Fires, Disasters & Emergencies

Reimagining Preparedness, Response and Recovery

The Protection and Advocacy (P&A) Network builds partnerships with emergency management leaders at state and local levels to protect the rights, safety and dignity of disaster survivors with disabilities. Advocates and attorneys strive to prioritize and protect disability rights throughout fires, disasters, humanitarian crises and other emergencies utilizing strategies such as impact litigation and structured negotiations.

Check out our COVID-19 Issue page for the latest network-wide updates, activities, and resources related to the Coronavirus pandemic.

Partnerships

NDRN has partnership agreements with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the American Red Cross, the National Association of State Fire Marshals, the Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies, and the Center for Campus Fire Safety to operationalize P&A engagement while furthering a national discourse on inclusive emergency management.

Center for Campus Fire Safety logo

NDRN believes that Disability Justice approaches can be used throughout disasters to protect disability rights, recognize histories of harm and center communities of color. We use the 10 Disability Justice Principles created by Sins Invalid to reimagine new paths toward equitable emergency management practices guided by antiracist and antiableist policies. This work is anchored by the need for greater inclusivity of Black Indigenous People of Color with disabilities as we all collectively strive to deepen our understanding of the communities we serve. It is this conscious and continuous commitment to intersectional inclusion that strengthens our capacity to extend legal and advocacy support to diverse disaster survivors with disabilities.

Questions about our work on Fires, Disasters & Emergencies? Contact us at EmergencyManagment@ndrn.org.

Latest in Fires, Disasters & Emergencies

  • Fires, Disasters & Emergencies

    National Disability Radio: Advocacy Horse

    January 31, 2025

    Friend of the pod and NDRN alumni Ian Watlington get's back on his advocacy horse to talk to us about the impact weather events like the recent DC blizzard can have on folks with disabilities.

    Podcast
  • Community Integration

    Sunstorm Stories 2023

    September 26, 2023

    This project continues our efforts to prioritize the pandemic experiences of people of color with Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities. The stories are featured in short narrative videos and are reflective of Covid’s lingering impact on the disability community.

    Webinar
  • Fires, Disasters & Emergencies

    NDRN thanks Congressmembers for their introduction of the Real Emergency Access for Aging and Disability Inclusion for Disasters (REAADI) Act

    April 24, 2023

    NDRN thanks Senators Casey, Congresswoman Dingell, Congressman Panetta, and several others for their important reintroduction of REAADI. This important piece of legislation will work to accommodate persons with disabilities during major disasters.

    Letter