2009). In addition,

the ICS requires that all responders use common terminology to avoid confusion that 

may occur when different agencies are communicating with one another.

Under the ICS, when an incident occurs, response begins with an incident command 

post at the site. An incident is defined as “an occurrence, caused by either human or 

natural phenomena, that requires response actions to prevent or minimize loss of life, or 

damage to property and/or to the environment” (FEMA, 2009). Incidents can involve one 

jurisdiction or multiple jurisdictions, functional agencies, and emergency responder 

disciplines, and the severity of the incident often determines the amount of time that will 

need to be dedicated to the response and recovery phases (i.e., more complex incidents 

may require longer response or recovery phases) (FEMA 2009). 

At the scene of an incident, the most qualified person is designated as the incident 

commander. He or she may decide to assume command, maintain command as is, or 

transfer command to a third party (FEMA, 2009). The incident commander can create an 

incident management team, which might include a public information officer, liaison 

officer, and safety officer, as well as an Operations Section, Planning Section, Logistics 

Section, and Finance/Administration Section (see Figure B-1). Because the ICS is 

scalable, the scope of the incident will determine what sections are included on the team. 

For example, a single car crashing into a pole will not require the same ICS structure as 

a tornado that causes major damage in a large city. The scale of the incident 

management team will also depend on how the incident affects “life, property, and the 
188

economy, community and responder safety, likelihood of cascading events, political 

sensitivity, external influences and media relations, the area involved, jurisdictional 

boundaries, and the availability of resources” (FEMA, 2009).

Figure B-1. Incident Command Structure

Source: FEMA, 2009.

Each incident requires an incident action plan (IAP), which can be either verbal or 

written, again depending on the scale of the incident. The IAP will describe all actions 

that need to be completed during the operational period (determined by the incident 

commander—anywhere from an hour to many days) and will include information such as 

“what needs to be done, who is responsible, how information will be communicated, and 

what should be done if someone is injured” (FEMA, 2009).

Another structure often used in conjunction with the ICS is provided by the emergency 

support functions (ESFs). These functions include (1) transportation; 

(2) communications; (3) public works and engineering; (4) firefighting; (5) emergency 

management; (6) mass care, housing, and human services; (7) resource support; 

(8) health and medical services; (9) search and rescue; (10) hazardous materials; 

(11) agricultural and natural resources; (12) energy; (13) public safety and security; 

(14) long-term community recovery and mitigation; and (15) external affairs (Chatham 

County Emergency Management Agency, 2012). Various emergency plans may have 

more ESF categories or list them in a different order. When ESFs are instituted under the 

ICS, they are typically under the Emergency Operations Center (EOC); each ESF 

category coordinates the efforts for its department and reports to the emergency 

manager in charge of the EOC. Under this system, the manager of the EOC does not 

have to directly coordinate all agencies.
189

Figure B-2. A Hybrid ICS/ESF Structure

Source: Skamania County (Washington) Emergency Management, 2012. 

Area Command

Area Command is used to oversee either multiple incidents that are being handled 

separately or one incident that spans a large geographical area. According to FEMA 

(2009), “Area Command ensures that agency policies, priorities, constraints, and 

guidance are being made known to the incident commanders and implemented 

consistently across incidents” 

At an incident command post, “The focus is on tactics to deal with the immediate 

situation.” (FEMA, 2012). However, incident command posts are scalable to the size of 

the emergency. For example, if a tornado were to touch down in multiple cities in 

Atlanta—like the 2008 tornado that traveled through Vine City, downtown Atlanta, 

Cabbagetown, and East Atlanta Village—each city might have a command post that

would be communicating with the Emergency Operations Center (EOC). The EOC is “a 

physical (e.g., conference room) or virtual (e.g., teleconference call) location designed to 

support emergency response, business continuity, and crisis communications activities” 

(FEMA, 2012). EOCs can be formed at the local, state, or federal level. The EOC 

coordinates the efforts of different agencies that may be involved in response to an 

emergency. This includes collecting and evaluating information from the field, 
190

coordinating information flow and resources from complex incidents or multiple incidents 

occurring simultaneously, prioritizing response and resources in order to make the effort 

more efficient and effective, and ensuring that communications are interoperable among 

responders (FEMA, 2011). 

References

Chatham County Emergency Management Agency Emergency Operations Plan. 

Accessed November 1, 2013. http://www.chathamemergency.org/documents/

EOP_0312.pdf

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). 2009. “Personal Preparedness in 

America: Findings from the 2009 Citizens Corps National Survey.” Washington, 

D.C. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). 2011. “A Whole 

Community Approach to Emergency Management: Principles, Themes, and 

Pathways for Action.” Washington, D.C. 1–23.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). 2012. “Disaster Recovery Centers.” 

Washington, D.C.. Accessed January 4, 2013. http://www.fema.gov/disasterrecovery-centers 

Skamania County Emergency Management, 2012. Accessed November 1, 2013. 

http://www.skamania-dem.org/EOC.html
191

APPENDIX C. Some Useful Links for Section 4.2: 

Promising Practices

Interagency and Interjurisdictional Communication

Item Link

Alert San Diego http://www.readysandiego.org/alertsandiego

DHS Center for Faith-based 

and Neighborhood 

Partnerships

http://www.dhs.gov/dhs-center-faith-based-neighborhoodpartnerships 

Explanation of C-MIST http://www.jik.com/KailesEndersbeyond.pdf 

Functional Assessment 

Service Team (FAST)

http://www.cdss.ca.gov/dis/PG1909.htm 

Georgia Emergency 

Management Interpreting 

Initiative, Inc. (GEMINI)

http://teamgemini.org/

Paratransit Handbook http://www.trb.org/Main/Blurbs/168321.aspx 

Stearns County Integrated 

Emergency Plan

http://www.co.stearns.mn.us/LawPublicSafety/Emergency

Services/EmergencyPreparedness 

Texas Functional Needs 

Support Services Toolkit

https://www.preparingtexas.org/Resources/documents/FN

SS/FNSS%20Tool%20Kit%20v4.pdf
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Individual Preparedness

Training Link

Autism Speaks http://www.autismspeaks.org/family-services/autismsafety-project

Feeling Safe, Being Safe 

Training 

http://www.dds.ca.gov/ConsumerCorner/fsbs/ 

FEMA Citizen Corps 

Preparedness Survey

http://www.ready.gov/personal-preparedness-survey-2009

FEMA Getting Real II 

Conference Proceedings

http://gettingreal-ii.webcaston.tv/home/homepage.php 

PA Ready.gov http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/re

adypa/21271

Ready Now! http://www.ohsu.edu/xd/outreach/occyshn/upload/ReadyN

owToolkit.pdf

Ready.gov http://www.ready.gov/sites/default/files/documents/files/Pri

nterFriendly_Disabilities_1.pdf
193

Technology and Social Media

Item Link

Accessible Alert San Diego http://www.readysandiego.org/alertsandiego 

Alertus http://www.alertus.com/ 

Apps: American Red Cross http://www.redcross.org/prepare/mobile-apps

App: BrailleTouch http://brailletouchapp.com/ 

App: EC4ALL http://disabilities.temple.edu/aacvocabulary/e4all

Android.shtml 

App: FEMA App http://www.fema.gov/smartphone-app

App: Google Translate http://www.google.com/mobile/translate/ 

App: Hamilton Mobile Captel https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/hamilton-mobilecaptel/id370615084?mt=8 

App: iMPrepared https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/imprepared/id396912356?mt=8

App: IP-Relay https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ip-relay/id351385414?mt=8 

App: Picture Card Maker PLUShttps://itunes.apple.com/us/app/picture-card-makerplus/id417882424?mt=8 

App: Proloquo2go http://www.assistiveware.com/product/proloquo2go 

App: Red Cross Shelter View http://www.redcross.org/mobile-apps/shelter-finder-app

App: Sorenson Video Center http://www.sorensonvrs.com/mobile_apps 

App: SoundAMP https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/soundamp-r/

id318126109?mt=8

App: Sprint Accessibility Packs http://www.sprintrelay.com/doc/press_releases/

03182013/index.php 

App: TaptoTalk http://www.taptotalk.com 

App: ViA by Braille Institute https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/via-by-brailleinstitute/id528499232?mt=8

Deaf Link http://www.deaflink.com 
194

Item Link

Emergency 2.0 Wiki 

Accessibility Toolkit

http://emergency20wiki.org/wiki/index.php/Accessibility_Toolkit 

Howto.gov Improving Social 

Media Accessibility

http://www.howto.gov/social-media/using-social-media-ingovernment/improving-accessibility

Mobile Site: Tips for First 

Responders

http://disabilitytips.tamu.edu/index.html 

Pass It On Center http://www.passitoncenter.org/EmergencyManage

ment.aspx 

Rochester Institute of 

Technology Alert System

http://www.rit.edu/fa/buscont/content/rit-alert-emergencynotification-system 

Smart911 http://www.smart911.com

SmartPrepare http://www.smartprepare.com

Tools and Training

Item Link

Communication Boards http://rems.ed.gov/docs/TempleUniv_FeelingSafe.pdf

First Responder Disability

Awareness Training

http://www.fr-dat.com

First Response and Autism http://www.opwdd.ny.gov/opwdd_community_

connections/autism_platform/documents/brochures_

firstresponders_autism 

Rutgers University 

Developmental Disability 

Training

http://www3.uch.edu/Videos/DevDisabilitiesAwarenessTraining/

player.html

Tips for First Responders Web site: http://disabilitytips.tamu.edu

Book: 

http://www.anaheim.net/images/section/202/TIPS%20Guide%

20for%20First%20Responders.pdf
195

Endnotes

1 For a detailed example from Hurricane Sandy, see http://www.silive.com/eastshore/

index.ssf/2012/12/deaf_staten_island_victim_of_h.html. 

2 The Partnership for Public Warning—a nonprofit public-private partnership—was 

established in 2002 and dissolved in March 2005; however, its Web site continues to be 

maintained and periodically updated. 

3 This concept has developed over the two generations of the National Response 

Framework. In 2008, the language described an essentially hierarchical system of 

organization and integration by senior officials and their emergency managers, with 

businesses and NGOs mentioned in additional capacities. The 2013 NRF emphasizes 

the engagement of the whole community. 

4 This trend is encouraging as wireless emergency alerts (WEAs) grow in popularity. The 

WEA system (formerly known as the Commercial Mobile Alert System or CMAS) refers 

to emergency messages sent by authorized government entities alerting authorities 

through the mobile carrier and designed to get attention with a unique sound and 

vibration. 

5 “Crowdsourcing” is defined here as receiving services, ideas, or help from a large 

group of people, especially from an online community rather than from traditional 

sources of support.

6 See http://www.lep.gov/resources/resources.html#EP. 

7 For the Unified Agenda current as of Spring 2013, see https://www.federalregister.gov/

regulations/3014-AA37/telecommunications-act-accessibility-guidelines-electronic-andinformation-technology-accessibility8 See http://www.ndrn.org/images/Documents/Issues/Disaster_Preparedness/NDRN_

Disaster_Preparedness_Checklist.pdf

9 42 U.S.C. § 12131 et seq.

10 42 U.S.C. § 12132.

11 42 U.S.C. § 12131 (1)(B).

12 28 C.F.R. § 35.160(a)(1); 28 C.F.R. § 35.160(b)(1)-(2).

13 28 C.F.R. § 35.163(a).

14 42 U.S.C. § 12182
196

15 47 C.F.R section 64.404 (a)(4).

16 See 47 C.F.R. section 64.605. 

17 See http://www.ada.gov/anprm2010/web%20anprm_2010.htm

18 See http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaViewRule?pubId=201210&RIN=1190-

AA65. 

19 See http://www.fcc.gov/encyclopedia/closed-captioning-video-programming-television. 

20 See http://www.fcc.gov/guides/emergency-video-programming-accessibility-personshearing-and-visual-disabilities. 

21 The DOJ complaint is available at http://www.dpcma.org/News/DOJTitleII/tabid/

800/Default.aspx. 

22 A 2010 Harris Interactive poll of people with disabilities conducted for the Kessler 

Foundation and the National Organization on Disability revealed that they are less likely 

than those without disabilities to report that they socialize with friends, relatives, or 

neighbors (79% versus 90%) and that this gap (11%) has remained basically constant 

since surveys in 2004 (10%) and 2000 (11%). (Kessler Foundation/NOD. 2010).

23 The GPII aims to ensure that everyone who faces accessibility barriers can access 

and use the Internet. The aim is to combine cloud computing, Web, and platform 

services to make accessibility simple, ubiquitous, more inclusive, and more affordable. 

See http://gpii.net/index.html. 

24 The advantage of using community reports during an emergency is that information 

can be posted online instantaneously, often well ahead of official reports. The 

disadvantage, of course, is that such asserted information carries the risk of error, 

potentially of critical importance in an emergency. 

25 This applies to only the standard Twitter interface, as there are accessible Twitter 

clients. These are not mentioned here, as the list is constantly changing. 

26 The “ALT” attribute is used in HTML and XHTML documents to specify alternative text

that serves the same purpose and conveys the same essential information as, for 

example, an image. It is used by screen reader software so that a person who is blind 

can listen to and interact with this element. 

27 A comprehensive guide to improving the accessibility of social media can be found at 

http://www.howto.gov/social-media/using-social-media-in-government/improvingaccessibility#part-1. 

28 http://www.wirelessrerc.org/content/publications/emergency-communications-surveyfull-report-june-2011. 
197

29 In the 2010–11 survey, respondents were asked if they ever received an alert via any 

of these media or platforms. In the 2012–13 survey, respondents were asked how they 

received and verified the most recent alert.

30 http://www.nad.org/issues/telephone-and-relay-services/relay-services/tty.

31 According to the Department of Health and Human Services (2012), Emergency 

Support Functions are “the groupings of governmental and certain private sector 

capabilities into an organizational structure to provide support, resources, program 

implementation, and services that are most likely needed to save lives, protect property 

and the environment, restore essential services and critical infrastructure, and help 

victims and communities return to normal following domestic incidents.” 

32 The cost for a Smart911 system depends on the number of call-taking stations in a 

PSAP. The jurisdiction purchases an annual license, which includes the installation of 

Smart911 on each call-taking station and maintenance of the program (both of which can 

be done remotely). The fee also covers the secure storage of individuals’ information in 

the cloud. The system is free to the public; anyone may create a Smart911 profile. 

33 The National Mitigation Framework identifies “building the capacity within communities 

to assess, analyze, and apply the knowledge of risk and resilience” as a critical task for 

education and training. Planning tasks include “collaborate, cooperate, and build 

consensus across other disciplines that impact plans”; “understand the demographics 

and systems that make up the community and their vulnerabilities and interdependencies 

with each other”; and “include disability and other access and functional needs subject 

matter experts in mitigation planning” (DHS, 2013a, p.18).

34 The ALT attribute is used in HTML and XHTML documents to specify alternative text

that serves the same purpose and conveys the same essential information as, for 

example, an image. It is used by screen reader software so that a person who is blind 

can listen to and interact with this element. 
National Council on Disability

1331 F Street, NW, Suite 850

Washington, DC 20004