Improving Evacuation and Resilience Strategies for Older Adults with Disabilities During and After Wildfires

Project Description

Wildfires are the most common type of natural disaster in California and will increasingly affect residents of the state due to global climate change. Studies have shown that older adults are among the most vulnerable groups in responding to wildfire evacuation orders, with delayed or insufficient action being more common in this population. Possible reasons for this include physical frailty, limited access to resources, and lack of awareness or comprehension of evacuation orders, particularly in the face of rapidly changing conditions. This vulnerability is exacerbated among older adults with disabilities, including cognitive impairments (e.g., dementia), physical limitations that require assistive devices (e.g., canes, wheelchairs), and sensory impairments (e.g., hearing loss), which complicate their ability to evacuate quickly and safely.
Transportation challenges play a central role in these difficulties. In Los Angeles, where wildfires often spread unpredictably and evacuation routes may be compromised, older adults with disabilities face significant barriers to evacuating. Public transportation options may be limited, inaccessible, or not designed to accommodate individuals with mobility aids, while private transportation may not be available or affordable. Moreover, the reliance on family or caregivers for transportation can create delays, particularly in situations where these individuals are unavailable or unaware of the urgency.
These transportation challenges create a critical gap in emergency preparedness and response, as many older adults with disabilities are unable to access evacuation routes or shelters in a timely manner, placing them at greater risk during wildfires. Addressing these issues is vital to improving resilience and ensuring the safety of this vulnerable population during and after wildfire events in Los Angeles.
The goal of this project is to review and synthesize existing research on the challenges faced by older adults with disabilities during and after wildfire evacuations. This includes an examination of transportation-related issues, which are often a significant barrier to safe and timely evacuations. Our aim is to identify gaps in the current literature, highlight areas of future research, and explore policy implications that can improve preparedness, evacuation, and resilience for this vulnerable population.