Disaster Planning, Recovery, and Response: REAADI for Disasters Act and DRMA

All too often, the disaster-related needs of disabled people are overlooked or ignored. Disabled people face often insurmountable barriers during and after disasters, resulting in disabled people and older adults being two to four times more likely to die or be seriously injured during a disaster. This is the direct result of the discrimination and exclusion we face in disaster planning and preparedness, response, recover, and mitigation efforts. To address this, Congress has reintroduced two important bills.

The Real Emergency Access for Aging and Disability Inclusion (REAADI) for Disasters Act (S. 2658 / H.R. 4938) was introduced by Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) and Congressman Jim Langevin (D-RI). The REAADI for Disasters Act will help ensure the diverse voices of disabled people and older adults are included in disaster preparation, response, recovery, and mitigation. It will ensure states and localities better include and support disabled residents through the creation of a national network of training and technical assistance centers. It will require a review of spending to ensure compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and a review of the extent to which disabled people’s civil rights have been upheld during and after disasters. Learn more from the Senate Special Committee on Aging one-pager and section-by-section summary (PDF).

The Disaster Relief Medicaid Act (S. 2646 / H.R. 4937) was introduced by Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) and Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-CA). DRMA will help ensure disabled people who are forced to move out of state because of disasters are able to keep their Medicaid services. DRMA would also provide states with resources and supports to enable this change, including a time-limited increased FMAP (federal medical assistance percentage). Learn more from the Senate Special Committee on Aging one-pager and section-by-section summary (PDF).

Take Action for the REAADI for Disasters Act and DRMA!

Additional Resources

> The Senate Hearing that started it all! On September 20, 2017, the Senate Special Committee on Aging held a hearing entitled Disaster Preparedness and Response: The Special Needs of Older Americans. Paul Timmons, CEO/President of Portlight Inclusive Disaster Strategies and long-time NCIL member provided important testimony addressing disaster-related issues disabled people and older adults face. In his testimony, Paul made several suggestions which formed the basis for the REAADI for Disasters Act. Watch the archived hearing and read Paul’s testimony.

> NCIL’s 2019 Inclusive Emergency Management Resolution

> NCIL’s 2014 Position Paper on Emergency Preparedness and Response within the Disability Community

NCIL has long worked to address the disaster-related needs of disabled people. Over 15 years ago, NCIL’s Emergency Preparedness Task Force – now a permanent NCIL Subcommittee – was the first formal disability community effort to address this issue. In 2010, NCIL entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and in 2014 NCIL entered into an MOU with the American Red Cross (ARC). NCIL canceled the ARC MOU and allowed the FEMA MOU to expire when they failed to hold up their end of the bargains, but we have never let up the pressure on either of them to meet their obligations to our community and disabled people across the country. Additionally, NCIL entered into an MOU with Portlight Strategies, which was instrumental in supporting disaster-impacted CILs and the people and communities they support. That partnership has continued, with NCIL hosting a full-time Portlight Fellow in 2019 to build political and community support for the REAADI for Disasters Act and DRMA, and with Portlight supporting CILs across the country as they respond to disasters and emergencies, including the COVID-19 pandemic.