Special Needs Persons in Disasters

Phnom Penh 09Phnom Penh 09

Pandemic InfluenzaPandemic InfluenzaKira Kay – HandswithHands

Andrew Bates, COE

Save The Children, Sept 2007‘Guide for inclusion of Children in Emergency Operations Plans’

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Learning objectivesLearning objectives

You will be able to:You will be able to: Define who are ‘special needs’ Define who are ‘special needs’

people (SNP) and why is is people (SNP) and why is is important to include them in plansimportant to include them in plans

Explain the role of the community in Explain the role of the community in caretaking SPN in disasterscaretaking SPN in disasters

Define the practical, legal, social, Define the practical, legal, social, and psychological impacts and psychological impacts

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Who Are Special Needs Who Are Special Needs People?People?

Children 0-18 yrsChildren 0-18 yrs Disabled persons (physical & mental Disabled persons (physical & mental

disabilities)disabilities) Pregnant womenPregnant women AgedAged IlliterateIlliterate OtherOther

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Why develop Why develop planning for ‘special planning for ‘special

needs’ persons?needs’ persons? Basic moral, legal and ethical reason – they are Basic moral, legal and ethical reason – they are

fellow human beings with equal rightsfellow human beings with equal rights In case of current H1N1 Pandemic, SNP are In case of current H1N1 Pandemic, SNP are

especially susceptible to virusespecially susceptible to virus Often unable to access, or benefit from, general Often unable to access, or benefit from, general

plansplans May need special access and health requirementsMay need special access and health requirements Often unable to manage their own needsOften unable to manage their own needs May be disproportionately affected by the May be disproportionately affected by the

emergency circumstance do to loss of base emergency circumstance do to loss of base foundations (e.g. schools, care givers, institution) foundations (e.g. schools, care givers, institution) 

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Some Myths on Some Myths on psychological effects of psychological effects of disasters on children:disasters on children:

That children are innately resilient and That children are innately resilient and will bounce back and recover fully, even will bounce back and recover fully, even from severe traumafrom severe trauma

That children, especially young children, That children, especially young children, are not affected by disaster unless they are not affected by disaster unless they are disturbed by their parents responsesare disturbed by their parents responses

That older children are like mini adults That older children are like mini adults and understand what is happening.and understand what is happening.

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The Myths Are Not True!The Myths Are Not True!

Evidence indicates children Evidence indicates children experience effects of Disaster doublyexperience effects of Disaster doubly

Even very young children are directly Even very young children are directly affected by experiences of death, affected by experiences of death, destruction, absence &/or destruction, absence &/or powerlessness of parentspowerlessness of parents

Children indirectly affected by Children indirectly affected by identification with effects of Disaster identification with effects of Disaster on parents and other trusted adultson parents and other trusted adults

Older children have not developed Older children have not developed adult emotional maturity adult emotional maturity

Psychological Psychological considerationsconsiderations

SNP more vulnerable to psychological SNP more vulnerable to psychological issuesissues

Some SNP are excessively physically Some SNP are excessively physically vulnerable thus increasing fear, trauma vulnerable thus increasing fear, trauma and cognitive abilityand cognitive ability

Expression of such trauma is varied in Expression of such trauma is varied in different SNP groups and requires different SNP groups and requires different responsesdifferent responses

Need for counseling and consideration Need for counseling and consideration after Disaster – long-term planningafter Disaster – long-term planning

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How to include SNP in How to include SNP in

Disaster planDisaster plan

Step 1: Develop a planning teamStep 1: Develop a planning team

Designate planning coordinatorDesignate planning coordinator Include various agencies, organisations Include various agencies, organisations

and individuals and individuals Emergency services, care providers Emergency services, care providers

(including parents), Health care providers, (including parents), Health care providers, schools, media, social service agencies and schools, media, social service agencies and volunteer organisations, NGO’s, volunteer organisations, NGO’s, government and legal representatives.government and legal representatives.

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Step 2: Conduct researchStep 2: Conduct research Determine and map Location, demographics Determine and map Location, demographics

and numbers of SNP and institutionsand numbers of SNP and institutions Laws governing care and legal Laws governing care and legal

responsibilities in emergenciesresponsibilities in emergencies Available Health care and Aid facilities that Available Health care and Aid facilities that

can assist, and their capacities (including can assist, and their capacities (including NGOs)NGOs)

Mass care facilities and their capacity to Mass care facilities and their capacity to house ‘special needs’ personshouse ‘special needs’ persons

Transportation and communication Transportation and communication availability to service ‘special needs’ persons availability to service ‘special needs’ persons in emergencyin emergency

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Step 3: Identify assumptions affecting Step 3: Identify assumptions affecting planning & implementation processplanning & implementation process

Parent/guardian’s primary concern locate Parent/guardian’s primary concern locate childchild

Providers of care likely to be affected Providers of care likely to be affected themselvesthemselves

Schools becoming mass shelters or closedSchools becoming mass shelters or closed Local Health providers overwhelmedLocal Health providers overwhelmed Transient ‘special needs’ peopleTransient ‘special needs’ people

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Other Planning Other Planning ConsiderationsConsiderations

What additional needs & actions to service What additional needs & actions to service SNP, during and after Disaster SNP, during and after Disaster

Define and assign roles before, during and Define and assign roles before, during and after Emergencyafter Emergency

Encourage each SNP facility to develop Encourage each SNP facility to develop their own Disaster plantheir own Disaster plan

Develop SNP plan in conjunction with Develop SNP plan in conjunction with General Disaster planGeneral Disaster plan

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SummarySummary SNP is frequently a large number of SNP is frequently a large number of

people with various special needspeople with various special needs WhoWho are SNP in your community? are SNP in your community? WhatWhat are their additional needs – during are their additional needs – during

and after Disaster?and after Disaster? HowHow can these needs be met in can these needs be met in

conjunction with General Disaster plan?conjunction with General Disaster plan? Adequate planning ensures the Adequate planning ensures the

vulnerable SNP receive help & support in vulnerable SNP receive help & support in a timely manner from those organisations a timely manner from those organisations best equipped to be assistance.best equipped to be assistance.

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QUESTIONS?QUESTIONS?