One year after devastating fires in Los Angeles killed 31 people, lawmakers in the House and Senate are introducing legislation to help disabled and elderly people evacuate during disasters.
Democratic Sens. Adam Schiff of California and Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut are co-sponsoring the Senate version, while Reps. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) are introducing a companion bill in the House. In a statement, Schiff pointed to last year’s fires, which disproportionately killed elderly and disabled residents.
“When Los Angeles faced some of the most devastating wildfires in our history one year ago, it was clear there was an urgent need to improve our crisis planning,” he said. “In particular, we need to make sure we have the resources in place to help individuals with disabilities and older adults with emergency preparedness.”
The bill would create a national advisory committee to study and make recommendations for how best to serve disabled people and older adults during disasters and ensure their needs are included in disaster planning. The “Real Emergency Access for Aging and Disability Inclusion for Disasters (REAADI) Act” would also create a network of training centers, as well as direct state and local governments to develop crisis standards of care for the elderly and people with disabilities during disasters and public health emergencies.
