Disoriented and Immobile: The Experiences of People with Visual Impairments during and after the Christchurch, New Zealand, 2010 and 2011 Earthquakes

Abstract

Introduction On September 4, 2010, at 4.35 a.m., a shallow 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck the South Island of New Zealand, followed by a deadly 6.3 magnitude aftershock on February 22, 2011, centered under the city of Christchurch, which killed 185 people. This research explores the experiences of 12 visually impaired Christchurch residents who lived through more than 12,000 aftershocks throughout 2010 and 2011. The participants shared suggestions about how to be better prepared for such an emergency. Methods Qualitative research involved 12 face-to-face semi-structured interviews conducted in 2011 prior to the fatal February earthquake. In February 2012, seven of the original participants were reinterviewed about how more than a year of earthquakes had affected their lives. Results Participants highlighted the importance of communication and technology, personal and agency support, orientation and mobility, health, rebuilding independence, rehabilitation, coping, and resilience. Discussion Participants demonstrated creative problem-solving abilities, resilience, and community spirit. Findings also indicate that older visually impaired persons are vulnerable in disasters, and that more work needs to be done to prepare communities, agencies, families, and individuals for potential disasters. Implications for practitioners Participants provided suggestions for disaster preparedness for people who have impairments and for the agencies that provide services to people with disabilities.

Addressing the Needs of Children With Disabilities Experiencing Disaster or Terrorism

“…Research on individuals with disabilities reports this group experiences increased exposure to hazards. People with blindness or hearing impairments experience difficulties receiving emergency communications [3,23]. People with mobility disabilities encounter barriers during evacuation and transportation [24,25], while people with health-related disabilities have difficulties obtaining medical support post-disaster [4,26].…”

“…Research on adults who were deaf or with hearing impairments reported problems with receiving emergency communications, in addition to difficulties during evacuation and sheltering [47,48]. A study of older adults with visual impairments reported concerns related to evacuation, orientation, and mobility, as well as communication during an earthquake [3].…”

“…Emerging research suggests that disasters and terrorist acts have differential, and most often negative, consequences for individuals with disabilities. Studies emanating from a range of academic disciplines report barriers and adverse outcomes for people with disabilities during emergency evacuation, sheltering, and recovery [1][2][3][4]. Epidemiological studies also indicate higher exposure and mortality rates for people with disabilities in some disasters [5,6].…”

People with Disabilities and Disasters

“…White emphasizes the inequitable access to communication experienced by the Deaf community, for example, hurricanes announcements were only available on selected television stations, translators were not available in shelters and information from FEMA and Red Cross was not communicated in sign language or in another accessible manner. In a study of adults with visual impairments, Good, Phibbs, and Williamson (2016) interviewed people who experienced the Christchurch, New Zealand earthquakes and aftershocks during 2010 and 2011. Participants described concerns regarding communication, safety, and orienting themselves in the post-earthquake environment.…”

“…Research from disability studies separately notes that perceived disability status is often associated with stigma, creating a separate and unique barrier across societies and across cultures, which we argue augments disaster vulnerability. From interviews (Barile, Fichten, Ferraro, & Judd, 2006;Good, Phibbs, & Williamson, 2016;Kailes, 2015;White, Fox, Rooney, & Cahill, 2007) and narratives (Ducy, Stough, & Clark;Kelman & Stough, 2015a;White, B., 2006;White, G., 2015), people with disabilities have identified stigma, discrimination, systemic barriers, and ignorance as leading to their exclusion from disaster risk reduction. Recent international human rights policy has made promising strides to recognize the marginalized status and needs of people with disabilities, but changes in practice continue to lag behind (Alexander, 2015;United Nations, 2006;World Health Organization & World Bank, 2011).…”