Disaster-Induced Mobility, Security, and Displacement in the Caribbean

Nathalie Murphy’s life, marked by over four decades of sight impairment, stands as a testament to resilience and advocacy. As a founding member of the Dominica Association of Persons with Disabilities, she has championed the rights and inclusion of disabled individuals, drawing strength from her harrowing experiences navigating the tumultuous aftermath of natural disasters. Her story underscores the critical need for disability-inclusive disaster preparedness and response strategies, revealing systemic gaps that exacerbate the vulnerabilities of disabled individuals during times of crisis.

Hurricane David in 1979, experienced while Nathalie was living with her sister, became her initial encounter with the terrifying reality of disasters. Blind and reliant on her auditory senses amidst the chaos, she faced immense challenges in evacuating their destroyed home and seeking safe shelter. This formative experience illuminated the distinct vulnerabilities faced by people with disabilities, particularly regarding safe evacuation procedures and access to secure, accessible shelters. The lack of accessible information and dedicated support systems left her utterly dependent on family for survival and mobility, highlighting the crucial need for community preparedness and targeted assistance.

Years later, Hurricane Maria brought forth a new wave of challenges. This time, however, Nathalie’s involvement with the Dominica Association of Persons with Disabilities allowed her to engage in pre-emptive preparations. Empowered by workshops, training programs, and educational resources related to disaster preparedness and management, she meticulously secured important documents, personal belongings, and identified a safe location within her home. This proactive approach exemplified the transformative power of disability-inclusive disaster preparedness and the importance of empowering disabled individuals with the knowledge and resources to safeguard themselves.

However, despite her careful preparations, the sheer force of Hurricane Maria resulted in the destruction of her home, once again bringing issues of mobility and security to the forefront. The subsequent isolation she and her husband, also blind, experienced in the storm’s immediate aftermath exposed a critical systemic failure. The absence of proactive outreach from local authorities, coupled with the belated and inadequate provision of a tarpaulin, underscored the dire need for targeted, accessible assistance tailored to the specific needs of disabled individuals. Their eventual evacuation to Florida by her stepson, while providing temporary respite, also highlighted the cultural and social complexities of displacement, even within a familial context.

Returning to Dominica months later, Nathalie faced a new set of obstacles. Navigating the bureaucratic labyrinth of insurance claims and reconstruction efforts proved arduous, further complicated by the lack of accessible information and targeted support services. The removal of import duty concessions compounded the challenges, hindering their rebuilding efforts and leaving them in a partially reconstructed home years after the devastating hurricane. This frustrating experience emphasized the need for streamlined and accessible processes for disaster recovery assistance, ensuring that disabled individuals are not further marginalized in the aftermath of a crisis.

Nathalie’s experiences underscore the systemic inequities embedded within disaster response and recovery frameworks, where disabled individuals are often overlooked, marginalized, or face significant barriers in accessing essential assistance. Her story reveals a critical disconnect between policy and practice, highlighting the urgent need for a paradigm shift towards inclusive disaster risk reduction. This necessitates not only targeted support and accessible resources, but also a fundamental recognition of the rights and dignity of disabled individuals.

The lessons gleaned from Nathalie’s journey offer a roadmap for enhancing disaster preparedness, response, and recovery efforts: prioritize accessibility by ensuring all disaster-related information, communication, and services are fully accessible; implement proactive outreach programs to identify and support vulnerable individuals, including those with disabilities, in the immediate aftermath of a disaster; engage people with disabilities in disaster planning and decision-making processes, ensuring their needs and perspectives are fully integrated; establish accessible emergency shelters with appropriate accommodations and support services; and prioritize equitable resource allocation to support the recovery of disabled individuals, encompassing financial assistance, accessible housing, and rehabilitation services. By addressing these critical gaps, Dominica, and indeed all disaster-prone regions, can build more inclusive and resilient communities that safeguard the human rights and security of all residents, leaving no one behind in times of crisis.