Individuals with disabilities – who are also disproportionately among the poorest of the poor – were among the hardest hit groups by Hurricane Katrina.
September 9, 2005 (Press Release) --
WASHINGTON – Individuals with disabilities – who are also disproportionately among the poorest of the poor – were among the hardest hit groups by Hurricane Katrina. Due to serious health conditions or lack of transportation and without the benefits of a contingency plan, many were not able to evacuate before the storm reached landfall.
The devastating impact of the story on the region’s people with disabilities is just now being realized, with the latest report of 30 bodies being found in a New Orleans nursing home. Emergency plans were not in place and – as a result – casualties occurred that could have been prevented.
In addition to those waiting to be evacuated in the days following the devastation of New Orleans and surrounding areas, Hurricane Katrina also left countless numbers of individuals with newly acquired physical and mental impairments.
“Not only has the hurricane taken a physical toll, but our people on the ground are also finding an increasing number of individuals with mental health concerns,” said Curt Decker, executive director of the National Disability Rights Network. “There were reports out of Louisiana of dazed people entering hospitals, devastated by the experience of complete loss, and we’re only seeing more of that as people struggle to put their lives back together.”
Protection & Advocacy (P&A) Systems are congressionally mandated to operate in every state and territory, serving the needs of individuals with a full range of disabilities.
As we move from the immediate to the longer term needs of the victims of Katrina, the P&As in every state are prepared to serve the needs of individuals with previous and new disabilities now pouring into their states.
To contact the P&A in your state, please visit www.ndrn.org or call 202-408-9514.
The devastating impact of the story on the region’s people with disabilities is just now being realized, with the latest report of 30 bodies being found in a New Orleans nursing home. Emergency plans were not in place and – as a result – casualties occurred that could have been prevented.
In addition to those waiting to be evacuated in the days following the devastation of New Orleans and surrounding areas, Hurricane Katrina also left countless numbers of individuals with newly acquired physical and mental impairments.
“Not only has the hurricane taken a physical toll, but our people on the ground are also finding an increasing number of individuals with mental health concerns,” said Curt Decker, executive director of the National Disability Rights Network. “There were reports out of Louisiana of dazed people entering hospitals, devastated by the experience of complete loss, and we’re only seeing more of that as people struggle to put their lives back together.”
Protection & Advocacy (P&A) Systems are congressionally mandated to operate in every state and territory, serving the needs of individuals with a full range of disabilities.
As we move from the immediate to the longer term needs of the victims of Katrina, the P&As in every state are prepared to serve the needs of individuals with previous and new disabilities now pouring into their states.
To contact the P&A in your state, please visit www.ndrn.org or call 202-408-9514.
Email
Print
SPAM
